Mocs Go To 2-0 With 29-28 OT Win At The Citadel

  • Saturday, September 8, 2018

The UTC Mocs improved to 2-0 with a Southern Conference road win over The Citadel 29-28 in overtime on Saturday evening.

The Mocs converted on a two-point conversion on a first and goal at the Citadel 3 on a Bryce Nunnelly pass to a wide open Jordan Giberti. It was a surprise play since Nunnelly had been on the receiving end of 10 passes on the night for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Citadel had scored first in overtime for a 28-21 lead. Tyrell Price took it in from four yards out to make it 28-27 before Coach Tom Arth called the gutsy two-point play.

UTC scored twice in the opening period on a 76-yard strike from Nick Tiano to Nunnelly and 16-yard run through would-be tacklers by Tyrell Price.

The Citadel sandwiched another Tiano-Nunnelly connection, this time from 20 yards, to send the Mocs into the break leading 21-14.

 

The Bulldogs opened the third quarter with a methodical 78-yard drive that ended on Lorenzo Ward’s one-yard run. It ate up 8:13 of clock time and leveled the scoreboard at 21-all.

 

The game got a little whacky from there. A blocked punt put the Bulldogs in prime position at the Mocs 20. The defense held their hosts out of the end zone and a missed field goal gave them a good jolt for the remainder of the contest.

 

The Mocs missed two field goals. The Bulldogs turned it over while converting a fake punt. It was just that kind of half. The defense provided the key moment.

 

The Citadel took over with 7:30 to go in the game on their own 20 after intercepting Tiano in the end zone. It was a familiar refrain. Run. Run. Run. Run. Grant Drakeford crossed into UTC territory and it was first-and-10 at the 47.

 

Ian Hayes stopped Clay Harris after one yard. Hawk Schrider and Khayyan Edwards stuffed Jordan Black after two more. On third-and-long, Isaiah Mack and Derek Mahaffey swarmed Black as he scrambled to pass sacking him for an eight-yard loss. It was just their second play that lost yardage all night.

 

The Citadel got back on track taking the first snap of the extra period. Black started with a 10-yard gain to the 15. Two plays and one yard later, the Bulldogs QB found Ward for exactly the nine yards he needed. Black followed with a five-yard keeper for a 28-21 lead.

 

The Mocs needed just three plays. After Tiano was stopped for no gain on first down, he found Joseph Parker at the four. Price would not be denied from there for the touchdown. There was no hesitation. Coach Tom Arth sent in the 2pt conversion.

 

Tiano moved left, lateraled to Nunnelly who sprinted back to the right as the majority of The Citadel defense followed the misdirection. The two defenders who stayed converged on the sophomore wideout. He deftly lifted a high-arcing, slowly-moving changeup to Giberti on the right sideline. He caught the pass, made sure his feet were down and celebrated the win as his teammates converged on him in the end zone.

 

There was 832 yards of total offense with 452 on the Mocs side and 380 for the home team. Tiano completed 16 of 28 for 347 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Nunnelly was the recipient of 10 of those throws for 268 and both scores. Price ran 17 times for 71 yards and the other two touchdowns.

 

Six Bulldog backs recorded double-figure rushing yards with Harris’ 70 leading the way. Black added 47 with two rushing touchdowns and another with his arm throwing for 90 in the triple option attack.

The Citadel falls to 0-2 on the young season. 

The Bulldogs had lost 28-21 at #10 Wofford in the final seconds last week, while the Mocs were beating Tennessee Tech.

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