Saturday, September 26
Charleston, S.C.
2:00 PM
The Citadel
vs
Chattanooga
Photo by: Aaron Beswick / The Citadel Athletics
The Citadel Returns to Action Saturday, Hosts Chattanooga in SoCon Clash
9/25/2026 11:47:00 AM | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel returns to action following the bye week for a Southern Conference battle against Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 26, hosting the Mocs for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Sansom Field at Johnson Hagood Stadium. For full coverage, tune in live via ESPN+ or follow along via social media -- @CitadelFootball.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
THE CITADEL (1-2, 0-1 SoCon) vs. Chattanooga (2-2, 1-0 SoCon)
Saturday, Sept. 26 | 2 p.m.
Sansom Field at Johnson Hagood Stadium | Charleston, S.C.
Game Notes: The Citadel | Chattanooga | Southern Conference
Follow Live: Live Stats | Watch | Listen | Tickets
WEEKLY SOCIAL SYNC
SERIES INFO
Series Results: 36-21-2, Chattanooga
Last Time: W, 28-10 (9/27/2025)
Last at JHS: L, 7-31 (11/9/2024)
Streak: W1
KEY GAME NOTES
HOMEGROWN TALENT
Highlighted by multiple offseason additions on the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs continue to showcase the strong football tradition of the greater Charleston area on the roster, including:
- LB Chase Anderson, LS Tommy DiLiegro, DL Andrew Jackson, OL Frank Schmidt, TE Whit Hobgood, LB Robert Mallard III & TE Jude Claborn, Charleston, S.C.
- RB Dorvensky Reichley, Moncks Corner, S.C.
- DB Jammall Fludd, North Charleston, S.C.
- DB Ryland Mitchell, OL Andrew Tumbleston & LB Tim Miller Jr., Summerville, S.C.
- P Jack Weil & LB Jameson Bell, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
POUND THE ROCK
Fueled by six 200-yard-plus rushing performances over the course of the past seven games, including 2025 vs. VMI (329), vs. Wofford (201) and at ETSU (218) plus 2026 at Wofford (227), at Charlotte (268) and vs. Charleston Southern (235), the Bulldogs' ground game has evolved into one of the offense's most reliable weapons under third-year OC Lamar Owens. From the national perspective, The Citadel slots in as one of the top rushing attacks in the FCS, currently ranking sixth nationwide and first in the SoCon behind a 243.3 yards per game mark. Individually, Gavin Garcia paces the pack behind a 96.3 yards per game average, good for 12th nationally and second league-wide, with four touchdowns off 59 total carries. Quentin Hayes slots in second on the squad with 163 yards on 45 attempts for the year while Sebastien Boyle owns 94 yards with three scores via 14 attempts, including a team-long 56-yard TD burst.
THE SHARK HUNTER (YES, LITERALLY)
The offseason addition of RB Gavin Garcia has created additional avenues of opportunity for The Citadel offense, as the Kent State transfer brings a wealth of experience from four years of #MACtion. A multi-year contributor in the backfield for the Golden Flashes, Garcia logged 146 rushes for 647 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, good for 4.4 yards per carry. All-in-all, when the Pennsylvania product entered the portal, The Citadel proved an attractive option for more than just football -- Charleston, and even more specifically, Charleston beaches. A longtime gamesman and fisherman, Garcia has recently turned his focus to shark hunting, working the reel directly off the shore or from a chartered vessel. Unsurprisingly, he has transformed the pursuit into a burgeoning social media presence via his @gghooksnhorns handle, and currently runs his own shark fishing charters in the spare time between graduate school and football commitments.
MILITARY DISCIPLINE
In spite of the mascot, The Citadel managed to avoid the doghouse often during the 2025 season, ranking ninth FCS-wide with 4.42 penalties per game while sitting 19th nationally with just 42.42 penalty yards per game. Three games deep into the 2026 campaign, the Bulldogs continue their displined approach, ranking third nationally and first in the SoCon with just 3.33 penalties per game as well as fourth in the FCS and second league-wide with 31.00 penalty yards per game.
WORLD WAR Z
A lead-by-example centerpiece for The Citadel defense, Dartmouth transfer Zyion Brown has made his presence felt throughout the 2026 campaign, registering a team-best 28.0 total tackles thus far, good for 34th in the FCS and third in SoCon, with 17.0 logged as solo takedowns, slotted as 14th nationally and first league-wide. The Ohio native also ranks as the team's top backfield disrupter, pacing the squad with 3.5 tackles-for-loss.
POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS OF THE LAW
After dominating the time-of-possession in two of the opening three contests, The Citadel offense has managed to average a daunting 33:00 minutes of possession on the year, good for 16th nationally and second within the Southern Conference behind newcomer Tennessee Tech (34:10). Coincidentally, the Bulldogs dropped both contests in which they owned the time-of-possession edge, topping Wofford via a 35:05-to-24:55 margin (L, 14-42) and CSU on a 34:10-to-25:10 mark (L, 20-26 2OT).
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH | THE REPRISE
Since the 1978 decision to reclassify DI football into I-A (FBS) and I-AA (FCS), The Citadel leads the SoCon in victories over FBS opponents behind 10 wins, notably knocking off Georgia Tech (2019), South Carolina (2015 & 1990) and Arkansas (1992). The Bulldogs' latest FBS triumph over Charlotte also extended a unique historical quirk against the 49ers, as The Citadel owns a perfect 2-0 all-time mark against UNCC with both victories coming beyond regulation -- a 63-56 double-overtime victory in 2014 and this year's 43-41 triple-overtime barn burner.
#DISRUPTORS
In spite of the rivalry loss to Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs' defense logged a season-best 6.0 sacks during the contest, setting the Buccaneers back a combined 60 yards total. Notably, the 6.0-sack performance serves as the most for the program since 2022 against Virginia-Lynchburg (6.0) as well as the top mark against a Division I opponent since a 2019 victory over Western Carolina (6.0). Additionally, The Citadel compiled 13.0 tackles-for-loss against Charleston Southern as well, a first since Virginia-Lynchburg in 2022 (15.0) and the best showing against a Division I adversary since, coincidentally, a 2018 win over Charleston Southern (13.0). As a unit, the defensive front has proven difficult for opposing offenses to properly deal with in terms of penetration, racking up 2.33 sacks per game en route to the No. 28 position on the FCS leaderboard as well as fourth conference-wide. Individually, Zyion Brown (3.5 TFLs; 2.0 sacks), Maurice Bonneau Jr. (3.0 TFLs; 1.0 sack) and D'Angelo Sheppard (2.0 TFLs; 2.0 sacks) have served as the defensive triple threat for The Citadel on the season, combing for 8.5 TFLs thus far.
CONVERSION KINGS
Across three games thus far, The Citadel offense has demonstrated a consistent ability to find the first-down marker, ranking 34th nationally for third-down conversion percentage (.419; 18-of-43) as well as 23rd in the FCS for fourth-down conversion percentage (.714; 5-of-7), both good for fourth within the Southern Conference. As for how the Bulldogs manage their first down conversions, the ground game continues to act as the primary workhorse, accounting for 37-of-55 new sets of downs.
DEGREES OF DISTINCTION
Amongst the multitude of offseason additions for The Citadel, head coach Maurice Drayton managed to sign a number of college graduates to the program, adding considerable depth and experience for the Bulldogs. Within the group, though, four standouts hail from prestigious academic institutions ranked inside the Top 40 colleges & universities via U.S. News & World Report, including LB Zyion Brown (Dartmouth, t-No. 13), WR Derek Kee (Vanderbilt, t-No. 17), QB Nick Billoups (UCLA, t-No. 17) and WR Ismael Zamor (Boston College, t-No. 36).
(NORTH) AMERICAN MADE
The Citadel 2026 roster hails from across the United States and even into Canada, spanning 19 states coast-to-coast and one Canadian province:
- South Carolina: 49
- Georgia: 16
- Florida: 8
- North Carolina: 7
- Alabama: 4
-California: 3
- Ohio: 3
- Tennessee: 3
- Texas: 2
- Connecticut: 1
- Illinois: 1
- Kentucky: 1
- Louisiana: 1
- Maryland: 1
- Massachusetts: 1
- Mississippi: 1
- Nebraska: 1
- New Jersey: 1
- Pennsylvania: 1
- Quebec: 1
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
THE CITADEL (1-2, 0-1 SoCon) vs. Chattanooga (2-2, 1-0 SoCon)
Saturday, Sept. 26 | 2 p.m.
Sansom Field at Johnson Hagood Stadium | Charleston, S.C.
Game Notes: The Citadel | Chattanooga | Southern Conference
Follow Live: Live Stats | Watch | Listen | Tickets
WEEKLY SOCIAL SYNC
COMING UP: HC @KoachDrayton features on yet-another episode of Beyond the Barracks this evening...join us at Montana's or tune in live via 102.1 FM 📻
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 14, 2026
Beyond the Barracks ⤵️
📌: Montana's
⏰: 6-7 pm
🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/z21BNXJMes#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/bji80o8B1Z
🎥 We caught up with Maurice Bonneau Jr. following a big game for himself (2 TFL, 1 sack) and the defense (6 sacks, 13 TFLs) against Charleston Southern😤🗣️⬇️#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/vXqvjXlrSr
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 15, 2026
Bye Week Activities 🏄♂️ #FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/4LxlbrCNtf
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 16, 2026
We caught up with RB Gavin Garcia for an inside look at his journey to The Citadel, his shark-hunting exploits and his performance on the gridiron 🦈🪝🏈
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 17, 2026
Full interview ⤵️
🎥: https://t.co/DuDMDB0AZv#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/dhu1prkWIt
With the bye week firmly in the rearview mirror, @KoachDrayton met up w/ the local Charleston media for his weekly press conference...check out the full Q&A session right here 🏈
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 21, 2026
Full presser ⤵️
🎥: https://t.co/YKwevJv6Ec#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/36Cqr4ontK
COMING UP: Come out & join us this evening for yet-another episode of Beyond the Barracks, featuring @KoachDrayton, Ed Conroy, Kris Kut & more!
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 21, 2026
Beyond the Barracks ⤵️
📌: @BWWings | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
⏰: 6-7 pm
🎙️: 102.1 FM / https://t.co/z21BNXJMes#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/DjMuohlvtD
See you 🔜#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/qrgnTkf7Ti
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 22, 2026
𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 🥶👔#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/0wNzxjwQXs
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 23, 2026
🔵🔵🔵 for the Mocs! 🔜🥶#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/chgkYQT44R
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 23, 2026
🎥 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐂𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 🔜😤#FireThoseCannons pic.twitter.com/S6xz6F1a1F
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) September 24, 2026
SERIES INFO
Series Results: 36-21-2, Chattanooga
Last Time: W, 28-10 (9/27/2025)
Last at JHS: L, 7-31 (11/9/2024)
Streak: W1
KEY GAME NOTES
HOMEGROWN TALENT
Highlighted by multiple offseason additions on the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs continue to showcase the strong football tradition of the greater Charleston area on the roster, including:
- LB Chase Anderson, LS Tommy DiLiegro, DL Andrew Jackson, OL Frank Schmidt, TE Whit Hobgood, LB Robert Mallard III & TE Jude Claborn, Charleston, S.C.
- RB Dorvensky Reichley, Moncks Corner, S.C.
- DB Jammall Fludd, North Charleston, S.C.
- DB Ryland Mitchell, OL Andrew Tumbleston & LB Tim Miller Jr., Summerville, S.C.
- P Jack Weil & LB Jameson Bell, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
POUND THE ROCK
Fueled by six 200-yard-plus rushing performances over the course of the past seven games, including 2025 vs. VMI (329), vs. Wofford (201) and at ETSU (218) plus 2026 at Wofford (227), at Charlotte (268) and vs. Charleston Southern (235), the Bulldogs' ground game has evolved into one of the offense's most reliable weapons under third-year OC Lamar Owens. From the national perspective, The Citadel slots in as one of the top rushing attacks in the FCS, currently ranking sixth nationwide and first in the SoCon behind a 243.3 yards per game mark. Individually, Gavin Garcia paces the pack behind a 96.3 yards per game average, good for 12th nationally and second league-wide, with four touchdowns off 59 total carries. Quentin Hayes slots in second on the squad with 163 yards on 45 attempts for the year while Sebastien Boyle owns 94 yards with three scores via 14 attempts, including a team-long 56-yard TD burst.
THE SHARK HUNTER (YES, LITERALLY)
The offseason addition of RB Gavin Garcia has created additional avenues of opportunity for The Citadel offense, as the Kent State transfer brings a wealth of experience from four years of #MACtion. A multi-year contributor in the backfield for the Golden Flashes, Garcia logged 146 rushes for 647 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, good for 4.4 yards per carry. All-in-all, when the Pennsylvania product entered the portal, The Citadel proved an attractive option for more than just football -- Charleston, and even more specifically, Charleston beaches. A longtime gamesman and fisherman, Garcia has recently turned his focus to shark hunting, working the reel directly off the shore or from a chartered vessel. Unsurprisingly, he has transformed the pursuit into a burgeoning social media presence via his @gghooksnhorns handle, and currently runs his own shark fishing charters in the spare time between graduate school and football commitments.
MILITARY DISCIPLINE
In spite of the mascot, The Citadel managed to avoid the doghouse often during the 2025 season, ranking ninth FCS-wide with 4.42 penalties per game while sitting 19th nationally with just 42.42 penalty yards per game. Three games deep into the 2026 campaign, the Bulldogs continue their displined approach, ranking third nationally and first in the SoCon with just 3.33 penalties per game as well as fourth in the FCS and second league-wide with 31.00 penalty yards per game.
WORLD WAR Z
A lead-by-example centerpiece for The Citadel defense, Dartmouth transfer Zyion Brown has made his presence felt throughout the 2026 campaign, registering a team-best 28.0 total tackles thus far, good for 34th in the FCS and third in SoCon, with 17.0 logged as solo takedowns, slotted as 14th nationally and first league-wide. The Ohio native also ranks as the team's top backfield disrupter, pacing the squad with 3.5 tackles-for-loss.
POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS OF THE LAW
After dominating the time-of-possession in two of the opening three contests, The Citadel offense has managed to average a daunting 33:00 minutes of possession on the year, good for 16th nationally and second within the Southern Conference behind newcomer Tennessee Tech (34:10). Coincidentally, the Bulldogs dropped both contests in which they owned the time-of-possession edge, topping Wofford via a 35:05-to-24:55 margin (L, 14-42) and CSU on a 34:10-to-25:10 mark (L, 20-26 2OT).
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH | THE REPRISE
Since the 1978 decision to reclassify DI football into I-A (FBS) and I-AA (FCS), The Citadel leads the SoCon in victories over FBS opponents behind 10 wins, notably knocking off Georgia Tech (2019), South Carolina (2015 & 1990) and Arkansas (1992). The Bulldogs' latest FBS triumph over Charlotte also extended a unique historical quirk against the 49ers, as The Citadel owns a perfect 2-0 all-time mark against UNCC with both victories coming beyond regulation -- a 63-56 double-overtime victory in 2014 and this year's 43-41 triple-overtime barn burner.
#DISRUPTORS
In spite of the rivalry loss to Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs' defense logged a season-best 6.0 sacks during the contest, setting the Buccaneers back a combined 60 yards total. Notably, the 6.0-sack performance serves as the most for the program since 2022 against Virginia-Lynchburg (6.0) as well as the top mark against a Division I opponent since a 2019 victory over Western Carolina (6.0). Additionally, The Citadel compiled 13.0 tackles-for-loss against Charleston Southern as well, a first since Virginia-Lynchburg in 2022 (15.0) and the best showing against a Division I adversary since, coincidentally, a 2018 win over Charleston Southern (13.0). As a unit, the defensive front has proven difficult for opposing offenses to properly deal with in terms of penetration, racking up 2.33 sacks per game en route to the No. 28 position on the FCS leaderboard as well as fourth conference-wide. Individually, Zyion Brown (3.5 TFLs; 2.0 sacks), Maurice Bonneau Jr. (3.0 TFLs; 1.0 sack) and D'Angelo Sheppard (2.0 TFLs; 2.0 sacks) have served as the defensive triple threat for The Citadel on the season, combing for 8.5 TFLs thus far.
CONVERSION KINGS
Across three games thus far, The Citadel offense has demonstrated a consistent ability to find the first-down marker, ranking 34th nationally for third-down conversion percentage (.419; 18-of-43) as well as 23rd in the FCS for fourth-down conversion percentage (.714; 5-of-7), both good for fourth within the Southern Conference. As for how the Bulldogs manage their first down conversions, the ground game continues to act as the primary workhorse, accounting for 37-of-55 new sets of downs.
DEGREES OF DISTINCTION
Amongst the multitude of offseason additions for The Citadel, head coach Maurice Drayton managed to sign a number of college graduates to the program, adding considerable depth and experience for the Bulldogs. Within the group, though, four standouts hail from prestigious academic institutions ranked inside the Top 40 colleges & universities via U.S. News & World Report, including LB Zyion Brown (Dartmouth, t-No. 13), WR Derek Kee (Vanderbilt, t-No. 17), QB Nick Billoups (UCLA, t-No. 17) and WR Ismael Zamor (Boston College, t-No. 36).
(NORTH) AMERICAN MADE
The Citadel 2026 roster hails from across the United States and even into Canada, spanning 19 states coast-to-coast and one Canadian province:
- South Carolina: 49
- Georgia: 16
- Florida: 8
- North Carolina: 7
- Alabama: 4
-California: 3
- Ohio: 3
- Tennessee: 3
- Texas: 2
- Connecticut: 1
- Illinois: 1
- Kentucky: 1
- Louisiana: 1
- Maryland: 1
- Massachusetts: 1
- Mississippi: 1
- Nebraska: 1
- New Jersey: 1
- Pennsylvania: 1
- Quebec: 1
-- #FireThoseCannons --
Players Mentioned
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