Charleston Southern Buccaneers @ The Citadel Bulldogs
Rainey honors former teammate; The Citadel wins finale
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Quarterback Brandon Rainey, wearing a special jersey to honor a former high school teammate who died earlier in the day, ran for a touchdown and passed for another as The Citadel beat Charleston Southern 43-14 in the teams' season finale on Thursday night.
Rainey wore No. 82 in remembrance of Vanderbilt tight end Turner Cockrell, who was a high school teammate of Rainey's at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia. Cockrell died at home after battling cancer for more than a year.
Thursday's game was a makeup for a Sept. 15 contest that was postponed because of Hurricane Florence. The makeup was dependent on neither team making the FCS postseason.
Rainey ran 8 yards for the game's first score and Joe Douglas blocked a punt that Dante Smith returned 24 yards for a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Theo Goodwin blocked a Citadel punt that Darin Smalls returned for a score but the Keydets responded with a safety, a 77-yard kickoff return by Raleigh Webb, a Grant Drakeford 21-yard TD run and Rainey's 18-yard scoring pass to Ryan McCarthy to lead 37-14 at halftime.
The Citadel (5-6) outgained the Buccaneers 328-75, holding Charleston Southern (5-6) to minus-1 yards rushing. There were 231 yards of penalties.
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Game Information
Charleston, SC
2025 Standings
| OVC-Big South AssociationOVC-Big South Association | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Tech | 8-0 | 11-2 |
| UT Martin | 6-2 | 6-6 |
| Gardner-Webb | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Lindenwood | 5-3 | 6-6 |
| Charleston Southern | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Western Illinois | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Eastern Illinois | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Tennessee State | 0-8 | 2-10 |
| Southern ConferenceSouthern Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Mercer | 8-0 | 9-3 |
| Western Carolina | 6-2 | 7-5 |
| East Tennessee State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Wofford | 5-3 | 6-6 |
| Chattanooga | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Furman | 4-4 | 6-6 |
| The Citadel | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Samford | 1-7 | 1-11 |
| VMI | 0-8 | 1-11 |
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