JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In spite of a resurgent third-quarter effort along with a season-high 23 points, The Citadel (0-11, 0-8 SoCon) failed to complete a second-half come-from-behind bid during the 2023 season finale at East Tennessee State (3-8, 2-6 SoCon), falling by a final 35-23 mark to the Buccaneers on Saturday, Nov. 18 at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: East Tennessee State def. The Citadel, 35-23
Records: ETSU (3-8, 2-6 SoCon) | The Citadel (0-11, 0-8 SoCon)
Location: William B. Greene Jr. Stadium | Johnson City, Tenn.
Series: ETSU leads the series 19-13

KEY PLAYS & STATS

• Despite trailing at the midway break by three touchdowns, The Citadel charged out of the locker room with some energy, outscoring the Buccaneers by a 13-7 margin throughout the third quarter, forcing two ETSU fumbles and even successfully converting an onside kick. The comeback bid fell short in the fourth, however, as the Bucs recovered down the stretch, forcing a pair of turnovers-on-downs on the final and third-to-last drives -- both inside the ETSU 25-yard line -- with an interception sandwiched in between.
• For the first time this season, the Bulldogs outgained their opponent offensively, generating 373 yards of total offense to ETSU's 278; overall, the air raid proved the most effective weapon as the team racked up a season-best 261 yards passing while Graeson Underwood paced the squad with 244 himself, logging 22-of-43 for one touchdown with one interception, all career-highs for the junior signalcaller.
• Further, The Citadel offense obliterated the team's previous-best for total first downs in a game, totaling 24 on the day; additionally, The Citadel racked up a season-high 23 points behind two touchdowns -- a Graeson Underwood QB sneak and a 36-yard strike from Underwood to Malachi Taylor -- and three Colby Kintner field goals. Notably, the 23 points serves as the Bulldogs' first foray over the 20-point plateau (previous best Nov. 4 vs. Mercer -- 16).
• The receiving corps composed a solid preformance as well with Taylor paving the way behind both team season- and career-highs in both receptions (7) and total yards (86); Patrick McSweeney contributed five catches for 44 yards with both Ha'Keem Monroe and Tyler Cherry pulled down two piece for a joint 75 yards.
• Defensively, Carson Walter served as the de facto leader once again for the Bulldogs, notching seven tackles -- six of them solo -- while Dominick Poole registered five with one forced fumble. Michael McDowell earned the the other forced fumble for the Bulldogs while also recording a tackle-for-loss.

NEXT UP
Following the season finale at ETSU, the Bulldogs will retreat back to Charleston for some well-deserved R&R before beginning preparation for February's National Signing Day along with Spring Camp.