The Citadel at Charleston Southern FCS Football 2015 Playoffs 2nd Round Breakdown
Citadel at Charleston Southern, Saturday, 1:00
This will be a rematch of the Sept. 26 contest when Charleston Southern outscored The Citadel 17-0 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 33-20 victory. Before Jamey Chadwell became coach, the Bucs were 1-5 against The Citadel but now have won three straight against the Bulldogs.
On Saturday, The Citadel (9-3), playing in its first FCS playoff game since 1992, beat Coastal Carolina 41-38 to advance to the second round. Charleston Southern (9-2) earned a first-round bye and was a top eight seed as it won the Big South title this season. The Bucs are making their first appearance in the FCS playoffs. Chadwell is 27-9 in three seasons at CSU and is 7-2 against rivals Coastal Carolina, The Citadel and Liberty.
“There’s probably not a chance we’ll ever play again, at least while I’m here,” Chadwell said following the Sept. 26 contest, but here they are – CSU and The Citadel – meeting again with the stakes much higher.
The Citadel led 17-6 at halftime and 20-16 after three quarters before CSU took over. Charleston Southern scored on its first five drives of the second half to erase that halftime deficit. The Bucs rolled up 312 yards in the second half and they held The Citadel to 15 net yards rushing in the second half. CSU finished with 494 yards offense compared with the Bulldogs’ 200.
The Citadel fumbled three times and lost two against Charleston Southern before and that turnover battle could loom large again in this contest. The Citadel beat Coastal Carolina thanks in part to four turnovers and they might need to win the turnover battle again to have a chance.
One has to wonder how much The Citadel might have left in its tank. The Bulldogs have met Chattanooga, South Carolina and Coastal Carolina in successive weeks, winning the last two. Can they expect to beat a fresh and emotionally charged Charleston Southern in the playoffs? The Citadel will come to play but judging from the second half of that Sept 26 contest, Charleston Southern has to be favored.
Projected Score: Charleston Southern 38, The Citadel 20
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