Clemson, S.C. – The Citadel outscored Princeton 30-7 in a second half rally to lead the Bulldogs to a 37-24 victory over Princeton University before a crowd of 13,120 at Sansom Field at Johnson Hagood Stadium. A Mel Capers blocked punt was the turnaround in the game after which The Citadel scored on five consecutive possessions.

The Bulldogs got off to a rough start as the opening possession started off with a Bart Blanchard sack, setting The Citadel back nine yards for second-and-19. Unable to make-up the yardage, Mark Kaspar was brought out and punted a 46-yarder to the Princeton 15. Matt Ransom returned the ball 13 yards to the Princeton 28 to start their first possession of the game. Driving the ball 58 yards, the Tigers connected on a 31-yard field goal with 8:07 on the clock, putting the first points on the board, 3-0.

Princeton started the second quarter with another successful drive. Starting at their own 22-yard line, the Tigers drove the ball 78 yards in 13 plays, taking 6:27 off the clock for a Tiger touchdown at 8:19. Princeton extended the lead, 10-0.

The Citadel got into the game on the next possession when Blanchard connected with All-American wide receiver Andre Roberts for an 11-yard touchdown pass on second-and-seven with 3:14 left in the second. A Sam Keeler extra point kick brought the Bulldogs within three points, 10-3.

However, the Tigers added another touchdown of their own on the next possession. Taking just 2:56 off the clock, Princeton drove the ball 50 yards in 10 plays, ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the quarter. Princeton led going into the half, 17-7.

The Bulldogs came out attacking in the third quarter. Forcing the Tigers to punt the ball from their own 38-yard line on the first possession of the second half, Mel Capers blocked the kick leading to a Reggie Rice recovery and Bulldog touchdown at 12:45 in the third quarter. The score marked the first time the Bulldogs blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown since Lincoln Kling’s block and recovery in 2007 against Webber International. The Citadel was back within three.

The next Bulldog possession was highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Blanchard to Josh Haney, putting The Citadel in Princeton territory. The Bulldogs took the lead when Blanchard found Taylor Cornett for a 4-yard touchdown pass at 5:13 in the third. The Citadel took the lead for the first time in the game, 21-17.

The Citadel defense forced Princeton to punt on their next possession and followed it with an eight-play, 26 yard drive that ended with a Sam Keeler 29-yard field goal with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Bulldog defense forced another three-and-out on the next Princeton possession. The Citadel received the ball on the Tiger 38-yard line and drove to the Tiger 12 before Keeler kicked a 29-yard field goal to extend the Bulldog lead, 24-17.

Freshman running back Asheton Jordan recorded his third career touchdown on a 5-yard run at 13:11 in the fourth quarter, extending the Bulldog margin to 13 points after a failed extra point by Keeler. Roberts sealed the game with another Citadel touchdown at 5:51 left in the game before Princeton scored one last time on a 13-yard pass with 41 seconds left in the game.

Blanchard finished the game completing 12-of-22 passes with one interception for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Roberts led the Bulldogs’ offensive effort with four catches for 22 yards and two touchdowns. Haney recorded three catches for 55 yards and a game-long of 35 yards. Jordan wrapped up with 72 rushing yards and one touchdown. Reggie Rice led the Bulldog defense with 11 total tackles, one sack for a loss of 11 yards and three quarterback hurries. The Citadel totaled 307 offensive yards and 18 first downs, while Princeton totaled 358 with 21 first downs.

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