ETSU topples The Citadel at home

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 9, 2021) – It was another win for the Buccaneers, this time cruising past The Citadel in blowout fashion by the final score of 48-21 at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. With the win, ETSU improved to 6-0 on the season, including 3-0 in Southern Conference action. The Bulldogs dropped to 2-3 on the campaign and 1-1 in league play.

ETSU cruised past the Bulldogs behind 558 yards of offense, a new season high for the squad. The Bucs outrushed and outplayed The Citadel, tallying 288 rushing yards and corralling 270 yards through the air. ETSU possessed the ball for 32:09, compared to 27:51 from the Bulldogs.

The ETSU offense was led by Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Ga.) who rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.) with 94 yards on 12 carries and one score. Four different players had a rushing touchdown in Saturday’s win, including Bryson Irby (Douglasville, Ga.) and Jawan Martin (Decatur, Tenn.) who each found the endzone for the first time in their careers. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Tyler Riddell (Tampa, Fla.) capped off the game with 270 passing yards and one score, a two-yard connection to Nate Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.).

The Buccaneer defense maintained the triple option attack of the The Citadel, limiting the enemy to just 21 points and 330 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs only accumulated 15 first downs as the Bucs stoned the rallies and limited the third-down conversions. ETSU was led by Donovan Manuel (Ellenwood, Ga.) with a career-best 14 tackles and Jared Folks (Harrisburg, Pa.) with 11 tackles.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter

• ETSU 3, The Citadel 0: After forcing a three-and-out, the Bucs cracked the scoreboard on their opening drive with a 37-yard field goal from Tyler Keltner.
• The Citadel 7, ETSU 3: Jaylan Adams punched the ball in for a two-yard touchdown run following ETSU’s missed field goal, capping off a 72-yard drive.

Second Quarter

• ETSU 10, The Citadel 7: ETSU jumped back on top with a two-yard connection between Tyler Riddell and Nate Adkins, the first receiving touchdown this season for Adkins.
• ETSU 17, The Citadel 7: The Bucs took over on The Citadel 40-yard line and just needed four plays as Jacob Saylors found the endzone with an eight-yard scamper for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.
• ETSU 17, The Citadel 14: The Bulldogs cut into the ETSU advantage with Jaylan Adams finding Raleigh Webb for a 24-yard touchdown pass on the fake option handoff.
• ETSU 20, The Citadel 14: ETSU extended its lead back to six with another field goal from Keltner, this time from just 23 yards out.

Third Quarter

• ETSU 27, The Citadel 14: ETSU had a big opening drive to start the second half as Jawan Martin found the endzone for his first career rushing touchdown, providing ETSU with the 13-point cushion.
• ETSU 27, The Citadel 21: The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown drive of their own, capped off with a three-yard rush from Logan Billings.
• ETSU 34, The Citadel 21: ETSU earned the touchdown back on the next drive, needing four plays to go 75 yards – aided by a 48-yard reception by Will Huzzie. Quay Holmes punched it in from two yards out for his first touchdown of the game.
• ETSU 41, The Citadel 21: It was another 75-yard scoring drive from the Bucs with yet another touchdown punch from Quay Holmes, this time from one yard out as the Bucs began to pull away.

Fourth Quarter

• ETSU 48, The Citadel 21: The Bucs found the endzone one final time as freshman running back Bryson Irby scampered for a 22-yard touchdown rush, his first career touchdown.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• The Bucs improved to 6-0 for just the third time in program history – doing so in 1969 and 1936.
• With the 27-point victory, ETSU ends a 13-game streak of one possession SoCon games – also marking the first multi-possession victory in league play under head coach Randy Sanders.
• ETSU had four different running backs cross the pylon on Saturday night, marking the first time since the return of football that four different backs have scored a rushing touchdown.
• ETSU entered the game outscoring opponents 103-28 in the first and fourth quarters this season but did the bulk of the damage in the second and third, outscoring The Citadel, 38-14.
• In his first full game back in action, Juliun Price (Mosheim, Tenn.) led the team in receptions and receiving yards with 78 yards on five catches.
• Will Huzzie (Duluth, Ga.) chipped in for 72 yards on three catches, while Nate Adkins added three catches for 44 yards and one score.
• Tyler Riddell found seven different receivers in the win, spreading the wealth in the offense.
• With his two rushing touchdowns, Holmes moved into third all-time in ETSU scoring with 246, seven points behind JJ Jerman (253).
• The Bucs outgained The Citadel, 227-67 in the third quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 21-7 in the process.
• Tyree Robinson hauled in another interception against the Bulldogs, his third career interception and fourth career forced turnover against The Citadel.
• Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished 2-of-3 in field goals, connecting from 37 yards and 23 yards.
• The Bucs received a big boost in the punting game from Garrett Taylor (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) with 170 yards in three punts, averaging 56.7 yards per punt.
• Taylor connected for a career-long 76-yard punt in the second quarter, downing the Bulldogs at their own four-yard line.

NEXT GAME UP
The Bucs are on the road next week with a much-anticipated matchup in the Rail Rivalry with in-state rival, Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn.

For more information on Buccaneer football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football page.