2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

Last updated

2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football
Citadel Bulldogs logo.svg
Conference Southern Conference
Record4–7 (3–4 SoCon)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
  • Patrick Covington (3rd season)
  • Lamar Owens (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorRaleigh Jackson (3rd season)
Home stadium Johnson Hagood Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 8 Mercer $  8 0   9 1  
No. 25 Western Carolina  5 2   6 5  
Chattanooga  4 3   5 6  
East Tennessee State  4 3   6 5  
Wofford  4 3   5 6  
Furman  4 4   6 5  
The Citadel  3 4   4 7  
Samford  1 7   1 10  
VMI  0 7   1 10  
  • $ Conference champion
As of November 16, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represent The Citadel as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs are led by third-year head coach Maurice Drayton and play home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 p.m.No. 1 North Dakota State * ESPN+ L 0–3810,695
September 63:30 p.m.at Samford ESPN+W 40–134,017
September 137:00 p.m.at Gardner–Webb *ESPN+L 13–234,522
September 202:00 p.m. Mercer
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 0–3811,339
September 276:00 p.m.at Chattanooga ESPN+W 28–106,725
October 112:00 p.m. Valdosta State *
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+W 38–148,693
October 182:00 p.m. Western Carolina
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 38−459,151
October 252:00 p.m.at Furman ESPN+L 14–2410,017
November 12:00 p.m. VMI
ESPN+W 35–2411,127
November 81:00 p.m.at No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss * SECN+/ESPN+L 0–4967,326
November 152:00 p.m. Wofford Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 14–1612,909
November 221:00 p.m.at East Tennessee State ESPN+
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1] [2]

Game summaries

No. 1 North Dakota State

No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (0-0) at The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 1 Bison01714738
Bulldogs00000

at Johnson Hagood StadiumCharleston, SC

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 10,691
  • Referee: Jake Grombach
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Pete Yanity (play-by-play), Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) and Dave Friedman (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter
  • (13:36) NDSU – Eli Ozick 31-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:55; North Dakota State 3–0)
  • (5:10) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 2-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 90 yards, 6:22; North Dakota State 10–0)
  • (1:36) NDSU – RaJa Nelson 34-yard pass from Cole Payton, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 7 plays, 84 yards, 1:57; North Dakota State 17–0)
Third Quarter
  • (14:13) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 1-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:34; North Dakota State 24–0)
  • (4:54) NDSU – DJ Scott 1-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 7:14; North Dakota State 31–0)
Fourth Quarter
  • (5:07) NDSU – Isiah St. Romain 15-yard pass from Nathan Hayes, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 95 yards, 7:20; North Dakota State 38–0)
StatisticsNDSUCIT
First downs258
Total yards519126
Rushing yards256104
Passing yards26322
Passing: Comp–Att–Int16–22–02–6–0
Time of possession36:0323:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North Dakota StatePassingCole Payton11/17, 192 yards, TD
RushingCole Payton11 carries, 101 yards
ReceivingRaJa Nelson2 receptions, 60 yards, TD
The CitadelPassingQuentin Hayes1/3, 14 yards
RushingIsrael Benjamin16 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingJavonte Graves-Billips1 reception, 14 yards

at Samford

The Citadel Bulldogs (0-1) at Samford Bulldogs (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
The Citadel010102040
Samford060713

at Pete Hanna StadiumHomewood, AL

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 2:30 PM CDT
  • Game weather: Cloud • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 4,017
  • Referee: Michael Farmer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Blake Gardner (play-by-play), Damian Mitchell (analyst) and Christina Chambers (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter
  • (14:46) SAM – Jake Garner 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 13 yards, 1:17; Samford 3–0)
  • (8:34) SAM – Jake Garner 20-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 4:25; Samford 6–0)
  • (6:03) CIT – Javonte Graves-Billups 43-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:31; The Citadel 7–6)
  • (0:03) CIT – Ben Barnes 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 0:36; The Citadel 10–6)
Third Quarter
  • (11:21) CIT – Ben Barnes 28-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 3:17; The Citadel 13–6)
  • (3:03) CIT – Sayre Smothers 31-yard fumble recovery, Ben Barnes kick (The Citadel 20–6)
Fourth Quarter
  • (13:48) CIT – Bradlee Jones 59-yard fumble recovery, Ben Barnes kick (The Citadel 27–6)
  • (11:17) SAM – CJ Evans 5-yard run, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:31; The Citadel 27–13)
  • (4:34) CIT – Javonte Graves-Billups 13-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, 2-pt conversion failed (Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 1:32; The Citadel 33–13)
  • (1:45) CIT – Quentin Hayes 18-yard run, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:32; The Citadel 40–13)
StatisticsCITSAM
First downs1526
Total yards330452
Rushing yards16290
Passing yards168362
Passing: Comp–Att–Int10–13–043–62–3
Time of possession29:5130:09
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassingCobey Thompkins9/11, 155 yards, TD
RushingCobey Thompkins13 carries, 76 yards
ReceivingJavonte Graves-Billips6 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
SamfordPassingQuincy Crittendon40/56, 324 yards, 3 INT
RushingQuincy Crittendon14 carries, 35 yards
ReceivingJaden Gibson10 receptions, 91 yards

at Gardner–Webb

The Citadel Bulldogs (1-1) at Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs007613
Runnin' Bulldogs1073323

at Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 4,522
  • Referee: John Kellermeier
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ford Martin (play-by-play) and Bryson Byrnes (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (7:14) GWU – Charles Viorel 26-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:34; Gardner–Webb 3–0)
  • (0:47) GWU – Caleb Borders 11-yard pass from Nate Hampton, Charles Viorel kick (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:08; Gardner–Webb 10–0)
Second Quarter
  • (6:15) GWU – Chris Lofton 67-yard pass from Nate Hampton, Charles Viorel kick (Drive: 2 plays, 69 yards, 0:43; Gardner–Webb 17–0)
Third Quarter
  • (11:02) GWU – Charles Viorel 33-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -1 yards, 0:39; Gardner–Webb 20–0)
  • (1:39) CIT – Sebastien Boyle 2-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:00; Gardner–Webb 20–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (10:57) GWU – Charles Viorel 27-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:35; Gardner–Webb 23–7)
  • (0:02) CIT – Braylon Knauth 1-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins (Drive: 8 plays, 99 yards, 1:31; Gardner–Webb 23–13)
StatisticsCITGWEB
First downs1416
Total yards307334
Rushing yards210118
Passing yards97216
Passing: Comp–Att–Int6–11–015–25–0
Time of possession30:5028:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassingCobey Thompkins6/10, 97 yards, TD
RushingGarrison Johnson Sr.13 carries, 73 yards
ReceivingBraylon Knauth3 receptions, 44 yards, TD
Gardner–WebbPassingNate Hampton13/22, 206 yards, 2 TD
RushingQuasean Holmes17 carries, 90 yards
ReceivingChris Lofton3 receptions, 90 yards, TD

Mercer

Mercer Bears (1-1) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (1-2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears10771438
Bulldogs00000

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 11,339
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
StatisticsMERCIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Chattanooga

The Citadel Bulldogs (1-3) vs. Chattanooga Mocs (1-3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs7147028
Mocs730010

at Finley StadiumChattanooga, TN

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 6:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: N at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 6,725
  • Referee: Michael Farmer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Goforth (play-by-play), Chris Barnett (analyst) and Mackenzie Johnson (sideline)
StatisticsCITUTC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving
ChattanoogaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Valdosta State (DII)

Valdosta State Blazers (DII) (2-2) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (2-3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Blazers (DII)070714
Bulldogs14107738

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Rain
  • Game attendance: 8,693
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
StatisticsVALCIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Valdosta StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Western Carolina

Western Carolina Catamounts (4-3) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (3-3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Catamounts71714745
Bulldogs14371438

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 9,151
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (11:23) CIT – Braylon Knauth 61-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 1 play, 61 yards, 0:13; The Citadel 7–0)
  • (9:07) WCU – Malik Knight 14-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:10; Tied 7–7)
  • (0:53) CIT – Quentin Hayes 5-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:27; The Citadel 14–7)
Second Quarter
  • (10:41) WCU – Josiah Thomas 5-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:03; Tied 14–14)
  • (5:17) CIT – Ben Barnes 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -4 yards, 2:01; The Citadel 17–14)
  • (1:56) WCU – Markel Townsend 7-yard run, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:21; Western Carolina 21–17)
  • (0:00) WCU – Marcus Trout 25-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 1:05; Western Carolina 24–17)
Third Quarter
  • (11:35) WCU – James Tyre 9-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:19; Western Carolina 31–17)
  • (5:31) CIT – Beau Herrington 12-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:02; Western Carolina 31–24)
  • (2:48) WCU – Malik Knight 37-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:36; Western Carolina 38–24)
Fourth Quarter
  • (12:21) CIT – Quentin Hayes 8-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:27; Western Carolina 38–31)
  • (3:01) WCU – Dominic Dutton 18-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 10 plays, 87 yards, 4:57; Western Carolina 45–31)
  • (1:36) CIT – Cobey Thompkins 20-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:25; Western Carolina 45–38)
StatisticsWCUCIT
First downs2915
Total yards515410
Rushing yards146278
Passing yards369132
Passing: Comp–Att–Int28–33–15–9–0
Time of possession29:4430:16
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing Taron Dickens 28/33, 369 yards, 5 TD, INT
RushingMarkel Townsend15 carries, 90 yards, TD
ReceivingJames Tyre7 receptions, 112 yards, TD
The CitadelPassingCobey Thompkins3/5, 111 yards, TD
RushingQuentin Hayes15 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBraylon Knauth2 receptions, 69 yards, TD

at Furman (rivalry)

The Citadel Bulldogs (3-4) vs. Furman Paladins (4-3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs0014014
Paladins638724

at Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 10,018
  • Referee: Jake Grombach
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan Scott (play-by-play), David Cobb (analyst) and Tom Van Hoy (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (11:43) FUR – Ian Williams 45-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:17; Furman 3–0)
  • (3:56) FUR – Ian Williams 36-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 5:37; Furman 6–0)
Second Quarter
  • (1:06) FUR – Ian Williams 21-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:48; Furman 9–0)
Third Quarter
  • (13:05) CIT – Jihad Marks 46-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:55; Furman 9–7)
  • (9:43) CIT – Jihad Marks 46-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:15; Citadel 14–9)
  • (3:30) FUR – Jayquan Smith 2-yard run, Jayquan Smith rush (Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 1:58; Furman 17–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (3:21) FUR – Jayquan Smith 7-yard run, Ian Williams kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:39; Furman 24–14)
StatisticsCITFUR
First downs1517
Total yards337351
Rushing yards133140
Passing yards204211
Passing: Comp–Att–Int14–18–016–22–0
Time of possession28:0931:51
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassingQuentin Hayes11/15, 194 yards, 2 TD
RushingQuentin Hayes13 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingJihad Marks3 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
FurmanPassingTrey Hedden16/22, 211 yards
RushingBen Croasdale19 carries, 91 yards
ReceivingEvan James8 receptions, 126 yards

VMI (Military Classic of the South)

VMI Keydets (1-7) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (3-5) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets777324
Bulldogs0072835

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 11,127
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (0:55) VMI – Nana Utsey 1-yard run, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:44; VMI 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (0:10) VMI – Malik McNeely 9-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 15 plays, 98 yards, 6:16; VMI 14–0)
Third Quarter
  • (11:14) VMI – Noah Grevious 59-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:51; VMI 21–0)
  • (6:50) CIT – Jihad Marks 19-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:24; VMI 21–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (14:58) VMI – Ben Shrewsbury 26-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 4:20; VMI 24–7)
  • (12:28) CIT – Quentin Hayes 6-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 2:27; VMI 24–14)
  • (10:36) CIT – Jihad Marks 72-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 2 plays, 88 yards, 0:26; VMI 24–21)
  • (4:33) CIT – Garrison Johnson Sr. 11-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 3:28; The Citadel 28–24)
  • (0:12) CIT – Jihad Marks 33-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:00; The Citadel 35–24)
StatisticsVMICIT
First downs1924
Total yards463511
Rushing yards202329
Passing yards261182
Passing: Comp–Att–Int21–29–07–10–0
Time of possession30:3429:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Shannon21/29, 261 yards, 2 TD
RushingLeo Boehling14 carries, 149 yards
ReceivingNoah Grevious11 receptions, 138 yards, TD
The CitadelPassingQuentin Hayes5/7, 175 yards, 3 TD
RushingCobey Thompkins11 carries, 101 yards
ReceivingJihad Marks4 receptions, 168 yards, 3 TD

at No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss

The Citadel Bulldogs (4-5) vs. No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss Rebels (8-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs00000
No. 6 (FBS) Rebels21147749

at Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS

StatisticsCITMISS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Ole MissPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Wofford (rivalry)

Wofford Terriers (0-0) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Terriers----0
Bulldogs----0

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EST
StatisticsWOFCIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WoffordPassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at East Tennessee State

The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs----0
Buccaneers----0

at William B. Greene Jr. StadiumJohnson City, TN

  • Date: November 22
StatisticsCITETSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving
East Tennessee StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. "2025 The Citadel Football Schedule". citadelsports.com. The Citadel Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  2. "2025 The Citadel Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. FBSchedules. Retrieved May 5, 2025.