CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Western Carolina at The Citadel

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Western Carolina beat The Citadel 45–⁠38. It was their 29th meeting; The Citadel leads the series 17–⁠12.

AwayWestern Carolina7–⁠5 in 2025
45
HomeThe Citadel4–⁠8 in 2025
38

Final at Johnson Hagood Stadium, CharlestonTV: ESPN+Attendance 9,151

At kickoff
75°F, clear, wind 8 mph from the southWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Charleston Executive Airport, 11 km from the stadium
Official
Bruce AustinGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Western Carolina71714745
The Citadel14371438

Standouts

  • PassingTaron Dickens28 of 33, 369 yards, 5 TD, 1 INTWestern Carolina
  • RushingQuentin Hayes15 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDThe Citadel
  • ReceivingMalik Knight5 catches, 103 yards, 2 TDWestern Carolina
  • DefenseDrew Nyangweso1 INTThe Citadel

Player stats

Western Carolina

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Taron Dickens28/3336951
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Markel Townsend1590138
Taron Dickens1325012
Isaac McLellan122022
Patrick Boyd Jr.5907
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
James Tyre7112125
Malik Knight5103238
Patrick Boyd Jr.458028
Josiah Thomas435112

The Citadel

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cobey Thompkins3/511110
Quentin Hayes2/42100
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Quentin Hayes1590222
Cobey Thompkins1179138
Garrison Johnson772055
Beau Herrington724112
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Braylon Knauth269161
Jay Graves-Billips252039
Beau Herrington111011
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Drew Nyangweso0001

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Western CarolinaThe Citadel
515Total yards410
369Passing yards132
146Rushing yards278
11.2Yards per pass14.7
4.1Yards per rush6.2
29First downs15
5–⁠10Third downs3–⁠13
2–⁠2Fourth downs3–⁠3
1Turnovers0
7–⁠50Penalties4–⁠35
29:44Possession30:16

Efficiency

Western CarolinaThe Citadel
54%Success rate39%
0.44EPA per play0.40
1.32Explosiveness1.70
0.08Rushing EPA0.30
0.76Passing EPA0.83
43%Passing-down success13%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Western Carolina 52% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

Every drive

The Citadel end zoneWestern Carolina end zoneQ1 The CitadelPunt, 3 playsQ1 Western CarolinaDefensive TD, 3 plays (The Citadel scores)Q1 The CitadelResult not recorded, 1 playQ1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 6 playsQ1 The CitadelPunt, 3 playsQ1 Western CarolinaPunt, 4 playsQ1 The CitadelTouchdown, 8 playsQ1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 11 playsQ2 The CitadelPunt, 4 playsQ2 Western CarolinaInterception, 2 playsQ2 The CitadelField goal, 5 playsQ2 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 8 playsQ2 The CitadelPunt, 3 playsQ2 Western CarolinaField goal, 7 playsQ3 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 The CitadelTouchdown, 11 playsQ3 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 6 playsQ3 The CitadelTouchdown, 10 playsQ4 Western CarolinaPunt, 3 playsQ4 The CitadelPunt, 4 playsQ4 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 11 playsQ4 The CitadelTouchdown, 6 playsQ4 Western CarolinaResult not recorded, 3 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. The Citadel drives left to right, Western Carolina right to left.
  1. Q1 The CitadelPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  2. Q1 Western CarolinaDefensive TD, 3 plays (The Citadel scores), −7 yards
  3. Q1 The CitadelResult not recorded, 1 play, 58 yards
  4. Q1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 6 plays, 67 yards
  5. Q1 The CitadelPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  6. Q1 Western CarolinaPunt, 4 plays, 12 yards
  7. Q1 The CitadelTouchdown, 8 plays, 77 yards
  8. Q1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 11 plays, 67 yards
  9. Q2 The CitadelPunt, 4 plays, 18 yards
  10. Q2 Western CarolinaInterception, 2 plays, −2 yards
  11. Q2 The CitadelField goal, 5 plays, −4 yards
  12. Q2 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 8 plays, 72 yards
  13. Q2 The CitadelPunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  14. Q2 Western CarolinaField goal, 7 plays, 38 yards
  15. Q3 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 7 plays, 70 yards
  16. Q3 The CitadelTouchdown, 11 plays, 72 yards
  17. Q3 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 6 plays, 57 yards
  18. Q3 The CitadelTouchdown, 10 plays, 72 yards
  19. Q4 Western CarolinaPunt, 3 plays, 4 yards
  20. Q4 The CitadelPunt, 4 plays, 20 yards
  21. Q4 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 11 plays, 84 yards
  22. Q4 The CitadelTouchdown, 6 plays, 72 yards
  23. Q4 Western CarolinaResult not recorded, 3 plays, 35 yards

Play by play

1st quarter8 drives, then The Citadel 14, Western Carolina 7
The Citadel Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Cobey Thompkins run for a loss of 2 yards to the CIT 23
14:252nd & 12 at own 23Cobey Thompkins run for 1 yd to the CIT 24
13:483rd & 11 at own 24Cobey Thompkins run for 3 yds to the CIT 27
13:124th & 8 at own 27James Platte punt for 43 yds , James Tyre returns for no gain to the WCU 30
Western Carolina Defensive TD, 3 plays (The Citadel scores)
12:551st & 10 at own 30Taron Dickens run for 1 yd to the WCU 31
12:192nd & 9 at own 31Patrick Boyd Jr. run for 1 yd to the WCU 32
12:023rd & 8 at own 32Taron Dickens sacked by Mikey Rosa and Jeremiah Holmes for a loss of 9 yards to the WCU 23 Western Carolina Penalty, illegal block (Evan Carney) to the WCU 23
11:544th & 17 at own 23Stephen Brantley punt for 38 yds
The Citadel Result not recorded, 1 play
11:231st & 10 at own 39Braylon Knauth 61 Yd pass from Cobey Thompkins (Ben Barnes Kick)The Citadel 7, Western Carolina 0
Western Carolina Touchdown, 6 plays
11:231st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 35 yds , Dominic Dutton return for no gain to the WCU 30
11:161st & 10 at own 30Taron Dickens run for 5 yds to the WCU 35
10:532nd & 5 at own 35Taron Dickens run for 11 yds to the WCU 46 for a 1ST down
10:301st & 10 at own 46Taron Dickens pass complete to Malik Knight for 38 yds to the CIT 16 for a 1ST down
10:021st & 10 at opp 16Taron Dickens pass complete to Painter Richards-Baker for a loss of 5 yards to the CIT 21 Western Carolina Penalty, illegal shift (Jhamari Pierre-Louis) to the CIT 21
9:401st & 15 at opp 21Patrick Boyd Jr. run for 7 yds to the CIT 14
9:072nd & 8 at opp 14Malik Knight 14 Yd pass from Taron Dickens (Marcus Trout Kick)Tied at 7
The Citadel Punt, 3 plays
9:071st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
9:071st & 10 at own 25Beau Herrington run for 5 yds to the CIT 30
8:252nd & 5 at own 30Beau Herrington run for a loss of 2 yards to the CIT 28
7:403rd & 7 at own 28Quentin Hayes run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIT 27
7:134th & 8 at own 27James Platte punt for 35 yds
Western Carolina Punt, 4 plays
7:081st & 10 at own 38Taron Dickens pass complete to Josiah Thomas for 12 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
6:421st & 10 at the 50Markel Townsend run for no gain to the 50 yard line
6:242nd & 10 at the 50Taron Dickens pass incomplete to Josiah Thomas
6:193rd & 10 at the 50Taron Dickens run for no gain to the 50 yard line
5:274th & 10 at the 50Stephen Brantley punt for 50 yds
The Citadel Touchdown, 8 plays
5:181st & 10 at own 20Garrison Johnson Sr. run for 55 yds to the WCU 25 for a 1ST down
4:361st & 10 at opp 25Garrison Johnson Sr. run for no gain to the WCU 25 Western Carolina Penalty, substitution infraction (Ken Moore Jr.) to the WCU 20
3:241st & 5 at opp 20Javonte Graves-Billips run for 2 yds to the WCU 18
2:152nd & 3 at opp 18Garrison Johnson Sr. run for no gain to the WCU 18
1:533rd & 3 at opp 18Quentin Hayes run for 13 yds to the WCU 5 for a 1ST down
1:061st & goal at opp 5Quentin Hayes run for no gain to the WCU 5
0:532nd & goal at opp 5Garrison Johnson Sr. run for no gain to the WCU 5
0:533rd & goal at opp 5Quentin Hayes 5 Yd Run (Ben Barnes Kick)The Citadel 14, Western Carolina 7
Western Carolina Touchdown, 11 plays
0:531st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 64 yds , Dominic Dutton return for 29 yds to the WCU 30
0:441st & 10 at own 30Markel Townsend run for 11 yds to the WCU 41 for a 1ST down
0:011st & 10 at own 41Markel Townsend run for 14 yds to the CIT 45 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 45Taron Dickens pass complete to Malik Knight for 6 yds to the CIT 39
Q2 14:232nd & 4 at opp 39Taron Dickens run for no gain to the CIT 39
Q2 13:563rd & 4 at opp 39Taron Dickens pass complete to Markel Townsend for 6 yds to the CIT 33 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:271st & 10 at opp 33Markel Townsend run for 6 yds to the CIT 27
Q2 13:032nd & 4 at opp 27Taron Dickens pass complete to Painter Richards-Baker for 14 yds to the CIT 13 for a 1ST down
Q2 12:381st & 10 at opp 13Markel Townsend run for 4 yds to the CIT 9
Q2 12:112nd & 6 at opp 9Taron Dickens sacked by Josh Cole for a loss of 3 yards to the CIT 12
Q2 11:313rd & 9 at opp 12Taron Dickens pass complete to Markel Townsend for 7 yds to the CIT 5
Q2 10:414th & 2 at opp 5Josiah Thomas 5 Yd pass from Taron Dickens (Marcus Trout Kick)Tied at 14
2nd quarter6 drives, then Western Carolina 24, The Citadel 17
The Citadel Punt, 4 plays
10:411st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 60 yds , Braylon Knauth return for 7 yds to the CIT 12
10:291st & 10 at own 12Cobey Thompkins pass complete to Beau Herrington for 11 yds to the CIT 23 for a 1ST down
9:531st & 10 at own 23Beau Herrington run for 3 yds to the CIT 26
9:122nd & 7 at own 26Cobey Thompkins run for 4 yds to the CIT 30
8:313rd & 3 at own 30Sebastien Boyle run for no gain to the CIT 30
7:534th & 3 at own 30James Platte punt for 57 yds , James Tyre returns for no gain to the WCU 13
Western Carolina Interception, 2 plays
7:471st & 10 at own 13Taron Dickens pass complete to Josh Perry for a loss of 2 yards to the WCU 11
7:232nd & 12 at own 11Drew Nyangweso return for no gain to the WCU 20
The Citadel Field goal, 5 plays
7:151st & 10 at opp 20Cobey Thompkins run for 1 yd to the WCU 19
6:322nd & 9 at opp 19Garrison Johnson Sr. run for 5 yds to the WCU 14
5:343rd & 4 at opp 14Cobey Thompkins run for no gain The Citadel Penalty, Offensive holding (Tyler Heggins-Hill) to the WCU 24
5:263rd & 14 at opp 24Cobey Thompkins pass incomplete to Whit Hobgood The Citadel Penalty, illegal touching (Temarcus Elam) to the WCU 24
5:174th & 14 at opp 24B. Barnes 42 yd FG GOODThe Citadel 17, Western Carolina 14
Western Carolina Touchdown, 8 plays
5:171st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
5:171st & 10 at own 25Patrick Boyd Jr. run for 1 yd to the WCU 26
4:562nd & 9 at own 26Taron Dickens pass complete to Patrick Boyd Jr. for 4 yds to the WCU 30
4:203rd & 5 at own 30Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 16 yds to the WCU 46 for a 1ST down
4:001st & 10 at own 46Patrick Boyd Jr. run for no gain to the WCU 46
3:292nd & 10 at own 46Taron Dickens pass complete to Patrick Boyd Jr. for 11 yds to the CIT 43 for a 1ST down
2:571st & 10 at opp 43Taron Dickens pass complete to Patrick Boyd Jr. for 28 yds to the CIT 15 for a 1ST down
2:161st & 10 at opp 15Markel Townsend run for 8 yds to the CIT 7
1:562nd & 2 at opp 7Markel Townsend 7 Yd Run (Marcus Trout Kick)Western Carolina 21, The Citadel 17
The Citadel Punt, 3 plays
1:561st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
1:541st & 10 at own 25Sebastien Boyle run for 5 yds to the CIT 30
1:192nd & 5 at own 30Quentin Hayes pass incomplete to Saul Diaz
1:153rd & 5 at own 30Quentin Hayes run for 1 yd to the CIT 31
1:054th & 4 at own 31James Platte punt for 14 yds
Western Carolina Field goal, 7 plays
1:041st & 10 at opp 45Taron Dickens pass incomplete to Malik Knight, broken up by Drew Nyangweso
1:012nd & 10 at opp 45Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 10 yds to the CIT 35 for a 1ST down
0:401st & 10 at opp 35Taron Dickens pass complete to Josiah Thomas for 8 yds to the CIT 27
0:192nd & 2 at opp 27Taron Dickens run for 7 yds to the CIT 20 for a 1ST down
0:161st & 10 at opp 20Taron Dickens sacked by Mikey Rosa for a loss of 11 yards to the CIT 31
0:102nd & 21 at opp 31Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 24 yds to the CIT 7 for a 1ST down
3rd quarter4 drives, then Western Carolina 38, The Citadel 24
Western Carolina Touchdown, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 63 yds , Dominic Dutton return for 25 yds to the WCU 27
14:531st & 10 at own 27Patrick Boyd Jr. run for no gain to the WCU 27
14:242nd & 10 at own 27Taron Dickens pass complete to Patrick Boyd Jr. for 15 yds to the WCU 42 for a 1ST down
13:551st & 10 at own 42Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 25 yds to the CIT 33 for a 1ST down
13:271st & 10 at opp 33Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 20 yds to the CIT 13 for a 1ST down
13:031st & 10 at opp 13Taron Dickens sacked by Mikey Rosa for a loss of 2 yards to the CIT 15
12:362nd & 12 at opp 15Taron Dickens run for 6 yds to the CIT 9
11:353rd & 6 at opp 9James Tyre 9 Yd pass from Taron Dickens (Marcus Trout Kick)
The Citadel Touchdown, 11 plays
11:331st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
11:331st & 10 at own 25Quentin Hayes run for 5 yds to the CIT 30
10:542nd & 5 at own 30Quentin Hayes run for 20 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
10:111st & 10 at the 50The Citadel Penalty, false start (Darwin Murillo) to the CIT 45
9:511st & 15 at own 45Quentin Hayes run for 1 yd to the CIT 46
9:082nd & 14 at own 46Quentin Hayes pass incomplete to Javonte Graves-Billips
8:593rd & 14 at own 46Quentin Hayes pass complete to Javonte Graves-Billips for 13 yds to the WCU 41
8:154th & 1 at opp 41Quentin Hayes pass incomplete to Javonte Graves-Billips for a 1ST down Western Carolina Penalty, Defensive pass interference (Ken Moore Jr.) to the WCU 26 for a 1ST down
8:091st & 10 at opp 26Sebastien Boyle run for 4 yds to the WCU 22
7:292nd & 6 at opp 22Beau Herrington run for 5 yds to the WCU 17
6:493rd & 1 at opp 17Quentin Hayes run for 1 yd to the WCU 16 for a 1ST down
6:181st & 10 at opp 16Quentin Hayes run for 4 yds to the WCU 12
5:312nd & 6 at opp 12Beau Herrington 12 Yd Run (Ben Barnes Kick)
Western Carolina Touchdown, 6 plays
5:311st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 61 yds , Dominic Dutton return for 36 yds to the WCU 40
5:241st & 10 at own 40Markel Townsend run for a loss of 9 yards to the WCU 31 Western Carolina Penalty, Offensive holding (Manasseh Ripert) to the WCU 30
4:541st & 20 at own 30Taron Dickens pass complete to James Tyre for 8 yds to the WCU 38
4:322nd & 12 at own 38Taron Dickens pass incomplete to Painter Richards-Baker
4:303rd & 12 at own 38Western Carolina Penalty, false start (Steven Hamby) to the WCU 33
4:283rd & 17 at own 33Taron Dickens pass complete to Malik Knight for 8 yds to the WCU 41
3:404th & 9 at own 41Isaac McLellan run for 22 yds to the CIT 37 for a 1ST down
2:481st & 10 at opp 37Malik Knight 37 Yd pass from Taron Dickens (Marcus Trout Kick)
The Citadel Touchdown, 10 plays
2:481st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
2:481st & 10 at own 25Garrison Johnson Sr. run for no gain to the CIT 25
2:092nd & 10 at own 25Cobey Thompkins pass complete to Javonte Graves-Billips for 39 yds to the WCU 36 for a 1ST down
1:271st & 10 at opp 36Cobey Thompkins run for 1 yd to the WCU 35
0:462nd & 9 at opp 35Cobey Thompkins run for 6 yds to the WCU 29
0:053rd & 3 at opp 29Cobey Thompkins run for 2 yds to the WCU 27
Q4 15:004th & 1 at opp 27Quentin Hayes run for 13 yds to the WCU 14 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:321st & 10 at opp 14Javonte Graves-Billips run for 2 yds to the WCU 12
Q4 13:512nd & 8 at opp 12Beau Herrington run for a loss of 4 yards to the WCU 16
Q4 13:073rd & 12 at opp 16Quentin Hayes pass complete to Braylon Knauth for 8 yds to the WCU 8
Q4 12:214th & 4 at opp 8Quentin Hayes 8 Yd Run (Ben Barnes Kick)
4th quarter5 drives, then Western Carolina 45, The Citadel 38
Western Carolina Punt, 3 plays
12:211st & 10 at own 35Ben Barnes kickoff for 55 yds , Dominic Dutton return for 15 yds to the WCU 25
12:151st & 10 at own 25Josh Perry run for 1 yd to the WCU 26
11:472nd & 9 at own 26Taron Dickens pass incomplete to Josh Perry, broken up by Mikey Rosa
11:443rd & 9 at own 26Western Carolina Penalty, false start (Brayden Blackmon) to the WCU 21
11:443rd & 14 at own 21Taron Dickens run for 8 yds to the WCU 29
10:594th & 6 at own 29punt for 49 yds
The Citadel Punt, 4 plays
10:461st & 10 at own 22Quentin Hayes run for 22 yds to the CIT 44 for a 1ST down
10:181st & 10 at own 44Beau Herrington run for 5 yds to the CIT 49
9:452nd & 5 at own 49Quentin Hayes run for no gain to the CIT 49
8:573rd & 5 at own 49Quentin Hayes sacked by Sean Morris and Jackson Banks for a loss of 2 yards to the CIT 47
8:064th & 7 at own 47The Citadel Penalty, delay of game (James Platte) to the CIT 42
7:584th & 12 at own 42James Platte punt for 45 yds
Western Carolina Touchdown, 11 plays
7:571st & 10 at own 13Taron Dickens pass complete to Markel Townsend for 17 yds to the WCU 30 for a 1ST down
7:231st & 10 at own 30Taron Dickens run for 12 yds to the WCU 42 for a 1ST down
7:001st & 10 at own 42Markel Townsend run for 5 yds to the WCU 47
6:352nd & 5 at own 47Markel Townsend run for 4 yds to the CIT 49
6:143rd & 1 at opp 49Markel Townsend run for 1 yd to the CIT 48 for a 1ST down
5:501st & 10 at opp 48Taron Dickens pass incomplete to Malik Knight for a 1ST down The Citadel Penalty, Defensive pass interference (Drew Nyangweso) to the CIT 33 for a 1ST down
5:391st & 10 at opp 33Taron Dickens pass complete to Dominic Dutton for 6 yds to the CIT 27
5:112nd & 4 at opp 27Markel Townsend run for 2 yds to the CIT 25
4:343rd & 2 at opp 25Taron Dickens pass complete to Josiah Thomas for 10 yds to the CIT 15 for a 1ST down
3:491st & 10 at opp 15Markel Townsend run for 2 yds to the CIT 13
3:082nd & 8 at opp 13Western Carolina Penalty, personal foul (Zach Watson) to the CIT 18
3:012nd & 13 at opp 18Taron Dickens pass complete to Dominic Dutton for 18 yds for a TD (Marcus Trout KICK) (Marcus Trout KICK)
The Citadel Touchdown, 6 plays
3:011st & 10 at own 35Stephen Brantley kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
3:001st & 10 at own 25Garrison Johnson Sr. run for 10 yds to the CIT 35 for a 1ST down
2:371st & 10 at own 35Cobey Thompkins run for 38 yds to the WCU 27 for a 1ST down
2:041st & 10 at opp 27Garrison Johnson Sr. run for 2 yds to the WCU 25
2:002nd & 8 at opp 25Cobey Thompkins pass incomplete to Braylon Knauth
1:523rd & 8 at opp 25Cobey Thompkins run for 5 yds to the WCU 20
1:364th & 3 at opp 20Cobey Thompkins 20 Yd Run (Ben Barnes Kick)
Western Carolina Result not recorded, 3 plays
1:351st & 10 at own 35James Platte kickoff for 13 yds
1:331st & 10 at opp 48Markel Townsend run for 38 yds to the CIT 10 for a 1ST down
0:451st & goal at opp 10Markel Townsend run for a loss of 3 yards to the CIT 13
0:162nd & goal at opp 13Taron Dickens run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIT 13

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Western Carolina–The Citadel game

The Citadel leads 17–⁠12 in 29 meetings.

Recent meetings
2025Western Carolina 45, The Citadel 38
2024Western Carolina 30, The Citadel 16
2023Western Carolina 49, The Citadel 14
2022The Citadel 34, Western Carolina 21
2021Western Carolina 45, The Citadel 31
2020Western Carolina 21, The Citadel 14

Around this game

Western Carolina

The Citadel

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 8