Georgia Southern 20, The Citadel 0
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel Football team, plagued by nine turnovers, suffered their first shutout in seven years when Georgia Southern blanked the Bulldogs, 20-0, before a crowd of 10,385 at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
Georgia Southern won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving The Citadel the ball on the opening possession. The Bulldogs, who got off to a rough start when Tyler Starnes fumbled the opening kickoff and fell on the ball on the 15-yard line, turned the ball over on four of their first five possessions of the game. The miscues set up three scores for the Eagles.
On the first Bulldog possession, The Citadel recorded two first downs and advanced the ball 25 yards before fullback Terrell Dallas fumbled on the handoff, giving the Eagles the ball on the Bulldogs' 40-yard line. Two plays and four yards into the drive, Eagle starting quarterback Jaybo Shaw was shaken up on the option pitch and left the game. With Jerick McKinnon in at quarterback, GSU then advanced the ball to The Citadel 9-yard line, but the Bulldog defense was able to keep the Eagles out of the end zone and forced an Adrian Mora 26-yard field goal attempt that was good. Georgia Southern went up, 3-0, with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
The second Citadel possession was similar to the first as the Bulldog offense turned the ball over again on their own 45-yard line. Wide receiver Domonic Jones caught a Matt Thompson pass on the first play of the drive and then fumbled it. The ball was recovered by Michael Butler and the Eagles drove the ball 45 yards in 10 plays and 4:35 for the first touchdown of the game. GSU went up, 10-0, with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.
The third possession also resulted in a Bulldog fumble, this time by Thompson and recovered by Eagle Michael Spaulding on the Citadel 43-yard line. GSU got within scoring distance to the 5-yard line, but the Bulldog defense, led by linebacker Tolu Akindele and defensive end Erik Clanton, kept them out of the end zone and forced another Mora 26-yard field goal that was good. Georgia Southern went up, 13-0, at 11:31 in the second quarter.
Both teams punted on their next possessions and The Citadel got the ball back with less than seven minutes left in the first half. Sam Martin entered the game at quarterback for the Bulldogs and two plays into the drive he fumbled at the Bulldog 30-yard line. Brent Russell recovered for the Eagles and GSU advanced the ball to The Citadel 12-yard line. Once again the Bulldog defense prevented the touchdown, leaving Mora to attempt a 29-yard field goal. The kick fell wide right and the score remained 13-0 with 3:04 left in the first half.
The Citadel went three-and-out on their next possession, but got another chance to score late in the half when Brandon McCladdie intercepted a McKinnon pass at the GSU 48-yard line, returning it three yards to the 45. However, the Eagles got it right back when Lavelle Westbrooks picked off Thompson's pass in the first play of the drive with 0:07 left on the clock. The Bulldogs went into halftime down, 13-0.
The teams exchanged punts to begin the second half, before a Matt Thompson fumble gave GSU the ball back midway through the third quarter. The Eagles drove 48 yards on nine plays and the drive was capped by a McKinnon three-yard touchdown run to increase the Georgia Southern lead to 20-0 with 4:15 to play in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs mounted a few drives late in the game, but another fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs erased any chance for The Citadel to get on the board.
The Citadel was held to a season-low 160 total yards, 113 of which were on the ground. Four Bulldogs had double-digit tackles, led by Erik Clanton's 16 total tackles.
Georgia Southern gained 286 yards, all on the ground. McKinnon totaled 182 yards on the ground and a score. Roderick Tinsley led the Eagle defense with seven tackles, 2.5 of which were for loss.
#9 Wofford 28, Elon 21
ELON, N.C. - The Wofford football team used a 41-yard touchdown reception in the final ten seconds of the game to defeat Elon 28-21 on Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium. Mitch Allen found Devin Reed in the end-zone to secure the victory on the road.
The Terriers are 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the conference and the Phoenix are 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led in rushing by Eric Breitenstein with 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Devin Reed had two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. The Phoenix were led by Scott Riddle with 246 passing yards on 27-of-39 with three touchdowns. Sean Jeffcoat led the receivers with 89 yards and one touchdown.
The teams traded punts on the opening four possessions of the game, with each drive going three-and-out. On the third drive by Elon, Scott Riddle was intercepted on a pass over the middle by Mike McCrimon. A personal foul at the end of the play gave Wofford the ball at the Elon 18-yard line. On the first play, Eric Breitenstein went the 18-yards for a 7-0 lead at 6:36 in the first quarter.
The Wofford defense forced another three-and-out and Wofford took over at the three-yard line. The Terriers picked up five first downs and capped the drive with another 18-yard run by Eric Breitenstein for a 14-0 lead at 14:29 in the second quarter.
Elon gained two first downs on their next possession, but were forced to punt after two holding calls. The Terriers then were forced three-and-out and the Phoenix took over at the 48-yard line. They picked up one first down, but on fourth-and-one, Tommy Irvin broke up a pass to give the ball back to the Terriers.
Wofford was able to gain four first downs, including a conversion of a fourth-and-one by Eric Breitenstein, but a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the half by Christian Reed was wide right. At the half, the Terriers had a 14-0 lead and held the Elon offense to only 66 yards with three first downs.
The Terriers got the ball to start the second half and wasted little time as Mike Rucker ran the kickoff back 84 yards down the far sideline for a 21-0 lead. Elon responded with a touchdown pass from Scott Riddle to Aaron Mellette with 12:44 on the clock for a 21-7 score.
After trading punts, Elon returned a punt to the 35-yard line. With the short field, the Phoenix scored on a six-yard pass from Riddle to A.J. Harris to make it a 21-14 game with 2:20 left in the third quarter. Wofford was forced three-and-out and punted to start the fourth quarter. Elon was going to punt, but Scott Riddle ran a fake to pick up the first down. The Phoenix were able to tie the game with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Riddle to Sean Jeffcoat with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter.
With the ball back, Wofford picked up a fourth-and-two. On the next play, the Terriers fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Phoenix with 8:46 left in the quarter. Elon was driving, but the ball was fumbled at the one-yard line out of the end-zone, giving the Terriers the ball at the 20-yard line. A reverse by Brenton Bersin gained 24-yards, but a sack on third down forced Wofford to punt with 3:49 on the clock. Elon gained a first down, but punted with 1:36 remaining.
Wofford got the ball back on the Elon 49-yard line. After gaining one first down, the Terriers were down to the final plays of the game. With nine seconds left and a third-and-14, Mitch Allen found Devin Reed for a 41-yard touchdown grab. Elon had one final play, but the laterals ended with an illegal forward pass.
The Terriers had 297 total yards, with 246 on the ground. Elon had 313 yards, 246 of which were passing. Wofford had the time of possession advantage. Wofford was 4-of-13 on third downs. Elon was 6-of-14 on third down.
Chattanooga 36, #25 Furman 28
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- B.J. Coleman passed for 432 yards and two touchdowns and keyed a 26-point fourth quarter comeback to propel FCS 24th-ranked Chattanooga to a 36-28 homecoming victory over 25th-ranked Furman Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
Coleman, who completed 33-of-58 passes, overcame four interceptions to help the Mocs (5-2, 4-1 SoCon) erase a 28-10 fourth quarter deficit and snap a 15-game series losing streak to Furman (4-3, 2-2 SoCon). It also halted Furman's 11-game run of success in homecoming contests.
Coleman's 9-yard scoring strike to Joel Bradford midway through the final period gave UTC a 29-28 lead. The Mocs' Josh Williams then pounced on a Furman fumble at the Paladin 11-yard line, and on the next play Chris Awuah split two defenders on an 11-yard run into the end zone to cap UTC's outburst.
Furman's potential bid to tie the game ended when the Mocs' Kadeem Wise intercepted a pass by Paladin quarterback Cody Worley at the UTC 22 with 2:24 remaining.
Bradford, a junior flanker, teamed up with Coleman to do the most damage for the Mocs, catching 15 passes for a school record 274 yards. UTC fashioned a 568-227 advantage in total offense and ran 102 plays to Furman's 54. The Mocs also totaled 33 first downs to Furman's 12 and enjoyed a 36:32-23:28 differential in time of possession.
Furman's offense failed to produce points in 10 of its final 11 possessions.
Despite the impressive statistics, Chattanooga almost let early turnovers and poor special teams play decide the contest.
Furman cornerback Ryan Steed gathered in a tipped Coleman pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter to give the Paladins a 7-0 lead.
The Mocs got on the board on their next possession with a 20-yard Jeff Veres field goal, but only after failing to take advantage of a first and goal situation at the Furman 2.
A Worley 5-yard scoring run three minutes into the second quarter put Furman up 14-3, and the Paladins followed it up with a strong rush on fourth down on the Mocs' ensuing possession, forcing UTC punter Mike Hammons to the ground at the Chattanooga 23. Three plays later Worley lofted a pass behind the UTC secondary and into the hands of tight end Colin Anderson for a 21-3 Furman advantage.
Chattanooga made it a 21-10 game with a Coleman 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Pitchford, but only after the Mocs' Erroll Wynn's fumble into the end zone was recovered by Rick Furman, ending a 6-play, 75-yard drive.
UTC's frustration continued on its final possession of the first half. After moving 57 yards in 10 plays to the Furman 5, the Mocs' turned it over when Paladin free safety Nathan Wade gathered in a pass in the back of the end zone with 24 second remaining.
Furman added to its lead early in the third quarter after rover Max Lerner intercepted a Coleman aerial at the Chattanooga 47. Five plays later Worley hooked up with Anderson again, this time for a 27-yard strike that extended Furman's lead to 28-10 at the 9:19 mark.
Lerner made it two interceptions in successive possessions with a pickoff and 16-yard return to the UTC 44, but Furman's offense failed to capitalize and was forced to punt.
The Mocs began their fourth quarter comeback with a J.J. Jackson 5-yard scoring run, which capped an 11-play, 45-yard drive set up by a 19-yard Furman punt.
Furman's Sederrik Cunningham then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and after UTC's Don Cope pounced on it at the Paladin 31, the Mocs covered the short distance to make it 28-23 on Wynn's 5-yard scoring run with 11:48 left.
Another Furman three-and-out gave Chattanooga the ball at its own 23 with 10:46 to go, and from there Coleman and Bradford carved up the Paladin secondary with connections of 29 and 24 yards as part of a 5-play, 77-yard drive that ended when Coleman drilled a 9-yard strike to Bradford in the back corner of the end zone. The Mocs' two-point conversion attempt failed, but the tally gave UTC a 29-28 lead - its first of the game.
The Mocs then took control with Williams' fumble recovery at the Furman 11, leading to Awuah's 11-yard scoring run on the next play.
#1 Appalachian State 37, Western Carolina 14
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Top-ranked Appalachian State University took advantage of terrific field position to jump out to a 20-point first-quarter lead and never looked back en route to a 37-14 win over archrival Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
Travaris Cadet set the tone for the Mountaineers by returning the opening kickoff 56 yards to the WCU 44. Eight plays later, DeAndre Presley scored on an 11-yard run to make it 7-0 just 3:22 into the game.
Western Carolina (2-6, 1-4 SoCon) pulled out all the stops early in the game in hopes of an upset, beginning with its opening play when it picked up 50 yards on a flea-flicker. However, the trickery backfired for the rest of the period, which was a big factor in ASU building what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
After an ill-fated fourth-down attempt left the Catamounts empty-handed following the big gain on their first play, WCU coach Dennis Wagner went into the bag of tricks again on the Cats' next possession, calling for a fake punt on fourth-and-eight from their own 20 yard line. Demery Brewer easily snuffed out the fake and ASU quickly took advantage of the great field possession, with Presley scoring his second touchdown of the afternoon from four yards out to cap a five-play, 22-yard drive and make it 13-0.
On its ensuing possession, Western gave Appalachian great field position again when tailback Michael Johnson muffed a handoff and Gordy Witte, Jr., recovered at the WCU 26. The Mountaineers once again made quick work of the short field and stretched the lead to 20-0 on Cedric Baker's two-yard touchdown run with 1:22 still left to play in the opening period.
After out-gaining the Catamounts 122-66 in the opening period, the Mountaineers' offense sputtered in the second quarter and WCU appeared to grab momentum when Zac Brindise found Marquel Pittman for a 32-yard touchdown pass that cut the ASU lead to 20-7 with 2:56 to go before halftime.
However, Presley and Co. answered the Cats' touchdown with an eight-play, 91-yard drive, capped by Presley's third touchdown run of the half from seven yards out. It took ASU just 2:12 to carve out the 91-yard drive, which started with a 31-yard run by Presley and a 21-yard pass to Brian Quick and the Apps took a 27-7 lead into the halftime break.
Appalachian tacked on a 10-yard touchdown run by Cadet in the third quarter and a 33-yard field goal by Jason Vitaris in the fourth to close out its seventh-straight game with 30-plus points.
As has been the case all year, Presley led the offensive charge, accounting for 272 total yards. The Walter Payton Award and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year candidate torched threw for 185 yards on 21-of-26 passing and added 87 yards to go along with the three scores on just nine carries (9.7 avg.).
Presley completed passes to seven different receivers, led by Matt Cline, who hauled in seven receptions for 60 yards. Cadet added 153 all-purpose yards (80 rushing, 10 receiving and 63 on kickoff returns).
After not allowing The Citadel to complete a pass a week ago, Appalachian's run defense stepped up on Saturday, limiting Western to just 88 rushing yards. D.J. Smith led the effort with a game-high 13 tackles, good for his fifth-straight double-digit-tackle performance.
Against the pass, ASU registered a season-high five sacks, led by two from Buchanan Award candidate Jabari Fletcher, and broke up nine passes, paced by three by Ed Gainey.
At 7-0 (5-0 SoCon) for just the second time since 1954 and only the fourth time in school history, Appalachian returns to action next Saturday when it hosts longtime rival Furman. ASU's annual Black Saturday game kicks off at 3:30 p.m.