WCU Game #6 - The Citadel

For the sixth game of the season, the Catamounts host The Citadel Bulldogs in EJ Whitmire Stadium on Hero's Day in Cullowhee. 

Game #6 - The Citadel

 

When: Saturday, October 12, 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.

This season's Record - (The Citadel): 2-4 overall, 1-3 home, 1-1 away, 0-3 SoCon

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.

Drayton's Record vs. WCU:  0 - 1

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

The Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the 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, 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 come to Cullowhee with a 2-4 overall record, and are 0-3 in conference play having lost a heartbreaker to Furman this past Saturday. Despite holding an advantage  throughout the game with Furman and dominating the opening three quarters of play, The Citadel stumbled down the stretch, falling to the Paladins in a 17-16 final score at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

The Bulldogs have not won a conference game since November 2022, going 0-11 in that time in conference play.  

2024 The Citadel Statistics (6 games):

Rushing Offense: 842 yards
Yards per game: 140.4 yards
Yards per rush: 3.6  yards
Rushing 1st downs: 45

TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 1058 yards or 176 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 43
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 155-80-4

TDs Passing: 4
Total Offense:  1900 yards or 317 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 6 - 3
3d Down Conversions: 32 0f 88 (36%)
4th Down Conversions: 6 of 12 (50%)
Field goal attempts: 9 of 11
PAT-Attempts: 9 of 12
On-side kicks: 0 of 1

Red Zone Scores: 18 of 23
Red Zone Touchdowns: 13 of 23

Punts - Yards: 26 for 1222 yards - Avg per punt: 47