CSU BUCS
September 9th, 2006, 11:49 PM
We almost blew a 28-13 lead but held on in double OT
Here is the story from CSUsports.com
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The nation’s third-longest winning streak moved to seven as the Buccaneers (2-0) won their seventh-straight game dating back to last season, pushing past The Citadel 38-35, Saturday night at Johnson Hagood Stadium. It was the Buccaneers first victory over the So-Con opponent in the two teams fourth meeting.
Senior quarterback Collin Drafts and junior wide out Maurice Price hooked up 12 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Drafts was 24-35 on the day with five touchdowns and 320 yards. Preseason Big South Defensive Player of the Year Jada Ross led the Bucs defensively with 12 tackles. Josh Mitchell and Dennis Justiniani each recorded 10 tackles, with Justiniani having his hands in on 2.5 sacks.
“This was a big victory, there is no doubt about it,” said CSU head coach Jay Mill’s. “It had a lot to do with gaining respect in this area. We found a way to step up and win as a team. It shows a lot about the character of the players and the coaches on this team that we have been able to make big plays when we needed to.”
The victory was not only the Bucs first ever against The Citadel, but marked the first time the Bucs have beaten a Southern Conference opponent.
“It was good to be able to get a win against a solid opponent,” continued Mills. “This victory proved that Charleston Southern truly stands to promote academic and athletic excellence in a Christian environment.”
For the second time this season it came down to big plays at the end of the game. In week one it was a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by Josh Mitchell, in week two it was a blocked field goal at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
“Our hard work paid off,” said fifth-year senior Brett Bowdren. “The last two weeks we have had our backs on the ropes but we have found a way to win. It came down to who wanted this game more, and our coaches did a great job of preparing us for this game.”
The field position game was heavily in the Bulldogs favor early as the Bucs started the game from their own eight-yard line and after a quick three-and-out gave the ball to The Citadel on CSU’s 40. The CSU defense held, and after a Mark Kaspar punt, CSU took the ball back on their own 20-yard line.
It was the CSU offense that made the games first first down, but an interception by Drafts to Earl Whitmore gave the ball right back to the Bulldogs. Again the CSU defense was up to the challenge as The Citadel showed and early determination to run the ball and was unable to make a first down.
The passing game continued to work for CSU as they were first to test out the new scoreboard at Johnson Hagood Stadium as the Drafts-Price connection hooked up one more time for a 16-yard touchdown pass with just :29.3 to go in the first quarter.
CSU passed for 75 yards and combined for 105 yards in the first quarter, and the CSU defense limited the Bulldogs to just 15 total yards, with all of them coming on the ground.
Backed up third and 19 with 4:23 to go in the half, things looked grim for the CSU offense, but an outstanding 21-yard catch by Markus Murry set up a 44-yard touchdown catch by Drew Rucks to put CSU up 14-0, giving the Bucs their first ever lead over The Citadel at halftime. After 30 minutes of play, the Buccaneer offense had garnered 210 total yards, while holding the Bulldogs to just 45 yards on 20 plays.
After the break, the Bulldog offense found its stride as they worked out a 13 play, 93-yard drive topped off by a Tory Cooper run as Citadel got on the board, cutting the CSU lead to seven at 14-7.
The breaks went CSU’s way with 5:40 in the third quarter after the Bulldog defense forced a punt and Tory Cooper fumbled it back to CSU, giving Drafts and the CSU offense a new breath of life. The Bucs would immediately take advantage of it as Drafts found Murry on the nine-yard line, one cut move and Murry found the end zone, putting the Bucs back up 21-7.
The Citadel put together another long drive, going 78 yards in 12 plays and cutting the lead back to eight (21-13) after the failed extra point.
CSU again responded thanks to a key third-down completion to Eli Byrd followed by a long, 30-yard completion to Drew Rucks. A four-yard pass to Kelby Taylor in the corner of the end zone topped the drive. Kicker Nick Ellis stayed perfect on the night (4-4 PAT), putting the Bucs up 28-13 with 11:28 to go in the game.
As was the trend, The Citadel pounded the ball down the field again, stringing an 11-play, 72 yard drive to put the ball in the end zone again. Lawson ran the ball in for the two-point conversion, bringing the Bulldogs to within striking range at 28-21. with 7:11 to go in the game.
A big stop by the Bulldogs got them the ball back with 3:50 to go in the game. What looked like a game-winning sack by Dennis Justiniani, turned into a touchdown for The Citadel, tying the game for the first time since it was 0-0. Justiniani would redeem himself with 3.6 seconds to go in the game as he blocked the 39-yard field goal attempt by Blake Vandiver, sending the game into overtime.
It only took one play for the Bucs to get on the board as Drafts found Price on the one-yard line and price surged ahead to put CSU up by a touchdown. The Bulldogs took more time, but stuck it in as well, sending the game into a second overtime.
A huge stop by the CSU defense put the ball at the foot of Ellis, who split the uprights from 26 yards out securing CSU’s first ever victory over the cross-town rival Bulldogs.
“That’s what I am here to do,” said Ellis. “It was closer than I wanted it to be, but I knew it had to go through for (fallen teammate) Eddie Gadson. There is no doubt that he is still playing on this team.”
Here is the story from CSUsports.com
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The nation’s third-longest winning streak moved to seven as the Buccaneers (2-0) won their seventh-straight game dating back to last season, pushing past The Citadel 38-35, Saturday night at Johnson Hagood Stadium. It was the Buccaneers first victory over the So-Con opponent in the two teams fourth meeting.
Senior quarterback Collin Drafts and junior wide out Maurice Price hooked up 12 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Drafts was 24-35 on the day with five touchdowns and 320 yards. Preseason Big South Defensive Player of the Year Jada Ross led the Bucs defensively with 12 tackles. Josh Mitchell and Dennis Justiniani each recorded 10 tackles, with Justiniani having his hands in on 2.5 sacks.
“This was a big victory, there is no doubt about it,” said CSU head coach Jay Mill’s. “It had a lot to do with gaining respect in this area. We found a way to step up and win as a team. It shows a lot about the character of the players and the coaches on this team that we have been able to make big plays when we needed to.”
The victory was not only the Bucs first ever against The Citadel, but marked the first time the Bucs have beaten a Southern Conference opponent.
“It was good to be able to get a win against a solid opponent,” continued Mills. “This victory proved that Charleston Southern truly stands to promote academic and athletic excellence in a Christian environment.”
For the second time this season it came down to big plays at the end of the game. In week one it was a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by Josh Mitchell, in week two it was a blocked field goal at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
“Our hard work paid off,” said fifth-year senior Brett Bowdren. “The last two weeks we have had our backs on the ropes but we have found a way to win. It came down to who wanted this game more, and our coaches did a great job of preparing us for this game.”
The field position game was heavily in the Bulldogs favor early as the Bucs started the game from their own eight-yard line and after a quick three-and-out gave the ball to The Citadel on CSU’s 40. The CSU defense held, and after a Mark Kaspar punt, CSU took the ball back on their own 20-yard line.
It was the CSU offense that made the games first first down, but an interception by Drafts to Earl Whitmore gave the ball right back to the Bulldogs. Again the CSU defense was up to the challenge as The Citadel showed and early determination to run the ball and was unable to make a first down.
The passing game continued to work for CSU as they were first to test out the new scoreboard at Johnson Hagood Stadium as the Drafts-Price connection hooked up one more time for a 16-yard touchdown pass with just :29.3 to go in the first quarter.
CSU passed for 75 yards and combined for 105 yards in the first quarter, and the CSU defense limited the Bulldogs to just 15 total yards, with all of them coming on the ground.
Backed up third and 19 with 4:23 to go in the half, things looked grim for the CSU offense, but an outstanding 21-yard catch by Markus Murry set up a 44-yard touchdown catch by Drew Rucks to put CSU up 14-0, giving the Bucs their first ever lead over The Citadel at halftime. After 30 minutes of play, the Buccaneer offense had garnered 210 total yards, while holding the Bulldogs to just 45 yards on 20 plays.
After the break, the Bulldog offense found its stride as they worked out a 13 play, 93-yard drive topped off by a Tory Cooper run as Citadel got on the board, cutting the CSU lead to seven at 14-7.
The breaks went CSU’s way with 5:40 in the third quarter after the Bulldog defense forced a punt and Tory Cooper fumbled it back to CSU, giving Drafts and the CSU offense a new breath of life. The Bucs would immediately take advantage of it as Drafts found Murry on the nine-yard line, one cut move and Murry found the end zone, putting the Bucs back up 21-7.
The Citadel put together another long drive, going 78 yards in 12 plays and cutting the lead back to eight (21-13) after the failed extra point.
CSU again responded thanks to a key third-down completion to Eli Byrd followed by a long, 30-yard completion to Drew Rucks. A four-yard pass to Kelby Taylor in the corner of the end zone topped the drive. Kicker Nick Ellis stayed perfect on the night (4-4 PAT), putting the Bucs up 28-13 with 11:28 to go in the game.
As was the trend, The Citadel pounded the ball down the field again, stringing an 11-play, 72 yard drive to put the ball in the end zone again. Lawson ran the ball in for the two-point conversion, bringing the Bulldogs to within striking range at 28-21. with 7:11 to go in the game.
A big stop by the Bulldogs got them the ball back with 3:50 to go in the game. What looked like a game-winning sack by Dennis Justiniani, turned into a touchdown for The Citadel, tying the game for the first time since it was 0-0. Justiniani would redeem himself with 3.6 seconds to go in the game as he blocked the 39-yard field goal attempt by Blake Vandiver, sending the game into overtime.
It only took one play for the Bucs to get on the board as Drafts found Price on the one-yard line and price surged ahead to put CSU up by a touchdown. The Bulldogs took more time, but stuck it in as well, sending the game into a second overtime.
A huge stop by the CSU defense put the ball at the foot of Ellis, who split the uprights from 26 yards out securing CSU’s first ever victory over the cross-town rival Bulldogs.
“That’s what I am here to do,” said Ellis. “It was closer than I wanted it to be, but I knew it had to go through for (fallen teammate) Eddie Gadson. There is no doubt that he is still playing on this team.”