Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. - The VMI Keydet defense did not allow a touchdown over the final three-plus quarters, but The Citadel Bulldogs returned two interceptions for touchdowns and used five Eric Goins field goals to propel themselves to a 35-14 win in the annual Military Classic of the South football game, contested Saturday at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, S.C.
The Citadel (7-2, 6-0 SoCon) jumped ahead early, as Cam Jackson sprinted 68 yards for a touchdown less than three minutes into the game. That was the last touchdown the VMI (2-8, 1-5) defense would give up all day, but on the next Keydet possession, a Hayden Alford pass was run back 72 yards by linebacker Quinlan Washington for a touchdown to make it 14-0. Goins' five field goals helped stabilize the lead in the game's middle portions, and an Alford pass in the final seconds was returned for a score to account for the final margin.
The Keydets played without starting quarterback Al Cobb, who missed the game for undisclosed medical reasons. The Bulldogs were able to force backup Alford, who had thrown just four passes all season, into a four interception day. Alford completed 14 of 35 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Junior wide receiver Aaron Sanders caught seven passes for 65 yards and set a new school season record for receptions in a season. The Stafford, Va. native has 79 catches on the year and moved past Mark Stock who caught 74 passes in 1988. Sanders also extended his consecutive game reception streak to 25 games.
Freshman running back Quan Myers led the Keydets in rushing with 51 yards while redshirt senior Derrick Ziglar added 39 yards with a touchdown. Defensively, redshirt sophomore linebacker Ryan Francis produced 10 solos and five assists for a career-high 15 tackles and fellow inside linebacker Allan Cratsenberg added 11 stops.
Jackson led all ground gainers with 100 yards with 68 coming on the first quarter touchdown run. Fullback Isiaha Smith added 78 yards for the Bulldogs.
With his five field goals, Goins doubled his season output of makes in just one game and now stands 10 of 12 in field goal tries on the year.
With The Citadel leading 14-0 following Washington's pick-six, the Keydets halved the deficit when Ryan Francis forced a Bulldog fumble that was recovered by redshirt junior Damian Jones at midfield. The Keydets then embarked on a 10-play scoring drive that was capped by Alford's 3-yard cross-field touchdown pass to Ziglar who caught the ball at the 2 yard line and dove in for his first touchdown reception of the year.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 17-7 with Goins' first of five field goals on the day – a 33-yarder with 12:16 left in the second quarter. A 40-yard pass from Bulldog quarterback Dominique Allen to Jorian Jordan to the VMI 9 was the big play of the drive, but a holding penalty and a tackle-for- loss by Francis kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone.
The Citadel missed another scoring opportunity later in the second quarter when the Keydets held the Bulldogs on a fourth and goal from the VMI 2 when Cratsenberg and Francis sandwiched Jackson shy of the end zone. VMI was unable to get any breathing room after taking the ball over on downs and was forced to punt after a three-and-out. Redshirt freshman Bill Hogan, taking over the punting chores for Alford, booted a punt to the VMI 46, and the Bulldogs then labored through a nine-play drive to the VMI 9 before settling for a Goins 26 yard field goal as time expired in the first half extended the lead to 20-17.
Bulldog starting quarterback Dominique Allen had left the game late in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury and was replaced for the remainder of the second quarter by Jackson who moved over from his slot back position.
Jackson resumed his QB duties in the second half and moved the Bulldog opening drive to the VMI 38 before being stripped of the ball on a third down keeper by Ryan Francis and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Amon-Ra Clay took the loose ball and raced 59 yards to The Citadel 3 where he was tracked down from behind by fullback Tyler Renew. One play later, Ziglar slammed in from three yards out and Christopher's extra point made it 20-14 with 11:14 in the third quarter.
VMI forced The Citadel to punt on the ensuing possession and took over at its own 35. A 12-yard reverse rush by freshman wideout Dontae Mauck moved the ball to The Citadel 49, but three plays later an Alford fumble was recovered at the 50-yard line by defensive lineman Kevin Graham. Redshirt freshman Shon Belton, inserted into the game at quarterback, completed a pass to Jordan for 39 yards to the VMI 10. The Bulldogs settled again for a 20-yard field goal by Goins after the Keydet defense stiffened and led 23-14 with 5:58 left in the half.
Goins would later add field goals of 23 and 34 yards to extend The Citadel margin to 29-14 with 7:51 left in the game. The Keydets subsequently moved it twice into the red zone on follow-up possessions, but came away empty on points.
VMI has an off week next Saturday before closing out the season with a Southern Conference game against Western Carolina Saturday, November 21 at Foster Stadium. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT WACHENHEIM –
“I thought the defense fought their tails off. They hit the first touchdown early in the game on a pitch play and I told the defense that they would get used to the speed of the game and they got better and better as the game went along. I thought our special teams were outstanding. Offensively, we struggled a little bit without Al (Cobb) – we just couldn't put enough plays together. Turnovers, which had been our nemesis all year, continued today. Their defense leads the SoCon in interceptions and we helped them increase their lead.”
“Western Carolina (in two weeks) is our bowl game. We will take this week and heal – it's our first open week of the year. We played the 31st toughest schedule in FCS coming into this game. We'll practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but very lightly. Friday we will lift and run, Saturday and Sunday they will be off and then we will go get ready for Western Carolina.”
