CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel Bulldogs wrap up the 2017 regular season with a road trip to the nation's new No. 2 in the Clemson Tigers on Saturday. Kickoff is at 12:20 p.m. The game will be carried on the ACC Network.
GAMEDAY LINKS
Date/Time: Nov. 18, 2017 / 12:20 p.m.
Location/Stadium: Memorial Stadium / Clemson, S.C.
TV: (WCSC-CBS CHARLESTON) ACC NETWORK -
GAME NOTES
The Citadel Sports Network (Mike Legg & Lee Glaze): LISTEN LIVE
Live Stats:
FOLLOW LIVE
The Citadel (5-5) and Clemson meet for the first time since 2012. Clemson leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 31-5-1, but The Citadel has a history of success against FBS opponents including, most recently, a win in 2015 at South Carolina, 23-22. Oddly, it's the second time in four years the Bulldogs have faced the defending national champion. The Bulldogs lost to Florida State early in the 2014 season and face Alabama to close out to 2018.
Last week's loss to Furman left a sour taste in the mouths of one of the most successful senior classes in history. The seniors have 29 wins as a class and will go out as one of the winningest classes in program history. The group has the most wins over a four-year stretch since the early 1990's to go with a pair of FCS Playoff appearances and two SoCon titles, but they get their toughest test – one of the toughest the program's – on Saturday.
"It'll be a challenge for us in every aspect," Citadel head coach
Brent Thompson said earlier this week. "I don't know how often this program has faced a team like this in a spot where the Clemson program is right now. First downs will be important to us. We need to execute our offense and keep theirs off the field."
Senior
Cam Jackson is one Bulldog who is playing some of his best football as the season ends. He had 271 total yards in last week's game. Three kickoff returns of over 30 yards, including a 51-yarder, to go with a 61-yard touchdown reception was a bright spot for The Citadel. Jackson and senior quarterback Dom Allen – who is 21-11 as the Bulldog's starter - are among a small group of seniors on the nation's No. 2 rushing offense playing their final game.
Defensively, linebacker
Myles Pierce, defensive lineman
Jonathan King, corners
Ben Roberts,
Tyus Carter, and
Shy Phillips, and safety
Kailik Williams are among the seniors on the league's No. 2 defense putting on the football uniform for the final time. Pierce leads The Citadel with 12 tackles for loss for a defense that will be tested by a balanced and explosive Clemson offense littered with playmakers, including quarterback Kelly Bryant.
Clemson has already played one game against an offense very similar to The Citadel's option attack in Georgia Tech. The Tigers topped GT, 24-10, in late October.
"It helps and it hurts," Thompson said of the Tigers familiarity with the Bulldogs' option. "In part, we have an idea of what they might try to do and get to see the film to try and adjust. On the other hand, they've seen it, played against it, and had success. We'll have to execute at our highest level."
The Tigers have played for the last two national championships, won the College Football Playoff in 2016, and are ranked No. 2 in this week's College Football Playoff rankings. Coming off of wins at N.C. State and at home against Florida State, the Bulldogs fall between those two ACC contests and a regular season next weekend at South Carolina and are locked into the ACC Championship Game against Miami on Dec. 2 in Charlotte.
Clear Bag Policy: Please note Clemson has a Clear Bag Policy in place, which can be found
HERE.
-CitadelSports-
