The Citadel
2-7 , 0-5
Mercer
7-2 , 4-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Citadel | 7 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 19 |
| Mercer | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 28 |
10/31/2026 6:45:00 PM | Football
POSTGAME PRESSER
HC @KoachDrayton spoke postgame on the Bulldogs' performance at Mercer…check out the complete interview ⤵️ #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/zlxjN8rJO9
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
KEY NOTES
-- Mercer outgained the Bulldogs by a final 324-to-287 margin for total offense on the game
-- Notably, The Citadel held the Bears scoreless during the first half before surrendering 21 unanswered throughout the third quarter
-- The Bulldogs concluded the contest with 144 rushing yards, good for the team's fourth consecutive contest with less than 200 yards of ground production; individually, Sebastien Boyle paced the unit with 63 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries, notably breaking off a 40-yard score on the opening drive of the day; additionally, Nick Billoups contributed 32 yards on 13 attempts for a TD of his own, courtesy of an 18-yard scramble to conclude the Bulldogs' final possession of the game
-- Through the air, Billoups logged a 12-of-17 mark passing for 143 yards
-- For the receiving corps, Israel Benjamin accounted for five catches and 55 total yards, nearly scoring on a 29-yard scamper; Ismael Zamor tallied three receptions for 36 yards while Braylon Knauth pulled down a pair of catches for 24 yards as well
-- Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed just 45 yards of total offense in the first half en route to the shutout before giving up 221 yards and three scores during the third quarter alone; The Citadel also created backfield pressure during the opening two quarters, logging four sacks during the stretch courtesy of Terrance Wells, Jalen Wright, Maurice Bonneau Jr. (0.5), Zyion Brown (0.5) and Andrew Jackson
-- Individually, Brown and Wright each finished with 7.0 tackles on the day while both Bonneau and JJ Fludd logged 5.0 takedowns
-- For the special teams, Evan Kiely concluded the game 2-for-4 on field goals, hitting his first and last attempts from 37 and 31 yards while missing a 43- and a 42-yarder, both during the second quarter; Michael Boulware notched his first collegiate statistic as well, posting a punt block midway through the second period; Jack Weil averaged 46.8 yards per punt on four kicks, including a long of 56 yards with one pinning the Bears inside their own 20-yard line; Knauth fielded three kicks on the day while also muffing his final punt return, good for the Bulldogs' lone turnover for the game
-- For Mercer, JP Pickles recorded a 17-of-20 showing through the air for 234 yards and three touchdowns; further, Pickles led the ground game as well with 46 yards on 16 carries, finding the end zone once as well; for the receivers, Brayden Smith grabbed five catches for 113 yards and one score, an 80-yard bomb down the left sideline for the decisive lead-changing touchdown
GAMEDAY SOCIAL SYNC
Work trip in the @SoConSports 💼 📸: Aaron Beswick #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/U9PCLe5Vdn
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
Just a few minutes till kickoff here at Five Star Stadium 🫡 📸: Aaron Beswick #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/0R8uuMjtAv
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
SEBASTIEN BOYLE W/ THE BREAKAWAY!!! The junior finds the edge on third-and-short for a 40-yard TD Bank touchdown, vaulting The Citadel out to an early advantage 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiIzH6 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBl1rE #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
The Bulldogs' defensive front WREAKS HAVOC en route to the first sack of the game and a massive third-down stop for The Citadel 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiIzH6 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBl1rE #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
Evan Kiely connects on the opening play of the second period from 37 yards out, converting the REV Financial field goal as The Citadel surges to a two-score edge 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/egjkUUEcgs 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/z21BNXJMes #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/WIwijC6ZF1
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
JALEN WRIGHT UNTOUCHED!!! Another Mercer drive completely SHUT DOWN by a Bulldogs' sack, this time courtesy of the fifth-year linebacker off the edge 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiJ7wE 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBlzhc #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
MICHAEL BOULWARE!!! The true freshman logs the first stat of his young career in a unique way, scoring a MASSIVE punt block for the Bulldogs, good for the their first of the year 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiJ7wE 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBlzhc #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
Maurice Bonneau Jr. & Co. FIND PAYDIRT for the Bulldogs' THIRD sack on the game, once against bringing a Mercer possession to an abrupt end 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiIzH6 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBl1rE #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
ANDREW JACKSON BRINGS DOWN THE HAMMER!!! The Citadel defensive front continues to create chaos in the Mercer backfield, registering a FOURTH sack for the Bulldogs on the half 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiIzH6 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBl1rE #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
A couple top shots from the opening half of play from Five Star Stadium ⤵️ 📸: Aaron Beswick #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/dSIEm4iyeE
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
Nick Billoups drops a touch pass off to Israel Benjamin for a MASSIVE 29-yard gain and a first-and-goal situation for the Bulldogs 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/egjkUUEcgs 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/z21BNXJMes #FireThoseCannons https://t.co/sbk8YWXLH4
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
NICK BILLOUPS!!! The fifth-year signalcaller escapes pressure on fourth-and-short before scrambling for an 18-yard TD Bank touchdown 🫡 💻: ESPN+ / https://t.co/5z4EGiJ7wE 🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/7OyapBlzhc #FireThoseCannons
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) October 31, 2026
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
CIT 7, MER 0
CIT - Boyle,Sebastien 40 yd run (Kiely,Evan kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:22
CIT 10, MER 0
CIT - Kiely,Evan 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 54 yards, TOP 05:33
CIT 10, MER 7
MER - Caldwell,Devon 9 yd pass from Pickles,JP (Zeidan,Simon kick) 7 plays, 89 yards, TOP 03:39
CIT 10, MER 14
MER - Smith,Brayden 80 yd pass from Pickles,JP (Zeidan,Simon kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:11
CIT 10, MER 21
MER - Pickles,JP 2 yd run (Zeidan,Simon kick), 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 02:47
CIT 13, MER 21
CIT - Kiely,Evan 31 yd field goal 11 plays, 62 yards, TOP 07:28
CIT 13, MER 28
MER - Solomon,Travion 24 yd pass from Pickles,JP (Zeidan,Simon kick) 1 plays, 24 yards, TOP 00:07
CIT 19, MER 28
CIT - Billoups,Nick 18 yd run (), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:00
