CHARLESTON, S.C. -
Despite a breakout day by Presbyterian College's Trandon Dendy, the
Presbyterian College football team was unable to stop The Citadel's offense in
the 46-21 loss.
The Blue Hose now stand at 0-4 on the year. The Bulldogs improve to 2-1.
"I'm
disappointed in the loss," head coach Harold Nichols said. "I'm not discouraged
though. We did a lot of good things tonight and I know our young men are going
to persevere. We are coaching men of character."
The third
quarter proved to be the difference in the contest. The Citadel stopped PC in
its first drive and capitalized with a score. The Bulldogs tacked on another
score to go up 33-14 after three quarters. The Citadel eventually
accounted for 33 unanswered points for a 46-14 advantage.
Trandon Dendy led the PC rushing attack with a breakout game. Dendy compiled a
game-high 147 yards on the ground. The mark also marked
a career high for the student-athlete.
Brandon
Miley completed 17-of-33 for 168 yards while Tim Webb entered in the
fourth quarter and hit two-of three for 22 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Robbins
caught two balls for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Bryce Smiley had three unassisted tackles and four assisted.
Justin Bethel had four solo stops including a sack and a tackle for loss.
For the game, PC tallied 394 yards, 204 of which were in the air.
In the
first half, the teams battled back-and-forth as they were basically even in
most categories.
Dendy led the rushing attack, having gained 85 yards on 13 carries for a 6.5 yard-per
carry average. The bulk of his yardage came on a fourth-and-two forty-yard
scamper down the right sideline off an option from Miley, resulting in a
touchdown. The run knotted the score at 13 apiece and Aaron Mayes' extra point
gave the Blue Hose a 14-13 advantage with just 3:56 to play before intermission.
As a team, PC rushed the ball 21 times for 122
yards in the opening half and threw for 74 for 196
yards at the break. The running style for Nichols' team helped the squad
control the clock, keeping the ball for 17 minutes. The team was efficient in
third-down conversions, connecting on five-of-nine.
After The Citadel went down the field on its first possession and scored on a
seven-yard pass to Andrew Roberts for a 7-0 lead, the Blue Hose battled back.
On its opening possession, PC started in the hole, facing a first-and-15 after
a delay of game. Miley quickly helped the team get going in the right direction
with an 11-yard completion to Patrick McKoy. The Blue Hose picked up a first
down when Miley hit Anderico Bailey for a four-yard gain.
Dendy then took over, slicing through the defense via the run and off screen
passes, helping the team get into the red zone. On second-and-goal from the
five, Bailey got the team down to the one-yard-line. Miley then rushed over the
right tackle for his sixth career rushing touchdown. Mayes then tied the game
at seven apiece.
The
Bulldogs took the kick-off and drove down the field in just eight plays,
covering 73 yards to take a 13-7 lead. Sam Keeler
then shanked the extra point attempt, which clanged off the upright.
PC held The Citadel on its next possession, getting the ball back at the
32-yard-line. The Blue Hose chewed up 3:48 on the clock on nine plays. On
third-and-two on the 40, Miley attempted to hit Matt Quinn coming across the
middle. However, the pass could not find his hands. Nichols' gambled as the
team was just out of field goal range. Miley then pitched the ball to Dendy on
the option. Dendy got the corner and much more, ending his run after he crossed
the goal line.
PC's defense was unable to hold the home team as The Citadel drove 90 yards in nine plays for a 20-14 lead with
just 55 seconds remaining before the intermission.
The Blue
Hose, who are now done with their Southern Conference schedule, enter Big South
Conference play next week at Stony Brook. Game-time is slated for 3 p.m.
