CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel took advantage of Furman special teams play in the first quarter to build a two-touchdown lead en route to a 26-7 victory in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

The game was the 100th meeting between the long-time SoCon rivals, who have played since 1913 and annually since 1946.

The Citadel improves to 2-9 on the season and 2-5 in SoCon play heading into its season finale next Saturday at VMI.  Furman dropped its third straight result to finish its season 3-4 overall and the same in league play.

Hayden Johnson put The Citadel up 6-0 when he blocked a Timmy Bleekrode punt and recovered it in the end zone, the PAT giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff into a stiff breeze, Furman's return team failed to adjust to the short kick, which bounced and was recovered by Ryland Ayers at the Furman 26.  Two plays later quarterback Jaylan Adams ran around right end untouched for 25 yards into the end zone for the score on the final play of the first quarter. The PAT made it 13-0.

Furman answered with its only scoring drive of the game, covering 75 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, which came on a 4th-and-5 play when quarterback Hamp Sisson hit tight end Ryan Miller in the right flat, and Miller covered 28 yards to the end zone.

The Paladins' initiated three first half drives on The Citadel side of the field but failed to convert any of them into points.

Furman took the second half kickoff and moved to the Bulldog 3-yard line, first and goal, but four plays netted just two yards, the drive ending on a Sisson incompletion.

The Citadel put the game away in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard Jayland Adams touchdown run and 31-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jay Smith off a tipped Sisson pass.