Kevin Higgins

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Big plays on special teams put the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in a position to win Saturday. One really big play on special teams put The Citadel over the top as Andre Roberts’ 43-yard punt return for a touchdown with 1:46 to play in the game was the difference in the Bulldogs’ 24-21 win.

The Mocs, who haven’t gotten much positive from their special teams this season, got two big plays Saturday. The first was in the second quarter when Buster Skrine blocked a field-goal attempt and J.D. Dothard picked up the loose ball and ran it back 64 yards for a touchdown to cut The Citadel’s lead to 14-7.

“I’ve been blocking them in practice, and I knew I could get it because (The Citadel) runs the same system we do,” Skrine said.

Dothard said once he picked up the ball, there was nothing between him and the end zone but grass.

“I was just running,” he said. “I looked back and didn’t see anything but gold jerseys, so I knew I had it.”

Skrine also produced a big play at the start of the third quarter, retuning the kickoff 56 yards to the Bulldogs’ 36-yard line. Two plays later the Mocs scored to take a 21-17 lead. Skrine, the Mocs’ fastest player, hadn’t returned a kick all season before Saturday, when he returned three for 97 yards.

“I returned some kicks last year and was breaking them pretty far, so I knew I could do it,” Skrine said. “On that big one I shook the kicker, but somebody jumped on the back of my legs and got me.”

Christopher Marshall returned punts for the Mocs for the first time this season and had three for 27 yards, including a long of 17.

Hayes hurting after fumble

Brent Hayes’ fumble in the fourth quarter didn’t lead directly to the game-winning score, but it did change the game. Hayes, who finished with five carries for 30 yards, including several big runs on the previous drive, said it was a perfect hit by the The Citadel’s Jordan Gilmore that got him.

The senior fullback fumbled after Gilmore’s hit on second-and-11 at the UTC 48, and even though UTC center Justin Galyon eventually emerged from the bottom of the pile with the ball, it was given to the Bulldogs.

“(The ball) was soaked by the time we got to that point, but he hit his helmet right on the ball,” Hayes said. “I had two hands on the ball, thought I had good ball security, but he just made a good play.

“That killed me, though. I shouldn’t let that happen, no matter what.”

The Citadel took over at its own 49 with 6:43 remaining and drove down to the UTC 7, where the Mocs’ defense stopped Roberts on fourth-and-1. But the Mocs were eventually forced to punt from deep in their own territory, which set up Roberts’ winning return.

Hayes’ was one of three UTC fumbles in the game. Running back Erroll Wynn fumbled on the previous drive and Gault fumbled late in the second quarter.

This and that

The Mocs were held to 60 yards rushing on 29 carries, with Wynn gaining 41 on 17 attempts. ... Jordan Hazard had four catches for 29 yards and Cooper and Clint Woods had two each. ... Defensive end Neil Brown paced the UTC defense with nine tackles and a forced fumble, and Skrine and linebacker Doug Faatiliga had eight tackles each.