SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In yet another close contest for the Wofford College football team, the Terriers earned a 35-28 overtime win over Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium. The Catamounts tied the game at 28 with three minutes remaining. Wofford scored a touchdown to open overtime and then an interception in the end zone secured the win for the Terriers.
 
Wofford, ranked fifth in the nation, opens the season 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in the league, with a #22 national ranking. The Terriers were led by Andre Stoddard with 157 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Lennox McAfee added 88 rushing yards and Lennox McAfee had 86 yards on the ground. The Catamounts were led by Tyrie Adams with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown, while completing 17-of-26 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
 
"It was one of those games that was either going to make your team or break your team," said head coach Mike Ayers. "For whatever reason we have been able to come up with the play in all of the games that we have played. Western Carolina is a much improved team and came in with a lot of confidence along with an explosive offense. We knew that it was going to be a very difficult game. We knew we would have to have everything clicking on all cylinders. I am proud of the kids and the coaches. I felt like we were ready for what they were going to bring and couldn't be prouder of the effort."
 
The Catamounts had the ball first and picked up a pair of first downs before Colton Clemons batted a ball into the air which he caught for an interception at midfield. Wofford gained two first downs, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Luke Carter for a 3-0 lead at 8:33 in the first quarter. With the ball back, Western Carolina took only five plays to go 77 yards and scored a touchdown on a 17-yard reception by Jordan Mathis. The Catamounts lead was 7-3 at 6:37 in the first quarter. Wofford went three-and-out and punted, with Western Carolina beginning the drive at the two-yard line.
 
Western Carolina had two first downs before punting back to the Terriers. Wofford also had two first downs before punting, with the ball downed at the seven-yard line. A pair of tackles for loss forced the Catamounts three-and-out. Wofford was faced with a fourth-and-two, which Lennox McAfee converted for a first down. After three more rushing first downs, Wofford had the ball inside the 20. A seven-yard touchdown run by Blake Morgan gave the Terriers a 10-7 lead with 5:57 on the clock in the second quarter. The Catamounts went three-and-out and punted. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Joe Newman's pitch was tipped and Western Carolina recovered the fumble to take over at the 10-yard line. Tyrie Adams ran for a seven-yard touchdown to give the Catamounts a 14-10 lead with 3:06 remaining in the half.  
 
On the next drive by the Terriers, they went three-and-out and punted. However the Catamounts were called for running into the punter for a first down. A personal foul penalty backed up the Terriers and they were forced to punt. A fumble on the return went out of bounds as Wofford attempted to recover the ball. Western began at the 16-yard line, but George Gbesee intercepted a pass at midfield with less than a minute remaining in the half. A first down reception by R.J. Taylor and a first down catch by Blake Morgan moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. A touchdown was called back by an illegal formation penalty, so the Terriers settled for a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
 
To open the second half, Wofford had a first down and then a 38-yard run by Blake Morgan to move inside the 20-yard line. On fourth-and-two from the 16-yard line, the run was short and the Catamounts took over on downs. Western Carolina drove 84 yards in eleven plays, scoring a touchdown on a 38-yrd reception by Terryon Robinson. With 7:42 left in the third quarter, the Catamounts had a 21-13 lead. With the ball back, Andre Stoddard ran 31-yards for a first down. Following two more first downs, Andre Stoddard scored from three yards out. The two point conversion run by Blake Morgan was good to tie the game at 21 with 3:52 on the clock in the third quarter.
 
The Catamounts had four first downs, but a 40-yard field goal attempt was short and Wofford took over. Four rushing first downs gave the Terriers a first-and-goal. Brandon Goodson ran four yards for the touchdown, extending the ball across the goal line. The Terriers had a 28-21 lead at the 7:35 mark of the fourth quarter. Western Carolina converted a pair of third downs and used a pass interference call to move inside the five-yard line. A one-yard run by Donnavan Spencer tied the game at 28 with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter. Wofford had a first down run by Andre Stoddard and a first down on a pass interference penalty. Lennox McAfee carried a pile of defenders for a rushing first down. A pass attempt on fourth-and-five at the 35-yard line was incomplete as time expired.
 
To begin overtime, Western Carolina won the toss and elected defense. Wofford had a first down run by Lennox McAfee inside the five-yard line. Andre Stoddard had a three-yard touchdown run and Luke Carter made the extra point for a 35-28 lead. The Catamounts started their possession with a tackles for loss. On third down, George Gbesee intercepted Tyrie Adams in the end zone to end the game.
 
Wofford had 466 total yards, with 393 rushing. Western Carolina had 352 total yards, 195 of which were passing. Wofford had 24 first downs to 24 for Western Carolina. Wofford was 9-of-16 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth down. Western Carolina was 5-of-10 on third down. Wofford was called for a season-high eleven penalties, while Western Carolina had nine penalties. Wofford had a 36:41 to 23:19 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. Western Carolina Post-Game Notes
 
Wofford has won five straight to open a season for the first time since 2012 (also five straight).
 
The game was the first to go to overtime this season for the Terriers. Wofford is now 5-5 all-time in overtime games since 1996. Wofford had been defeated in the last two overtime games (The Citadel and Youngstown State in 2016).
 
Andre Stoddard's 157 rushing yards marked his first career 100+ rushing game and was the second 100+ rushing game of the season for a Terrier.
 
Colton Clemon's interception in the first quarter was his first of the season and first in his career. George Gbesee had interceptions in the second quarter and overtime, giving him three for his career.
 
Colton Clemons led the team with nine tackles, while Terrance Morris, Jireh Wilson, Mikel Horton and Miles Brown had tackles for loss.
 
Game captains were Mason Alstatt, Roo Daniels, Bryce Motes and Brandon Curtis.
 
Attendance was 6,982 at Gibbs Stadium.
 
The Terriers continue Southern Conference play next weekend as the team travels to face The Citadel at 6:00 p.m.