CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Despite actively working to hang around throughout the majority of the contest, The Citadel (2-5, 0-4 SoCon) struggled to keep pace down the stretch with Western Carolina (3-3, 2-0 SoCon) in just the second conference roadtrip of the season for the program, dropping a 30-16 decision to the host Catamounts on Saturday afternoon at Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

KEY NOTES
-- Johnathan Bennett powered the offense for The Citadel throughout, posting a 12-of-28 passing performance for 155 yards with a pair of score-preventing interceptions; the graduate transfer also racked up a team season-high 164 yards off 22 carries with one rushing TD, logging just the second 100-plus yard outing for a Bulldog on the 2024 campaign
-- Outside of Bennett, backup QB Dustin Fletcher added 50 yards on the ground behind five rushes while both Garrison Johnson and Cooper Wallace combined for grand total 54 yards as well via 14 carries
-- Captain Javonte Graves-Billips led the way for the receivers, pulling down four catches for 54 yards while Tyler Cherry -- three receptions for 35 yards -- and Dervon Pesnell -- 32 yards off two catches -- also tallied key pickups
-- Thomas Wyatt and Cale Williams paced the defense with nine tackles apiece while Evan Byrd trailed just behind with eight total on the day; The Bulldogs finished with a combined four tackes-for-loss as well
-- James Platte put together another solid showing in the kicking game, logging three punts for an average 41.0 yards per attempt
-- Nikolas Mirabella generated an early positive for The Citadel behind his first career blocked punt, getting a hand on the opening Catamount attempt; as a team, the Bulldogs continue to excel in blocked kicks, notching an FCS-best fifth against WCU off the efforts of the true freshman