The Citadel stumbles

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns to rally the Mocs to a 31-28 victory over The Citadel on Saturday at Finley Stadium.

Coleman's 1-yard TD pass to Blue Cooper with 4:36 left in the game completed a comeback from deficits of 21-3 and 28-13 for the Mocs, who clinched a winning season with a 6-4 overall mark, 4-4 in the Southern Conference.

Freshman QB Tommy Edwards hit 21 of 37 passes for 214 yards and three TDs for the Bulldogs (4-6, 2-5), who finish the season next week at Georgia Southern.

Andre Roberts caught 10 passes for 107 yards and TDs of 9 and 3 yards for The Citadel.

After Chattanooga closed to within 21-13 in the third quarter, Edwards hit tight end B.J. Phillips for an 18-yard TD on fourth-and-3 for a 28-13 lead with 13 minutes left in the game.

But the Mocs came back on Coleman's 4-yard TD pass to Cooper and a 33-yard field goal from Craig Camay, his third of the game, to close to within 28-24.

The Bulldogs drove 73 yards on 13 plays on their first possession for a 7-0 lead. Edwards coolly converted a third-and-6 with on an 8-yard pass on a curl route to Roberts, then rolled right to find Roberts in the end zone for a 3-yard TD pass.

After the Bulldogs' defense forced a three-and-out, Roberts raced 34 yards to the Mocs' 26 with a punt return, setting up Edwards' 5-yard TD run for a 14-0 lead and a start that coach Kevin Higgins could not have scripted any better.

An interception by defensive end Chris Billingslea set up the Bulldogs' third score. Billingslea dropped into coverage and snared a slant pass from Coleman, giving The Citadel possession at the Chattanooga 49.

Edwards took a sack to force third-and-goal from the Mocs' 9, but then floated a perfect pass over the fingers of Chattanooga linebacker Doug Faatiliga to Roberts for a 9-yard TD and a 21-0 lead with 1:40 left in the half.