JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 18, 2023) – ETSU welcomed The Citadel into William B. Greene Jr. stadium for the final game of the season, which also served as senior night for our Buccaneers. ETSU opened this game as a -9.5-point favorite (via DraftKings Sportsbook).

ETSU went on to end their 2023 campaign on a win, beating the Bulldogs 35-23 and covering the -9.5 point spread.

The game started slow for both sides until The Citadel attempted a field goal from 39 yards out with 1:20 left in the first quarter. This field goal was blocked by Max Evans (Middletown, Ohio) and scooped up at the one-yard line by Sheldon Arnold II (Loganville, Ga.). He returned for a 99-yard kick six, giving ETSU the 7-0 lead.

The Citadel let ETSU go up 14-0 before responding with a touchdown of their own, bringing the game to 14-7, favoring the Buccaneers. After that, the momentum kept rotating back and forth.

QB Haynes Eller (Ooltewah, Tenn.) got the start under center, throwing nine completions on 15 attempts for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He found tight end Jaylen Frierson (Franklin, Tenn.) and receiver Xavier Gaillardetz (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada) in the end zone. Gaillardetz caught five passes in the contest, recording 103 yards, as well as his touchdown from Eller.

The Buccaneer ground game was propelled by RB Trey Foster (Knoxville, Tenn.), who has been a consistently productive back over the last half of this season. Foster ended his day with 96 yards on 17 carries and a pair of touchdowns.

Photo of Trey Foster during the football game against Citadel. (Will Rowland/East Tennessean)

Defensively, the Buccaneers collected eight TFL (Tackles for Loss) for a total of 45 yards. LB Stephen Scott (Greensboro, N.C.) led the team with 12 tackles on his senior night. Additionally, the defensive back duo of Chris Hope (Madison, Ala.) and Jayvon Henderson (Auburn, Ga.) totaled 17 tackles and six pass break-ups.

The ETSU Buccaneers end their 2023 campaign with a record of 3-8, missing postseason play.

Although the season ends here, redshirt junior offensive lineman Chris Everhart (Greeneville, Tenn.) said, “I think getting the win here on this last one is going to, you know, maybe give us that little more extra motivation going into the offseason” when he was speaking with media on Monday ahead of the matchup versus The Citadel.

For more information about ETSU football, visit ETSUBucs.com

 

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