CULLOWHEE, N.C. — In an inspiring return to E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cole Gonzales threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, while Jalynn Williams showcased his skills with three rushing touchdowns, leading Western Carolina to a decisive 30-16 victory over Wofford on Saturday following the disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene.

The Catamounts (3-3, 2-0 Southern Conference) managed to secure a home win despite not having fans present the previous week due to ongoing recovery efforts throughout western North Carolina after the hurricane’s impact.

In a gesture of solidarity, Western Carolina players wore special helmet stickers that read “Prayers for Western Carolina.” Additionally, they initiated a “Fill the Truck” campaign, encouraging fans to contribute necessary items to fill the team’s equipment truck for those affected by the disaster.

The scoring kicked off with Gonzales connecting with Zion Booker for an 18-yard touchdown pass, which marked the first points of the game. Booker emerged as a key player, accumulating 102 receiving yards. Williams contributed significantly to the Catamounts’ performance, finishing off two lengthy drives with touchdown runs in the second quarter, propelling the team to a 21-7 lead by halftime.

Gonzales completed 28 of his 38 pass attempts during the game, demonstrating a strong offensive performance. On the other side, Johnathan Bennett led Wofford (2-5, 0-4) with an impressive 155 yards rushing on 22 carries, along with another 155 yards in passing, although he faced challenges with two interceptions, one of which came from defender Samaurie Dukes at Western Carolina’s 1-yard line in the closing minutes of the game.