The Citadel coach Maurice Drayton could see the potential in practice.
Quarterbacks Cobey Thompkins, Quentin Hayes and Cooper Tankersley had given the coaching staff flashes of brilliance running the triple option during the week.
It just didn’t seem to translate to game day on Saturdays.
Until it did.
The Bulldogs returned to their triple-option roots against Chattanooga with resounding success. The Citadel put together its best offensive performance of the season, rolling up 433 yards of total offense, including a season-high 336 yards on the ground.
“We’ve had triple-option elements in our offense from Day 1,” Drayton said. “We’ve been wanting to run it more, but we needed a level of growth from our offense and specifically from our quarterbacks.
“Because of their maturation process, we could only move as fast as they have allowed us. We have a better understanding now of what it takes to run the triple option.”
Thompkins and Hayes combined to rush for 173 yards and two touchdowns, gashing the Mocs defense throughout the game.
“I think a big emphasis for us as quarterbacks is to be runners in this offense,” said Hayes, who completed 7 of 8 passes for 63 yards. “We want to be feature players in this offense. We don’t want to just hand the ball off. We want to make plays in this offense, too. We’ve seen them execute in practice, now we just want to the rest of the world to see it, too.”
After the Bulldogs’ 38-0 loss to Mercer on Sept. 21, Drayton decided to make practices last week more physical.
“We got after each other,” Drayton said. “Coaches thought I was crazy to do it, but I felt like it had to be done. The practices on Tuesday and Wednesday were not for the faint of heart. They were very physical, very rough practices. We found out who is going to fold and who is going to embrace that.”
Running back production
One of the biggest issues facing the Bulldogs offense early in the season was the production from their running back position — or lack thereof.
The running backs had been averaging less than four yards an attempt heading into the Chattanooga game.
Against the Mocs, redshirt freshman Sebastien Boyle rushed for a career-high 82 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Garrison Johnson added 54 yards on 10 attempts, including a 26-yard TD run in the second quarter.
With the defense having to account for a running quarterback, the running backs had more room between the tackles.
“We just executed better, and that started up front with our offensive line,” Drayton said. “We didn’t get bullied at the line of scrimmage like in the last couple of games. We drew a line in the sand and stood our ground and got after people.”
Boyle, a 5-11, 215-pound redshirt freshman, has started to assert himself in the running game.
“He doesn’t realize how good he can be,” Drayton said. “He’s still a young player, getting used to playing at this level. We need him to continue to grow. I’m really encouraged by his performance.
“We can see his potential, his impact on the game, but we need for him to see it in himself. Once he does that, sky’s the limit for Sebastien.”
There’s no place like the road
The Citadel has had an almost Jekyll and Hyde persona with games at Johnson Hagood Stadium versus games on the road.
The Bulldogs have played two home games and have been outscored 76-0 at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
Granted the two games came against top-ranked and defending national FCS champion North Dakota State and Mercer, which is ranked No. 22 in the latest AFCA FCS poll.
Meanwhile, in two Southern Conference road games, The Bulldogs outscored Samford and Chattanooga by a combined score of 68-23. The Bulldogs lost 23-13 to Gardner-Webb on Sept. 14 but still managed to move the ball and put points on the scoreboard.
“When we play on the road it’s almost like an us against them mentality,” Drayton said. “You can’t depend on the crowd or any outside forces to help you out. It’s the guy next to you. It’s a foxhole mentality.
“When we go out on the road, there are fewer distractions. I think teams have a deeper bond when they travel together.”