UTC tight end Jordan Giberti leaps in celebration after catching the winning two-point conversion during Saturday night's SoCon opener at The Citadel.SATURDAY'S STAR
Bryce Nunnelly topped his seven-catch, 161-yard performance in the season opener against Tennessee Tech with 268 yards on 10 catches and a pair of scores. His receiving yards were 6 short of the UTC record of 274 set by Joel Bradford in 2010.
SATURDAY'S STAT
With a 452-yard offensive performance against the Bulldogs, the Mocs topped 450 yards for the second consecutive game after never topping 400 yards during the 2017 season.
TURNING POINT
The Bulldogs had all of the momentum after blocking a punt and taking over at the UTC 20-yard line late in the third quarter with a chance to take their first lead. But the Mocs' defense held, and Jacob Godek missed a 21-yard field-goal try to keep the game tied.
THE BIG PLAY
After Tyrell Price's touchdown in overtime, Nunnelly took the ball on the end-around carry, and despite having the option to run it in, he lofted a perfect pass to Jordan Giberti in the end zone for the winning two-point conversion.
WHAT IT MEANS
For all the talk about how this season wasn't like last, the Mocs had every chance to lose this game, even after building a two-touchdown lead early. The fact they found a way to win - on the road against a Southern Conference opponent - could be proof they are telling the truth.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST QUARTER
UTC - Bryce Nunnelly 76-yard pass from Nick Tiano (Victor Ulmo kick), 8:09
Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 0:59
Key play: A play after the two hooked up for a 9-yard completion, Tiano hung a perfect pass about 40 yards downfield that Nunnelly was able to settle under and run in for the score.
UTC 7, THE CITADEL 0
UTC - Tyrell Price 16-yard run (Ulmo kick), 1:43
Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 3:20
Key play: Tiano had completions of 22 yards to Joseph Parker and 16 to Nunnelly prior to Price's bruising run, in which he ran over a couple of The Citadel defenders on his way to the end zone.
UTC 14, THE CITADEL 0
SECOND QUARTER
CIT - Jordan Black 3-yard run (Jacob Godek kick), 5:50
Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:36
Key play: Running back Clay Harris converted a pair of third downs, including one from the 6-yard line before Black's score.
UTC 14, THE CITADEL 7
UTC - Nunnelly 20-yard pass from Tiano (Ulmo kick), 2:31
Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 3:11
Key play: A facemask penalty on the kickoff gave the Mocs good field position, and Tiano and Nunnelly connected for 30 yards on a pair of catches, including the final 20 yards on a slant.
UTC 21, THE CITADEL 7
CIT - Grant Drakeford 25-yard pass from Black (Godek kick), 0:46
Drive: 6 plays, 81 yards, 1:39
Key play: The Bulldogs took to the air, with Black completing all three of his passes for 76 yards in the drive.
UTC 21, THE CITADEL 14
THIRD QUARTER
CIT - Lorenzo Ward 1-yard run (Godek kick), 6:40
Drive: 17 plays, 78 yards, 8:13
Key play: The Bulldogs converted on fourth-and-2 from their 30, with Harris gaining 3 yards on the play.
UTC 21, THE CITADEL 21
OVERTIME
CIT - Black 5-yard run (Godek kick)
Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards
Key play: With the Bulldogs needing 9 yards, Black had a 9-yard completion to Ward that gave them first-and-goal at the 5-yard line.
THE CITADEL 28, UTC 21
UTC - Price 4-yard run (Jordan Giberti pass from Nunnelly)
Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards
Key play: Nunnelly took the ball on an end-around and lofted a pass to the wide-open Giberti in the end zone for the game-winner.
UTC 29, THE CITADEL 28
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.