Bucs score 21 fourth-quarter points to push past The Citadel, 34-17

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WJHL) – After a tumultuous 36 hours, ETSU football will depart Charleston with a SoCon victory over the Bulldogs, 34-17.

After being stranded in the team buses for about 14 hours overnight – eventually arriving at the team hotel at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday – the Bucs took the field for the delayed 5 p.m. kickoff.

The Citadel’s Ben Barnes knocked through a 32-yard field goal to open the scoring in the first quarter. That score would hold until early in the second quarter, when Khamran Laborn dashed up the middle for a 20-yard rushing score.

After a failed conversion, the Blue and Gold led 6-3.

Jaylen King answered the call later in the quarter on 4th & 2 – keeping the option for a 14-yard scamper and a 13-3 advantage.

ETSU opened the third quarter with a turnover deep in their own territory, which led to a Garrison Johnson one-yard touchdown. The Citadel drew back within 13-10.

The Bulldogs threatened to tie the game with a field goal just minutes later, but the Bucs’ special teams unit provided a huge boost, blocking the kick and keeping the score 13-10.

From there, the ETSU offense took over. Rushing touchdowns from Laborn (40 yds) and Bryson Irby (58 yds) were bookends for a Jimmy Bowdry pick-six to seal the deal.

The Citadel did score one late passing touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback.

King was 13-of-29 through the air with 152 yards passing and three interceptions. He added 29 yards and a score on the ground.

Laborn was a revelation in the backfield, taking five carries for 117 yards and two scores on the day. Irby, who was limited by injury in practice this week, according to Buccaneer Sports Network broadcast, toted the ball 14 times for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Nick Hunter paced the defense with a pair of sacks for the Blue and Gold, while Ray Coney contributed nine total tackles, including one for loss in the win.

“You’re responsible for 100 kids – just proud of the way they played,” an emotional Tre Lamb told reporters after the game. “We got out of there yesterday, this morning, wanting to play the game. They wanted to play and I’m glad we did – good to see them get a win.”

According to Lamb, the Bucs will remain in a Charleston hotel overnight and begin the trek back home to Johnson City around midday on Sunday.

The Bucs (3-2, 1-0 SoCon) will host Chattanooga on Homecoming Weekend next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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