By Manning Snyder
SouthernPigskin.com

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Manning Snyder recaps The Citadel’s second win, a 26-7 triumph over Furman.

The Citadel wins their SoCon game against Furman at home, 26-7.

It is the second straight win for the Bulldogs (2-9, 2-5), the first victory of the season at home. The Paladins were shut down offensively by the Bulldog defense, gaining only 253 total yardsxe2x80x93xe2x80x9344 of those came off of a large run in garbage time. The Citadel offense didnxe2x80x99t complete a pass all game, yet outgained Furmanxe2x80x99s total yards with merely their rushing yards (286 to 253). Furmanxe2x80x99s SoCon standout running back Devin Wynn, who was averaging eighty yards per game going into Saturday, was held to only 32 yards on eight carries.

The Citadel dominated time-of-possession, holding the ball for nearly twenty more minutes than Furman. One of the consistent pitfalls of The Citadel in their losses this season has been their turnovers. Today, the Citadel only had one turnover.

An impressive special teams performance was the difference in the game for the Bulldogs. The Citadel blocked a Furman punt and scored at the end of the first quarter. Less than a minute later, the Bulldogs recovered a kickoff after the wind held up the ball. The offense scored two plays later. Citadel punter-extraordinaire Matt Campbell also placed two punts inside the 5-yard line.

Quarterback Jaylan Adams led all Bulldogs with 114 rushing yards, including two touchdowns. A-back Clay Harris added 67 yards.

Citadel defensive lineman Jay Smith and linebacker Hayden Johnson scored their first career touchdowns. Smith took an interception to the house in the fourth quarter, and Johnson scored on the blocked punt.

Furman was 2-12 on third downs and 1-4 on fourth downs. The Citadel was 7-17 on third downs and 2-4 on fourth downs. The Bulldogs had two interceptions.

The play and effort of the Bulldogs has been impressive the past two weeks. After storming back from a large deficit last weekend on the road against Wofford, this weekend, The Citadel knocked off a Furman team that is one of the best teams in the SoCon. In recent, while other SoCon teams have opted out (Wofford and Chattanooga), The Citadel, despite their uninspiring record, has trudged on, collecting some wins on the way.

In the month of April, the Citadel is 2-0.

Saturdayxe2x80x99s contest was Furmanxe2x80x99s last of the season. The Citadel finishes out the spring slate next weekend at VMI, a team in contention to be SoCon Regular Season Champions.