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The Citadel Athletics | The Military College of South Carolina
Drakeford-Johnson celebration
38
Winner The Citadel CIT 1-2 , 1-2
31
Mercer MER 2-2 , 1-1
Winner
The Citadel CIT
1-2 , 1-2
38
Final
31
Mercer MER
2-2 , 1-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CIT The Citadel 7 7 3 21 38
MER Mercer 7 10 7 7 31

Game Recap: Football |

Johnson’s Kickoff Return Gives Bulldogs 38-31 Win

MACON, Ga. – Rod Johnson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown with less than one minute to play to give The Citadel a thrilling, 38-31, victory over Mercer Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium.
 
Game Information
Score: The Citadel 38, Mercer 31
Records: The Citadel (1-2, 1-2 SoCon), Mercer (2-2, 1-1 SoCon)
Location: Johnson Five Star Stadium (Macon, Georgia)
Series: The Citadel leads 10-5-1
 
How it Happened
  • After allowing Mercer to get out to a 7-1 lead, the Bulldogs ran out the remaining 6:49 of the first quarter with a 14-play drive that ended with a Jordan Black 25-yard touchdown run.
  • Mercer would score the next 10 points and look to take that lead into the half, but the Bulldogs had other plans. With 15 seconds left in the half, Black found Raleigh Webb on the post for 77-yard touchdown.
  • The Citadel trailed again by 10 points after the Bears scored on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Bulldogs responded with their longest drive of the season, a 19-play drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal from Jacob Godek
  • Grant Drakeford would tie the game early in the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown run.
  • The drive was set up after a Khafari Buffalo leaping interception.
  • The defense came up with a big stop to force a punt on the Bears next possession.
  • Drakeford continued his big day by breaking off a 61-yard run that set up Johnson's five-yard score to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.
  • The Bears would answer right back to tie the game with just over a minute to play on a touchdown catch from David Durden.
 
Inside the Numbers
  • Rod Johnson's 94-yard kickoff return is the first for the Bulldogs since Scooter Johnson returned a kickoff 91 yards against VMI on Nov. 16, 2002.
  • The 77-yard pass from Jordan Black to Raleigh Webb is the 10th longest pass play in program history.
  • The catch was the first of the season for Webb.
  • The Bulldogs defense finished the game with six sacks. Noah Dawkins was credited with 1.5 sacks, while Willie Eubanks, III, Russell Hubbs, Joseph Randolph, II and Jalon Williams each had one. Jordan Williams was credited with half a sack.
  • Khafari Buffalo recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs now have at least one interception in all three games this season.
  • Grant Drakeford finished the day with 139 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. He also caught two passes for 59 yards.
  • Jordan Black rank for 61 yards and a touchdown, while also going 5-for-10 for 167 yards and a score. It is the second-straight game he has rushed and thrown for a touchdown.
  • Punter Matthew Campbell averaged 48.7 yards on three punts.
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs play their first nonconference game as they travel to face Towson on Sept. 29. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
 
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