abcnews
In a thrilling finish at Orangeburg, South Carolina, Evan Kiely drilled a 31-yard field goal as the clock hit zero, propelling The Citadel to a 34-31 upset victory over South Carolina State on Saturday.
The game-winning drive began deep in The Citadel's territory, with the team facing third-and-1 from its own 11-yard line. Gavin Garcia broke free for a 44-yard run, and Nick Billoups connected with Michael Lorino for a 34-yard pass to move the chains. Three plays later, Kiely split the uprights for the decisive score.
Garcia was a workhorse for The Citadel (2-3), rushing for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Quentin Hayes completed 7 of 12 passes for 127 yards and two scores, while Billoups went 2 of 3 for 56 yards.
For South Carolina State (5-1), ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, Keely Watson threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing. Mason Pickett-Hicks added 90 rushing yards.
The Citadel outgained South Carolina State 448-346 in total yards. The Bulldogs held a 17-10 halftime lead and extended it to 31-17 in the third quarter on a 55-yard touchdown catch by Damir Abdullah from Hayes, followed by Garcia's 19-yard scoring run.
South Carolina State fought back, cutting the deficit to 31-24 on Watson's 21-yard touchdown pass to Pickett-Hicks late in the third quarter. The Bulldogs then tied the game at 31-31 on Josh Shaw's 6-yard run with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Key Analysis
The Citadel's ability to execute in critical moments, particularly on the final drive, proved decisive. Garcia's explosive run and the timely pass to Lorino set up Kiely's heroics. South Carolina State, despite entering as the higher-ranked team, struggled to contain The Citadel's ground game and couldn't close out the game after tying it late. The loss marks the first of the season for the Bulldogs, while The Citadel gains a signature win to build on.
Looking ahead, The Citadel will host East Tennessee State next Saturday, while South Carolina State travels to Charleston Southern.
Originally reported by abcnews.