C.J. Williams (4), Samaurie Dukes (3), and Amarian Robinson (12) celebrate Williams' interception just before halftime on Saturday against The Citadel.

Mark Haskett

Football 10/12/2024 11:30:00 PM Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - vs. The Citadel

Postgame Notes
RV/RV Western Carolina 30, The Citadel 16
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
Att: 6,278

With the Win:

Western Carolina evened its seasonal record at 3-3 (.500), while also gave the Catamounts a 2-0 start in Southern Conference play;
Gave WCU back-to-back victories in the series against The Citadel, snapping a string of three-straight years where the road team was victorious … the Catamounts have won three of the last four against the Bulldogs;
Pulled WCU to within one game of evening the all-time series record in games played in Cullowhee, trailing now 12-13.

Post-Game Notes:

Western Carolina's offense just missed its third-straight 400+ yard outing, finishing with 396 yards on 74 plays against the Bulldogs … WCU was limited to a season-low 102 rushing yards while amassing the second-most passing yards at 294;
In just his second game of the season after returning from injury that sidelined him the entire 2023 season, RB #5 Jalynn Williams continued his strong scoring start – rushing for a career-high THREE touchdowns after matching his career-best with two rushing TDs last weekend against Wofford … Between 11 career games for the Catamounts, Williams has 231 career rushing yards on 51 touches with seven touchdowns – this season, his five TDs have come on 10 rushes;
After scoring 19 rushing touchdowns a season ago, the Catamounts already have 10 ground scores through six games in 2024 – currently on pace for 20 rushing scores in 2024 which would be the most for the program since scoring 24 times on the ground back in 2017;
Entering just his second game of the season – and with just nine career receptions for 201 yards – WR #1 Zion Booker caught a career-high – and team-best – six catches for 102 yards and his first career touchdown reception on an 18-yard first-quarter reception … It was just the second, 100-yard receiving performance;
RB #25 Marlin Cochran caught a career-best three passes, finishing with 23 receiving yards … WR #15 Jai Boyd duplicated his career-best performance with two catches for 16 yards, matching what he did the week before against Wofford;
After tossing a touchdown pass in nine of the 11 games a season ago – including nine consecutive against NCAA FCS competition – Catamount QB Cole Gonzales has only recorded TD tosses in three of the six games this season with FIVE seasonal touchdowns … In three home games this year, Gonzales has just one TD pass coming on the 18-yard strike to Zion Booker;
Cole Gonzales took sole possession of third in program history with 44 career passing scores – six shy of matching Troy Mitchell (50, 2012-15) and 20 shy of the school record held by Tyrie Adams (64, 2016-19);
With 294 passing yards against The Citadel, Gonzales moved into FOURTH place in WCU's career record books with 5,667 passing yards, by-passing both Jeff Gilbert (5,508 yards from 1981-84) and Lonnie Galloway (5,545 yards from 1990-93);
Gonzales remains in FOURTH place on WCU's career total offense chart now with a total of 6,186 yards (5,667 yards passing; 519 yards rushing), eclipsing fourth-place Mike Pusey (5,863 yards from 1977-79) and sets his sights on third-place Lonnie Galloway (6,832 yards from 1990-93);
Western Carolina's defense limited The Citadel to an opponent-low 155 yards passing – the first opponent not to crest 200 yards through the air this season … the 155 yards came on an opponent-low 12 completed passes;
The Catamounts recorded multiple interceptions against The Citadel, giving WCU at least one pick in FIVE of the SIX seasonal games – CJ Williams … WCU's seven interceptions this year are already more than SEVEN of the past EIGHT seasons … Six games in, the Catamounts have seven interceptions – more than the SIX from 2022 and well ahead of the pace of the nine last fall;
Converted DB #4 C.J. Williams came up with his second interception of the season, matching DB #19 Jordy Lower for the team lead … DB #3 Samaurie Dukes intercepted his first pass of the year … Williams now has THREE career interceptions over the past two years … Dukes tallied his first INT of the year – and fourth of his career , all coming over the past two seasons;
DL #6 Curtis Fann Jr. was credited with a team-high – and career-best – eight tackles in the win over The Citadel;

The Citadel was awarded a safety late in the fourth quarter as WCU punter #95 Stephen Brantley – backed up along the back of the endzone – accepted the long snap from #48 Colby Cross, drew the Bulldog punt rush to him with the clock running before stepping out of bounds, giving The Citadel two points … It was the first safety allowed since a QB sack by Chattanooga's Ty Boeck awarded the Mocs two points back on Nov. 19, 2022.

Miscellaneous Notes:

Western Carolina's captains for Saturday's game were – DL #19 Chris Morga LB #20 Wesley Scott; OL #72 Blake Whitmore; and OL #74 Jordan Daniels;
WCU again carried the North Carolina state flag out during its pregame run out – joined by flags representing each branch of the military on Saturday's Heroes Day … DE #11 Caleb Fisher carried out the American flag and LB #18 Antarron Turner carried the North Carolina state flag;
WCU wore its purple jerseys over its purple pants against the Bulldogs … It third time WCU had gone with the purple helmet over purple jersey over purple pants look under head coach Kerwin Bell … the Catamounts improved to 3-0 in that uniform combination over the past four seasons;
The Citadel won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff … the Bulldogs received the opening kickoff with WCU getting the football to start the second half … WCU defended the south endzone in the first quarter.