Charleston, S.C. — Behind a dominant rushing attack and a relentless defensive effort, The Citadel bulldozed Division II opponent Valdosta State 38–14 on Saturday at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
Running back Garrison Johnson Sr. found the end zone three times, while Sebastien Boyle added two more scores as the Bulldogs (3–3) controlled the game from start to finish. The Citadel racked up 398 total yards, including a staggering 354 yards on the ground, compared to just 152 total yards for the visiting Blazers.
Six Bulldog players recorded double-digit rushing totals, with Boyle leading the way at 74 yards on just a handful of carries.
The Citadel wasted no time asserting itself, jumping out to a 24–0 first-half lead. Boyle provided the highlight of the day midway through the second quarter, breaking free for a 72-yard touchdown run up the middle — his second score of the game and part of a string of three consecutive Bulldog touchdowns.
Valdosta State (2–4) finally got on the scoreboard just before halftime after a defensive takeaway set them up in prime position. Quarterback Jameson Holcomb capped the short drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Paschall, who also accounted for both of the Blazers’ touchdowns.
The Bulldogs, however, wasted no time reestablishing control. In the third quarter, Johnson powered into the end zone on back-to-back drives from the 1-yard line, extending The Citadel’s lead to 38–7 and putting the game out of reach.
Holcomb finished with 144 passing yards and two touchdowns for Valdosta State, but the Blazers struggled to move the ball against a Citadel defense that surrendered just eight rushing yards all afternoon.
With the win, The Citadel evened its record at .500 and notched its most lopsided victory of the season, showcasing a return to its traditional ground-and-pound identity.
“We started fast. Offensively, we went touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal and three and out, and then an interception in the first half. That shows me we can’t handle success. We have to learn how to handle success and keep our foot on the gas for three straight hours. We can’t be satisfied, but we will never apologize after winning a game.” — The Citadel coach Maurice Drayton said.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs return to Southern Conference play next weekend when they travel to face Western Carolina.
