Wofford Opens 2026 With Statement Win, Runs Past The Citadel 42-14
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wofford did not need to dominate every statistical category to dominate the scoreboard.
The Terriers opened the 2026 season Saturday night by turning mistakes into points and pulling away from The Citadel for a 42-14 Southern Conference victory at Gibbs Stadium.
Wofford scored in every quarter, built a 21-0 halftime advantage and finished with three touchdowns in the second half to put away a Bulldogs team that actually held an edge in total yardage.
The Terriers finished with 341 yards of offense compared with 351 for The Citadel, but three Bulldogs turnovers — including a fumble inside the 5-yard line, a muffed punt and an interception — proved costly. Wofford also added a blocked punt that resulted in another touchdown.
The win gives Wofford a 1-0 start and a 1-0 record in SoCon play. The Citadel opens the season 0-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
It was Wofford's fourth win in the last five meetings with The Citadel. The Terriers also defeated the Bulldogs 16-14 in Charleston last season.
First Quarter: Wofford Strikes First
The Terriers wasted little time establishing control.
After an eight-play, 79-yard opening scoring drive, Gerald Modest Jr. finished the possession with a 15-yard touchdown run. Sam Spence added the extra point to give Wofford a 7-0 lead.
The Citadel had opportunities to answer, but Wofford's defense and special teams helped keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs' offense would eventually find its rhythm, but the Terriers carried the early advantage into the second quarter.
Wofford 7, The Citadel 0
Second Quarter: Special Teams Change the Game
The second quarter belonged to Wofford's special teams.
Davis Penn broke loose for a 33-yard punt return touchdown, extending the Terriers' lead to 14-0.
Wofford then took advantage of another short field when Modest scored his second touchdown of the night on a 5-yard run. The Terriers needed just five plays to travel 32 yards on the scoring drive, which took only 47 seconds.
The Citadel briefly appeared to have a response when Temarcus Elam intercepted Wofford and returned the ball 67 yards deep into Terrier territory. The Bulldogs, however, could not turn the takeaway into points.
Instead, Wofford entered halftime with a three-touchdown cushion.
Halftime: Wofford 21, The Citadel 0
Third Quarter: The Bulldogs Finally Break Through
The Citadel came out of halftime with its best offensive stretch of the night.
Quentin Hayes helped lead a 12-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on the ground game before Sebastien Boyle finished the possession with a 4-yard touchdown run.
The score cut Wofford's lead to 21-7 and briefly gave The Citadel momentum.
The Terriers answered immediately.
Kaeden Gilstrap connected with Ivory Aikens on a 5-yard touchdown pass to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive, restoring Wofford's three-touchdown advantage.
Wofford then capitalized on another short field. After a Citadel turnover, JT Fayard found Colby Alexander for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:19 remaining in the quarter.
By the end of the third, the Terriers had turned a 21-7 game into a 35-7 advantage.
End of Third Quarter: Wofford 35, The Citadel 7
Fourth Quarter: Wofford Finishes the Job
The Terriers kept the pressure on in the final quarter.
Fayard and Alexander connected again, this time for a 19-yard touchdown. The scoring drive covered 66 yards over nine plays and pushed Wofford's lead to 42-7.
The Citadel continued to fight, answering with another long scoring drive.
The Bulldogs marched 80 yards on 10 plays before Boyle scored his second touchdown of the night from 6 yards out.
It was not enough to change the outcome.
Wofford closed out the 42-14 victory and began the season with a conference win.
Final: Wofford 42, The Citadel 14
Modest, Fayard Lead Wofford Offense
Wofford's offensive production was balanced between its running and passing games.
Modest Jr. led the Terriers on the ground with 19 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Fayard completed 18 of 26 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. His primary targets included Modest Jr., who caught four passes for 39 yards, and Alexander, who finished with four receptions for 35 yards and two touchdowns.
Alexander's two touchdown receptions provided a major boost as Wofford pulled away in the second half.
The Terriers also received contributions from their defense and special teams, which ultimately proved just as important as the offensive numbers.
Wyatt Ward led all players with 13 tackles, while Eli Campbell recorded seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a blocked kick.
The Citadel's Ground Game Shows Promise
Despite the final margin, The Citadel's offense showed signs of life, particularly on the ground.
The Bulldogs rushed for 227 yards and controlled the clock for 35:05 compared with Wofford's 24:55.
Hayes led the team with 91 rushing yards on 18 carries while also completing 12 of 20 passes for 88 yards and an interception. Gavin Garcia added 68 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Boyle provided the biggest scoring punch, rushing for two touchdowns.
The problem was not a lack of offensive production. It was the inability to finish drives and protect the football.
The Citadel recorded 21 first downs to Wofford's 24 and converted five of 15 third downs, but the turnovers and special-teams miscues created too large a hole to overcome.
Head coach Maurice Drayton acknowledged afterward that the Bulldogs must improve their execution in critical situations.
“We are going to have to trust our process,” Drayton said. “We have to execute better in those crucial moments.”
What the Win Means for Wofford
For Wofford, the victory provides exactly the kind of start the Terriers were looking for.
The program entered the season coming off a 6-6 campaign in 2025 but finished that season by winning six of its final seven games. Wofford also returned 13 starters, including eight on offense, four on defense and one specialist.
Saturday's performance showed the value of that returning experience.
The Terriers were efficient offensively, disruptive on defense and dangerous on special teams. More importantly, they avoided the mistakes that allowed The Citadel to remain within striking distance.
Now they will look to carry that momentum into another home game.
What's Next for Wofford?
The Terriers return to Gibbs Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 5, to host Gardner-Webb.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET, with the game scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
It will be the second of back-to-back home games to open the season for Wofford, giving the Terriers another opportunity to build momentum before beginning a challenging stretch of road games.
What's Next for The Citadel?
The Bulldogs will have to regroup quickly.
The Citadel begins the season with two consecutive road games and will travel to Charlotte next Saturday, Sept. 5, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The game is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
Charlotte represents the Bulldogs' first opportunity to respond after the loss and correct the mistakes that proved so costly against Wofford.
The Citadel will then return home Sept. 12 to host Charleston Southern before continuing its schedule against Chattanooga, South Carolina State, ETSU and other SoCon opponents.
For Wofford, Saturday was a statement to begin the season.
For The Citadel, it was a reminder that moving forward, execution in the critical moments will matter just as much as the yards gained.
The 2026 SoCon season is only beginning, but Wofford already has one conference victory in hand.
And the Bulldogs are already looking for a response.
Game Information
Wofford 42, The Citadel 14
Date: Aug. 29, 2026
Location: Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg, S.C.
Attendance: 7,486
Wofford record: 1-0, 1-0 SoCon
The Citadel record: 0-1, 0-1 SoCon
Next for Wofford: Gardner-Webb, Sept. 5, 1:30 p.m. ET
Next for The Citadel: at Charlotte, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET
