WCU Preseason Preview: Game #6 - The Citadel

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2024 football opponents. For the sixth game of the season, the Catamounts host The Citadel Bulldogs in EJ Whitmire Stadium on Hero's Day in Cullowhee. The Cats picked up a 40-14 win in Charleston last season.  

 

The Bulldogs are coming off an 0-11 season.  May the "triple-option" as run by the Dogs in the past - rest in peace. 

Game #5 - The Citadel

When: Saturday, October 23, 2024

Time:  2:30 pm
Where: EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio:  Catamount Sports Network

   -announcers:  Gary Ayers • Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV/video: ESPN+

 Live Stats:  Citadel live stats

Game Notes:   Western Carolina   -    The Citadel 

Citadel Message Board:  Citadel Fan Message Board

Nickname:  Bulldogs

Mascot:  Spike

The Series: Western is currently 20-27-1 vs. the Bulldogs overall. The Cats and Dogs first played on the gridiron in 1972, and the Cats own an 11-13 record vs. the Citadel in games played in Cullowhee, NC, along with a 5-5 record in the last 10 games played. The Cats have won 3 of the last 4 games played. 

Last Season's Game vs. The Citadel (9-30-23) - Reid Runs for Record Books in Victory at The Citadel  - Charleston, SC – Sophomore running back Desmond Reid set a school record with a career-best five first-half rushing touchdowns as #21/17 Western Carolina downed The Citadel 49-14 in Southern Conference action on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Reid posted rushing scores of 11, 1, 9, 1, and 13 yards to cap WCU's five first-half drives as the Catamounts saw one player account for five scores in the opening two quarters for the second consecutive week..

Last season's Record - (The Citadel): 0-11 overall, 0-5 home, 0-6 away, 0-8 SoCon

Head Coach: Maurice Drayton -  Former Bulldog player and defensive coordinator Maurice Drayton has been named the next head football coach at The Citadel. The announcement was made by Director of Athletics Mike Capaccio on Tuesday. A former standout player and defensive coordinator, Drayton returns to The Citadel after spending the previous seven seasons working in the NFL. He most recently served as the assistant special teams coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Drayton also served as the special teams' coordinator in Green Bay in 2021, assistant special teams coordinator for the Packers from 2018-20, and the special teams' coordinator for Indianapolis Colts in 2016-17. 

Drayton's Record vs. WCU:  0 - 1

Bell's record vs. The Citadel: 3 - 1

Former player and assistant coach Maurice Drayton took over the reins of the Bulldog program in December 2022.The Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the nine-team SoCon by league coaches, with Chattanooga, Furman and Western Carolina leading the way. Only one Citadel player, punter James Platte, was named to the all-SoCon preseason teams; he was a second-team pick. 

In the crucial role of quarterback, the Bulldogs recruited Johnathan Bennett, a standout player from Summerville High School who transferred from Liberty, to join their team. In the 2022 season, Bennett, who started all seven games he played in, led the Flames with 1,534 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and two rushing scores. He was the starting quarterback in two consecutive victories against Arkansas and BYU, where he completed 24 out of 29 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Graeson Underwood and Dustin Fletcher, who shared the quarterback position in the previous season, are still on the roster and in the quarterback training program. 

The Bulldogs have also made changes to their coaching staff, notably moving Lamar Owens, a former Navy quarterback to co-offensive coordinator, to work with Patrick Covington. Additionally, Everette Sands, who previously coached the offensive skills and ran backs, has taken on the role of running backs coach and is also responsible for recruiting. Tony Coaxum, who has experience coaching at Bluefield State, Army West Point, and the NFL, has been hired as the special-teams coordinator. Jo Jackson, who has experience coaching cornerbacks at Presbyterian and Southeast Missouri State, has been promoted to coach cornerbacks and Zane Vance, who previously worked as a defensive coordinator at Charleston Southern, has taken over coaching the bandits. Joe Call, the assistant coach for the Bulldogs and a former Citadel quarterback, has transitioned to a new role as an assistant head coach. 

2022 The Citadel Statistics (11 games):

Rushing Offense: 1357 yards
Yards per game: 123.4 yards
Yards per rush: 3.4  yards
Rushing 1st downs: 78

TDs rushing: 6
Passing Offense: 1507 yards or 137 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 5.7 yards
Passing 1st downs: 63
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 262-136-9

TDs Passing: 6
Total Offense:  2864 yards or 260.3 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 18 - 12
3d Down Conversions: 52 0f 152 (34%)
4th Down Conversions: 13 of 29 (45%)
Field goal attempts: 9 of 11
PAT-Attempts: 8 of 11
On-side kicks: 1 of  5

Red Zone Scores: 13 of 26
Red Zone Touchdowns: 7 of 26

Punts - Yards: 52 for 2221 yards - Avg per punt: 42-7