The WCU football team won for the first time this year by a score of 21 to 14 against The Citadel on Saturday, March 13.
The Catamount offense jumped off to a fiery start on Saturday with a 36-yard kickoff return, by Calvin Jones, to open the contest. The drive was finished off by a touchdown run from Donnovan Spencer, putting the Cats into the scoring column within the first minute of the game. The Catamounts proceeded to score two more touchdowns in the first half, leading 21-6 going into halftime.
“We knew if we won the toss, we were going to take the ball,” said Mark Speir, Head Football Coach for the Catamounts, in the post game interview. He added “…when you play a triple-option team you want to start out in the lead, make them play catch up ball.”
Catamount offense hit a wall and was unable to find the end-zone for the entirety of the second half, but the defense held strong from start to finish.
The Catamount defense held the Bulldogs to only two scores, and wrapped up a laundry list of positive stats that led to the win. The defense forced a fumble in their own red zone, blocked an extra point, held the Bulldogs in a goal line stand, and had a late 4th quarter sack of Citadel Quarterback, Jaylan Adams, by Tre Jolly and KJ Milner that sealed the win for the Cats.
The Western defense was led by Linebacker Ty Harris with 13 tackles. With his performance on Saturday, Harris now has five games with a double-digit tackling performance.
Spencer finished the game with 47 receiving yards, two touchdowns and a career-high 220 yards rushing, leading the catamounts offense. Mikai Stanley capped off the offense with one touchdown and an important 4th down conversion late in the 4th quarter.
Due to the pandemic and SoCon postponement of fall athletics, this is officially the first win for the Western Football team since Nov. 9, 2019 when they beat Blue Ridge Border Battle rival, ETSU Buccaneers, in overtime.
The Cats will take on the Mercer Bears on Saturday, March 20 in Macon, Georgia. The next home matchup for the Catamounts is slated for April 3, against the Chattanooga Mocs at 1 p.m.
