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Citadel Handles Tough UNCW

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Citadel Handles Tough UNCW

On a hot fall afternoon the Citadel Bulldogs came into Cape Fear to play UNCW and came away with an impressive 45-24 victory.

UNCW flanker Tom McCrimmon started the scoring, pouncing on a loose ball for a 5-0 lead. But  Citadel's Daniel Smith took a 45-meter run after being set up by Aaron Moore. Ellison Rourke converted to put the Bulldogs up 7-5.

Minutes later Citadel wing Daiiel Smith scored on another long run, with Rouke's conversation making it 14-5. At the halfway mark of the first half center Braxton McDuffie took a crash ball 25 meters for a try and the Bulldogs led 19-5.

UNCW desponded. With eight minutes to go in the half Seahawks center Joe Thelan grabbed another Citadel loose ball and ran it in from 55 meters. The conversion by Collin Frazier was good making it 19-12.

With just a few minutes left until halftime, Citadel prop Antonio Moffa scored from a penalty tap to make it 24-12.

In the second half UNCW came out strong and prop Vince De La Roca powered over from 25 meters. The conversion was good and UNCW was within a try at 24-19. Citadel and UNCW scrapped back and forth and citadel pushed into the UNCW's 5-meter on a pick-and-go by flanker Charlie Evens. UNCW came back with McCrimmon storming through traffic to make it 31-24.

going into the final 10 minutes in the match, Citadel managed to put the game away. Freshman No. 8 Pat Hesse picked up the ball and went weak side, and was able to trundle over. Rourke converted, making the Citadel lead 38-24. then in the final moments scrumhalf Mike McGaffic touched one down to makre it 45-24.

"Our boys played with great resilience and pressure," said Citadel Head Coach Bill Bell. "I am very proud of some of our younger players who stepped up big time. I was very impressed by UNCW's play and their never quite attitude. They were in this up to the end. I definitely take my hat off to them."