The Citadel rides defense to 21-3 win over VMI

Oct 28, 2017, 10:31 pm

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Grant Drakeford sprinted 71 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and The Citadel defense did the rest in a 21-3 victory over VMI on Saturday.

Grant Clemons' 37-yard field goal staked the Keydets to a 3-0 lead on their first possession of the game. The lead lasted 58 seconds.

Drakeford gave the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-3 Southern Conference) the lead for good on their third play of the game. Brandon Rainey topped The Citadel with 125 yards on the ground on 16 carries, while Dominique Allen added 80 yards and a score. Lorenzo Ward capped the scoring for the Bulldogs with a 45-yard run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 79 yards on nine totes. Drakeford totaled 76 yards on three carries. Overall The Citadel rushed 59 times for a season-high 407 yards. The Bulldogs had 405 yards rushing in a win over Chattanooga last week.

VMI managed just 72 yards on the ground on 32 rushes. The Keydets (0-9, 0-6) were held to 219 yards of total offense, marking the fifth time this season the Bulldogs have held an opponent under 300 yards.

Duncan Hodges completed 22 of 36 passes for 147 yards and an interception for the Keydets, who have lost 11 straight in the series.

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