Wofford win would be perfect finale for seniors

The last time The Citadel defeated Wofford in football, 9/11 was just another day in September, Barack Obama was a little-known state senator in Illinois and Dan DeHaven was 12 years old.

Yes, it's been that long. And Citadel seniors such as DeHaven are well aware that the Bulldogs have lost 10 straight to the Terriers since that 20-14 win on Sept. 12, 1998.

"This is the biggest game of our season," said DeHaven, who along with 10 other seniors will play his final home game today against Wofford at Johnson Hagood Stadium. "We want to keep our win streak going and to beat a team that I've wanted to beat ever since I got here. And I know a lot of Citadel people feel the same way."

All-America receiver Andre Roberts, another senior playing his final home game, certainly does.

"We haven't beaten them in so long," Roberts said, "that it seems kind of ridiculous."

The stage would seem to be set for The Citadel to end its long nightmare against Wofford.

The Bulldogs have won two straight games to pull their record to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Southern Conference, while Wofford (2-6, 1-4) has dropped five of its last six games.

The Terriers are headed for their first losing record since 2001, but there's not a Citadel player or coach who thinks beating them will be easy.

"Don't be fooled by their record," DeHaven said. "They are a very good team, as they always are."

So concerned are Citadel coaches about Wofford's triple-option offense that they devoted 2 1/2 days during the Bulldogs' open week way back in September to defending the option.

"They are very, very tough to prepare for," coach Kevin Higgins said. "No one else in the league runs their system."

Wofford leads the SoCon and all of FCS in rushing offense at 258 yards per game, but a spate of injuries in the backfield has made the Terriers less explosive than usual. Wofford is averaging 21 points per game and is minus-7 in turnovers for the season.

"Whether we've beaten The Citadel 100 times in a row, that's not the issue," said Wofford coach Mike Ayers. "The issue is, we have to do the things good football teams do to have a chance, and we haven't done that.

"We haven't done it for four quarters, and that's why we have the losses we do."

The Citadel enters the game with an uncertain situation at quarterback. Both Bart Blanchard (sprained toe) and Miguel Starks (ankle) practiced during the week, and both are listed as starters on this week's depth chart.

Then, of course, there's third-team QB Tommy Edwards, the hero of last week's 28-16 win over Samford.

No matter who is the QB, a homecoming win over Wofford in the final home game of the season is a dream scenario for Citadel seniors.

"It would be the cherry on top of the ice cream," DeHaven said.

Notes

--Today's game will be televised on SportSouth, with former Furman and NFL coach Sam Wyche working the game … Citadel seniors playing their final home games include Andre Roberts, Dan DeHaven, Jordon Gilmore, Dewitt Jones, Terrence Reese, Nelson Burch, Ryan Jones, Ryan Keiper, Anthony Maldonado, Biron Nabritt and Thomas Suggs.