SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel football team erased a 21-point deficit and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds before falling, 28-21, at No. 10 Wofford Saturday evening in the season opener at Gibbs Stadium.
Game Information
Score: Wofford 28, The Citadel 21
Records: The Citadel (0-1, 0-1 SoCon), Wofford (1-0, 1-0, SoCon)
Location: Gibbs Stadium (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Series: The Citadel leads 42-29-1
How it Happened
- The Terriers used a pair of big plays in the first quarter to score on long runs and take a 14-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.
- Another big play helped set up another WC touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter.
- The Bulldogs got on the board late in the first half after Noah Dawkins picked off a pass in Terrier territory. The Citadel capitalized on the turnover with a nine-yard touchdown run from Lorenzo Ward.
- Dawkins made his second big play on the opening possession of the second half as he picked off the second pass and returned it 47-yards for a touchdown to bring the Bulldogs within seven.
- The Bulldog defense forced a WC punt that hit a Terrier player and was recovered by Keyonte Sessions.
- The Citadel tied the game on a 4th-and-goal play as Rod Johnson took the pitch and went around left end for the one-yard score.
- The Terriers regained the lead midway through the fourth quarter when Blake Morgan capped a14-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
- The Citadel had one final chance to tie the game as they got the ball on their own 30-yard line with 4:40 left to play.
- After picking up a first down, the Bulldogs faced a4th-and-6 from their own 47. Jordan Black dropped back and hit Grant Drakeford over the middle for a 23-yard completion.
- Rod Johnson followed with a14-yard gain before The Citadel was faced with another fourth-down attempt. This time, Ward went up the middle for two yards to pick up the first down.
- That set up the Bulldogs at the five yard line with under 30 seconds left to play. With no timeouts, The Citadel went to the air and nearly converted on three pass attempts before their fourth down play fell to the ground as time expired.
Inside the Numbers
- Noah Dawkins recorded two interceptions in the game. It marked the first time a Bulldog had two interceptions in a game since Aron Spann, III picked off two passes against Chattanooga in 2017.
- The interception return for a touchdown marked the second-straight trip to Spartanburg that a Bulldog defender scored. Kailik Williams took an interception back 13 yards for a score in 2016.
- Lorenzo Ward ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. It marked the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
- Freshman Matthew Campbell averaged 43.8 yards on eight punts. He kicked a long of 53 yards and had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
- Aaron Brawley led the defense with seven tackles.
Up Next
The Bulldogs welcome Chattanooga to Johnson Hagood Stadium on Sept. 8. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.