Johnson's late return gives The Citadel a win over Mercer

Johnson's late return gives The Citadel a win over Mercer

Published Sep. 22, 2018 8:07 p.m. ET

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Rod Johnson returned a kickoff 94 yards in the final seconds of the game to give The Citadel a 38-31 victory over Mercer on Saturday as the Bulldogs notched their first win of the season.

Mercer led through the first three quarters before The Citadel (1-2, 1-2 Southern Conference) rallied to take a 31-24 lead.

Mercer tied the game when David Durden went high in the back of the end zone to pull a pass in over a defender with 57 seconds left.

Johnson, who also had six carries for 19 yards and another touchdown, responded with his kickoff return for the winning score.

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Robert Riddle then drove Mercer to The Citadel's 35 before running out of time.

Grant Drakeford, who rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown, scored from the 4 to cap a 10-play drive to tie the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter. The defense forced Mercer to punt and Jordan Black led the Bulldogs on a 92-yard drive that Johnson finished on a 5-yard run with 4:47 left.

Riddle threw for 347 yards and three scores for Mercer (2-2, 1-1).

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