ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State’s perfect start to the 2026 season came to a heartbreaking end Saturday afternoon.
The Citadel stunned the No. 15/12 Bulldogs 34-31, with Evan Kiely drilling a 31-yard field goal as time expired to give The Citadel its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2022.
SC State entered the matchup 5-0 and nationally ranked, but The Citadel repeatedly answered every Bulldog push — and ultimately delivered the knockout punch on the final play of the game.
The loss snapped SC State’s five-game winning streak and dropped the Bulldogs to 5-1.
For The Citadel, the victory improved the Bulldogs to 2-3 and represented their first ranked win since defeating ETSU in 2022.
FINAL SCORE
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| The Citadel | 7 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 34 |
| South Carolina State | 10 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
Attendance: 11,250
Location: Oliver C. Dawson Stadium — Orangeburg, S.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SC State struck first when Jett Jackson connected on a 47-yard field goal with 9:16 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Citadel answered with a 1-yard touchdown run from Gavin Garcia, but SC State quickly regained the lead when Keely Watson connected with DJ Maultsby on a 41-yard touchdown pass.
The Bulldogs led 10-7 after one quarter.
The Citadel controlled the second quarter.
Kiely tied the game with a 30-yard field goal before Garcia scored again — this time catching an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quentin Hayes.
The Citadel took a 17-10 halftime lead.
SC State came roaring back after halftime.
Mason Pickett-Hicks opened the third quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 17.
But The Citadel responded immediately.
Hayes found Damir Abdullah for a 55-yard touchdown, and Garcia added another touchdown on a 19-yard run.
Suddenly, The Citadel had a 31-17 lead.
SC State refused to fold.
Watson connected with Pickett-Hicks for a 21-yard touchdown with just 31 seconds left in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 31-24.
Then came the fourth-quarter comeback.
SC State marched 80 yards on 12 plays, consuming 5:44, before Josh Shaw punched in a 6-yard touchdown run.
Jackson’s extra point tied the game at 31-31 with 8:16 remaining.
SC State’s defense forced a punt on the next Citadel possession.
The Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead but were forced to punt after moving from their own 13-yard line to the 49.
Then The Citadel got the ball back.
And everything changed.
The Citadel drove 85 yards in 2:23.
Facing third-and-1 from its own 11-yard line, Garcia ripped off a 44-yard run. Later in the drive, Billoups connected with Michael Lorino for 34 yards, putting The Citadel in position to win.
With the clock at zero…
Kiely nailed it.
31 yards.
Game over.
The Citadel 34. SC State 31.
SCORING PLAYS
1st Quarter
SC State — Jett Jackson, 47-yard FG
SCSU 3-0
The Citadel — Gavin Garcia, 1-yard rushing TD
CIT 7-3
SC State — DJ Maultsby, 41-yard TD reception from Keely Watson
SCSU 10-7
2nd Quarter
The Citadel — Evan Kiely, 30-yard FG
Tie, 10-10
The Citadel — Gavin Garcia, 8-yard TD reception from Quentin Hayes
CIT 17-10
3rd Quarter
SC State — Mason Pickett-Hicks, 18-yard rushing TD
Tie, 17-17
The Citadel — Damir Abdullah, 55-yard TD reception from Quentin Hayes
CIT 24-17
The Citadel — Gavin Garcia, 19-yard rushing TD
CIT 31-17
SC State — Mason Pickett-Hicks, 21-yard TD reception from Keely Watson
CIT 31-24
4th Quarter
SC State — Josh Shaw, 6-yard rushing TD
Tie, 31-31
The Citadel — Evan Kiely, 31-yard FG as time expired
FINAL: The Citadel 34, SC State 31
PLAYER STAT LEADERS
South Carolina State
Passing
Keely Watson
- 20-of-31
- 245 yards
- 2 TD
- 0 INT
- Long: 41 yards
Rushing
Mason Pickett-Hicks
- 15 carries
- 90 yards
- 1 TD
- 6.0 yards per carry
Receiving
DJ Maultsby
- 3 receptions
- 79 yards
- 1 TD
- Long: 41
Malaqhi Jones
- 6 receptions
- 58 yards
Shamontae Burgess
- 4 receptions
- 33 yards
Mason Pickett-Hicks
- 3 receptions
- 39 yards
- 1 TD
Defense
Marquis Lane-Owens
- 9 tackles
Caleb Williams
- 5 tackles
Roderick Kelly
- 5 tackles
- 1 sack
THE CITADEL
Passing
Quentin Hayes
- 7-of-12
- 127 yards
- 2 TD
- 0 INT
Nick Billoups
- 2-of-3
- 56 yards
Rushing
Gavin Garcia
- 18 carries
- 167 yards
- 2 rushing TDs
- 9.3 yards per carry
- Long: 44 yards
Quentin Hayes
- 11 carries
- 56 net yards
- Long: 60 yards
Receiving
Damir Abdullah
- 3 receptions
- 84 yards
- TD
- Long: 55
Whit Hobgood
- 2 receptions
- 59 yards
Michael Lorino
- 2 receptions
- 36 yards
Defense
Zyion Brown
- 8 tackles
- 1.5 TFL
- 1 sack
Khaleb Bridges
- 6 tackles
- 3 pass breakups
DK McGruder
- 6 tackles
Jalen Wright
- 5 tackles
- 1.5 TFL
BY THE NUMBERS
| Category | The Citadel | SC State |
| Total Yards | 448 | 346 |
| Passing | 204 | 255 |
| Rushing | 244 | 91 |
| First Downs | 15 | 23 |
| Plays | 55 | 62 |
| 3rd Down | 5-of-12 | 4-of-13 |
| 4th Down | 0-of-0 | 2-of-2 |
| Time of Possession | 30:52 | 29:08 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
The biggest difference was on the ground: The Citadel ran for 244 yards while holding SC State to just 91 rushing yards.
That’s a 153-yard rushing advantage.
WHAT WE LEARNED
SC State can score — but the rushing attack was neutralized.
The Bulldogs entered the game averaging 280.6 rushing yards per game and were held to just 91.
That’s a massive defensive performance by The Citadel.
Gavin Garcia was THAT GUY.
Garcia averaged 9.3 yards per carry, produced 167 yards and scored three total touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving.
His 44-yard run on the final drive may ultimately be remembered as
the play that won the game.
SC State showed serious fight.
Down 31-17, the Bulldogs scored 14 unanswered points to tie the game.
They simply couldn’t finish the job.
The Citadel won the final possession.
That’s the story.
SC State tied it.
The Citadel got the ball.
85 yards. 2:23. Walk-off field goal.
Ballgame.
