Expectations were high for The Citadel this season. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 23 in the preseason FCS coaches poll and moved up as high as No. 20 after opening its Southern Conference schedule with a 20-point win over Western Carolina.

Since then, though, the Bulldogs (3-8, 1-6) have lost six games in a row. But unlike the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1-9, 0-6), which has lost eight straight by at least 20 points, The Citadel is just a few plays away from a very different season.

Three of the Bulldogs’ six SoCon losses have come by a combined 12 points — 27-23 against Elon, 44-41 in triple overtime against Georgia Southern and last Saturday’s 33-28 loss at Wofford.

“They’ve been close in a lot of their games, so it’s not like they haven’t been competitive,” Mocs coach Rodney Allison said.

Last week at Wofford, The Citadel scored to cut the lead to 33-28 and tried an onside kick. Wofford recovered, but the Bulldogs were able to force a fourth-and-1 with 2:16 remaining. However, they couldn’t stop Dane Romero on fourth down and the Terriers were able to run out the clock.

The real heartbreaker for the Bulldogs came the week before against Georgia Southern. With the game tied at 24 and about 90 seconds remaining, The Citadel had a first-and-goal at the Eagles’ 10. Three straight running plays lost yardage, the third resulting a fumble at The Citadel recovered at the 15. Still, there was time for a 32-yard field-goal attempt that sailed wide right.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first two overtime periods, but all The Citadel could manage was a field goal in the third, and the Eagles won with a touchdown.

Statistically, the Bulldogs are pretty much in the middle of the pack in the SoCon, though they do have one of the better passing games. Quarterback Bart Blanchard is averaging 233.1 yards per game in SoCon play, second only to Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards, who is averaging 239.5.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Andre Roberts, a Walter Payton Award candidate, leads the SoCon in both receptions per game (9.3) and receiving yards a game (121.0)

For more Mocs coverage, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.