Oct. 17, 2009

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Post-Game Notes
Western Carolina 14, The Citadel 10
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C.
Sat., Oct. 17, 2009

With the win...
- It is Western Carolina's first victory of the season, snapping a five-game seasonal slide ... Was also the team's first Southern Conference win of the year;
- Snaps WCU's seven-game overall losing skid and a five-game slide in SoCon play, both of which date back to last season;
- Also halted Western Carolina's five-game drought against The Citadel;
- Represented Western Caroilna's first Homecoming Day victory since 2004, ending a three-game losing skid.

Post-Game Notes:
- WCU is now 14-19-1 against The Citadel, but takes the lead in Cullowhee with a 9-8 record in Cullowhee. The last win against The Citadel came in 2003.

- The win on the 2009 Homecoming celebration ended a three-game losing slide on Homecoming ... Western Carolina is now 17-18-1 in Homecoming games.

- Western Carolina improved to 15-14 since joining the Southern Conference in games coming off a bye week;

- The 14-10 score represented the lowest-scoring affair between Western Carolina and The Citadel since 2005 when the Bulldogs won 17-7 in Cullowhee;

- Red-shirt freshman running back Dion Wilson's five-yard touchdown rush with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter gave WCU a 14-10 advantage - it was the first time this season that the Catamounts had held a lead in a game this season.

- Wilson logged in a career-high two touchdowns in a game against The Citadel. His first touchdown was a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

- Freshman running back Michael Johnson's 92 net yards against The Citadel was both a season and career-high ... His long run of 26 yards which came on WCU's first play from scrimmage, was his career-best, while also representing the longest rush from scrimmage on the season by the Catamounts, eclipsing the 24-yard rush by D.J. McLendon against Furman;

- Western Carolina's defense accounted for a season-high three sacks in the win on Saturday ... Seniors Adrian McLeod and Chris Collins, as well as junior Angelo Brown each tallied a sack apiece in the win;

- The defense - which made two critical stands on The Citadel's final two offensive possessions, limited the Bulldogs to 256 yards of total offense, the lowest yardage output by an opponent this season ... The Citadel only managed 91 yards rushing on 37 attempts (2.5 per carry) - the second-lowest total of the season - with 165 yards on 21-of-32 passing;

Miscellaneous Notes:
- Western Carolina game captains: Senior DB #10 Chris Collins; Redshirt sophomore QB #12 Zack Jaynes; Senior OL #68 Victor Aquilina; and Senior DL #82 Gene Singletary; Western Carolina won the toss and deferred to the second half.