ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Citadel football team trailed 14-3 to the South Carolina State University Bulldogs at halftime before SCSU pulled away in the second half, as The Citadel fell 31-10 on Saturday evening.
Game Information
Score: South Carolina State 31, The Citadel 10
Records: SCSU (1-3), The Citadel (0-4)
Location: Oliver C. Dawson Stadium
Series: The Citadel leads 3-1
How it Happened:
- SCSU got on the board first on their second possession of the game with a 34-yard TD pass.
- SCSU was ready to take an early 14-0 lead but The Citadel defense came up with a pair of one yard to goal stops to force a turnover on downs.
- SCSU looked poised to add to that lead early in the second quarter, but Melvin Ravenel came up with a timely interception on a deep out to the right pile before returning it 65 yards to the SCSU 34-yard line.
- The Citadel offense took advantage of that field position, moving the ball to the 11-yard line before having to settle for a Colby Kintner 25-yard field goal.
- SCSU responded on the next drive, orchestrating a 13-play, 81-yard drive, culminating in a 21-yard TD pass to push the advantage to 14-3.
- After The Citadel threw an interception with 31 seconds remaining in the half, SCSU hit a 58-yard-deep ball to give them 1st and Goal from the CIT 5.
- SCSU left points on the table heading into halftime however as the pass off a reverse play was short-armed, forcing the SCSU receiver to make a sliding catch at the CIT 2, with no timeouts left, ending the half 14-3 SCSU.
- SCSU got the ball first in the second half and drove the ball down the field before connecting on a 35-yard TD, with the receiver getting one foot down just inside the left pile on, SCSU 21-3 with 9:48 left in the third.
- On the ensuing possession, The Citadel was faced with a 4th & 1 and attempted a fake punt that was stopped by the SCSU defense on the CIT 32, leading to a Bulldogs chip shot 22-yard field goal, SCSU 24-3 with 4:35 remaining in the quarter.
- In the fourth, a long gain off a screen pass set SCSU up for a one-yard TD plunge to grow the margin to 28 at 31-3 with 11:11 to go in the game.
- The Citadel added a touchdown late as Cooper Wallace took a short out pass to the house for a 39-yard score with 2:16 remaining.
Up Next
The Citadel returns home when it welcomes Western Carolina to Johnson Hagood Stadium on Saturday, September 23
rd at 2 p.m.