- FCS FOOTBALL -

Campbell football blows past The Citadel 56-7

QB Hajj-Malik Williams accounts for five touchdowns in rout

Published

September 9, 2023

Campbell picked up its first win in impressive fashion, getting three TD passes and two rushing scores from Hajj-Malik Williams. (Photo courtesy GoCamels.com)

BY JASON WILLIAMS | Campbell University & GoCamels.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Hajj-Malik Williams passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more, leading Campbell on the road over The Citadel 56-7 at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Campbell (1-1) picked up its first win of the season, taking its road and nonconference opener, and topping The Citadel (0-2) for the second straight season.

The Camels rolled up 611 yards of total offense, third most in a single game and a school record against an NCAA Division I opponent. CU passed for 348 yards, its sixth highest ever total in a single game, adding 263 yards rushing.

Campbell also surpassed 50 points for the eighth time in its modern history (since 2008).

Williams passed for 348 yards, his third career 300-yard game, completing 25-of-33 passes with three touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers. The QB tacked on 45 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Campbell scored touchdowns on its first three drives, jumping out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, finding the end zone on eight of its 10 offensive possessions.

Chris McKay, Jr. led the Campbell ground attack with 72 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Lamagea McDowell rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. NaQuari Rogers and Tai Goode combined for 82 rushing yards, with Goode collecting a fourth quarter touchdown.

Ezeriah Anderson notched a game-high 84 yards receiving on five catches with a touchdown, while VJ Wilkins hauled in a game-high seven catches for 73 yards and a TC. Jalen Kelsey also tallied 77 yards on four catches, including a 48 yard strike to set up a Wilkins TD on CU’s opening drive.

Marquez Casey tallied five tackles with Monchovia Gaffney adding four stops, while Tre Moore recovered a fumble and making three tackles.

The Citadel picked up its only score of the day on Tyson Trottier’s 75 yard TD, snagging Dustin Fletcher’s pass on a broken play.

Fletcher completed 11-of-15 pass attempts for 134 yards, while Hayden Johnson ran for 44 yards. Carson Walter, meanwhile, posted eight tackles.

Campbell is now 3-0 all-time against Southern Conference opponents.

The Camels return to CAA play next week, heading to Monmouth on September 16 in a matchup of former Big South rivals. Campbell returns home on September 23, hosting Elon in another CAA contest.