CULLOWHEE – A quiet mountain town hosted a raucous college football game on Saturday afternoon. Two teams, conference rivals for longer than many fans have been alive, faced off for the first time as opponents ranked in the top ten nationally. The momentum shifted on a whim at times as the sun made its way over EJ Whitmire Stadium, but it was the Furman Paladins and quarterback Tyler Huff who delivered the final blow and defeated the host Western Carolina Catamounts, 29-17 to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the Southern Conference title.

Western rolled the dice to start the game, going for it on fourth down near the Furman forty-yard-line but a dropped pass gave the ball to Furman. The Paladins, on the offensive for the first time for the afternoon, moved the ball pretty well with a mix of runs and passes. A roll-out pass from the nine-yard-line from Tyler Huff to Mason Pline got the Paladins on the board and an offside penalty negated a missed PAT attempt. The Paladins decided to go for two with the second chance, but Andreas Keaton broke up a pass near the goal line to keep it 6-0 early in the first half. The Catamounts’ second drive played out much like the first drive with the home team facing a fourth and short and coming up short. Furman went sixty-six yards on five plays and extended their lead to thirteen with Huff’s second touchdown of the half, this one a sixteen-yard toss to Colton Hinton.

Western Carolina mounted yet another yard-consuming drive as the first quarter clock ran out. When the second quarter began, the Catamounts were situated in the red zone, hoping to claw back some of the two-score deficit the visiting Paladins forced upon them. Cole Gonzales’s nine-yard touchdown pass to AJ Colombo did just that and the Catamounts faithful celebrated the home team’s first points of the day. Furman ensured that celebration would be short-lived as Wayne Anderson rushed fifty-four yards down the home sideline to set up another Furman score two plays later, a nine-yard scamper by Dominic Roberto.

Western Carolina was willing to tempt the fates on the ensuing drive, taking another risk on a fourth down play. Like the two prior fourth down attempts, the pass was incomplete and the Paladins took over. Unlike previous possessions, however, the Catamounts defense held firm and forced the first punt of the afternoon. The Western Carolina offense regrouped, cheering on their defense for keeping them in the game, and responded in kind, marching sixty-three yards in eight plays with Cole Gonzales finding David White by the pylon to make it 20-14 late in the half. Furman attempted a long field goal as time ran out in the half, but it was wide right.

Furman wanted to force the Catamounts to play their style of football coming out of the half. Taking seven-and-a-half minutes off of the clock, the Paladins marched sixty-nine yards and were on the doorstep of making it a two-score game. The Western Carolina defense stood strong and forced a field goal attempt, but the snap was bobbled, and the Catamounts took over, seeking a potential tying or go-ahead score. That hope grew as the home team marched down the field, but a pass intended for a Catamounts receiver in the end zone was picked off by Furman’s Cally Chizik whose momentum carried him out of the end zone and out of bounds at the one-yard-line. The Western Carolina defense rallied to the aid of their offense, forcing a Furman punt that was shanked and went out of bounds at the thirty-five-yard line. Western Carolina’s offense faced the same fate as their counterparts, finding themselves unable to move the ball and forced to punt. 

Both teams traded field goals midway through the final quarter to keep the margin close, but Tyler Huff drove the final stake in the hearts of the Catamounts faithful with a fifty-three-yard touchdown run down the visiting sideline with under a minute left on the clock. A Western comeback attempt was thwarted and the Paladins were able to kneel to run out the final seconds of the clock and continue their perfect streak in conference play.

Notable North Carolinians

Dominic Roberto (Pine Forest) – the graduate running back led the Paladins with 154 rushing yards.

Branson Adams (Dudley) – the sophomore running back led the Catamounts with sixty-one rushing yards.

AJ Colombo (Cuthbertson) – the sophomore wide receiver opened the scoring for the Catamounts with a touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Up Next

Both teams are at home in Southern Conference action as Western Carolina (5-2, 3-1) hosts Mercer for homecoming while Furman (6-1, 4-0) hosts East Tennessee State.

The picturesque town of Cullowhee, North Carolina, will play host to a highly-anticipated Southern Conference football clash this Saturday when #8 Western Carolina welcomes its fierce rival, #3 Furman, to the hallowed grounds of E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The ESPN+ game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and fans can expect an epic encounter as both teams come into the game with impressive national rankings. In what marks only the fourth game in their storied rivalry where both teams enter the arena with national rankings, this clash brings memories of the golden era of Catamount football. The last time Western Carolina and Furman shared the spotlight with numerical rankings by their names was in 1983 when the ninth-ranked Catamounts exacted sweet revenge by defeating their second-ranked rivals in the NCAA I-AA playoffs, a 14-7 triumph in Greenville. Western Carolina holds a 2-1 record in ranked matchups, boasting a perfect 1-0 record on their home turf.

The 2023 season has seen Western Carolina emerge as the Cinderella story, rising to a Top-10 ranking after a remarkable string of five consecutive wins. Leading the charge is running back Desmond Reid, whose 847 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns have made him a strong contender for All-American recognition. Quarterback Cole Gonzales, now in his sophomore season, has elevated his game with 1,532 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, establishing a potent connection with a dynamic receiving corps led by Censere Lee, boasting 421 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.  On the other side, Furman entered the season as the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference and has lived up to the billing through the first six games. Running back Dominic Roberto, with 394 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, and quarterback Tyler Huff, boasting 1,057 passing yards and 10 total touchdowns, anchor the Paladins' offense. The defense has excelled against the run, allowing a meager 3.1 yards per carry. However, the key to success this weekend for Furman lies in their secondary's ability to generate turnovers, currently tallying an impressive 7 interceptions.

East Carolina Gears Up to Face Charlotte in First-Ever Conference Matchup

East Carolina’s football team is set to face American Athletic Conference newcomer Charlotte on October 21. The game will kick off at 2 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. This will be Charlotte's first-ever encounter with an in-state conference opponent, setting the stage for a memorable showdown. East Carolina, led by fifth-year head coach Mike Houston, enters the game with a 1-5 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the AAC. In the Pirates’ last outing, they fell 31-10 to SMU, despite running 16 more offensive plays than their opponent. Mason Garcia led a pair of scoring drives, completing 12 of 26 passes for a career-high 155 yards and rushing for a team-best 38 yards on 12 carries. Wide receiver Chase Sowell emerged as a standout, delivering his second consecutive seven-catch game and a career-high 120 yards. Charlotte, with a 1-5 record and a 0-2 conference record, is coming off a 14-0 loss to Navy. The upcoming clash promises an exciting faceoff between the two teams as they each aim to secure a crucial first win in the American Athletic Conference this season.

Barton Football Set to Rebound Against Wingate in Homecoming Showdown

Barton is set to host Wingate in a crucial Homecoming matchup. The Bulldogs, who have a 47-3 record against undefeated and nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, are looking to maintain their stronghold in the Piedmont Division standings. Jordan Terrell, the school's all-time leading rusher, is just 12 yards away from reaching the 1,000-yard milestone for the third consecutive season. Terrell has been a standout for the Bulldogs, averaging 141.1 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Jaquan Lynch has shown his prowess with 1,076 yards passing and a total of 16 touchdowns. The defensive charge for the Bulldogs is led by junior linebacker Shane Perry, who boasts a team-high 64 tackles. On the other hand, Wingate's football program has a remarkable track record, culminating in an 11-3 record last year and a spot in the 2022 NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals. Wingate holds the edge in the all-time series with Barton, leading 2-1. Barton College, as an Associate Member of the South Atlantic Conference until the end of the 2024 season, is under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Chip Hester, while Joe Reich serves as the Wingate Head Football Coach. The Homecoming showdown promises to be a thrilling match between Barton and Wingate, with both teams aiming to secure a pivotal victory in front of their passionate fans. 

CULLOWHEE – The #23-ranked Western Carolina football team put on a sensational offensive display on Saturday, securing a resounding 77-21 victory over Charleston Southern. The game took place on Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium and attracted an enthusiastic crowd of 13,357 fans, as it coincided with Family Weekend.

Western Carolina's offense was nothing short of spectacular, amassing a staggering 683 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Cole Gonzales was in exceptional form, throwing five touchdown passes in the first half alone, connecting with four different receivers, including a pair of scores to AJ Colombo. Gonzales began the game with a perfect 12-for-12 passing, completing five touchdowns before his first incompletion. He ended the game 14-of-16 for 299 yards. Notably, three different quarterbacks contributed to the offensive onslaught, with Brody Palhegyi and true freshman Taron Dickens also finding success through the air.

Photo Credit: Samuel Wallace (WCU Communications and Marketing)

Desmond Reid led the charge on the ground, racking up 111 yards on 13 carries and scoring two touchdowns. The Lions scored a remarkable 42 points in the first half, matching a school record they've achieved three times since 2004. Gonzales' passing prowess was complemented by a total of 12 different receivers, including true freshman Corey Washington, who recorded a career-best three receptions for 108 receiving yards.

Defensively, Western Carolina limited Charleston Southern to 223 total yards, with standout performances from LB Va Lealaimatafao, redshirt freshman Ken Moore Jr., and end Curtis Fann Jr. Western Carolina improved its record to 3-1, with a 1-0 mark in SoCon play.

Next on the schedule, Western Carolina embarks on a two-game road swing through conference play, beginning with a matchup against The Citadel Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1 SoCon) at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston next Saturday at 2 p.m.

BOILING SPRINGS – Saturday night's matchup between Western
Carolina and Gardner-Webb saw a budding in-state rivalry building into a new
chapter as each team was still breaking in fairly new head coaches who both sport
offensive philosophies that want to run as many plays as possible in a quick-paced
manner. The two teams did not disappoint, combining for 1200 yards of offense
and eighty-six points. Although Western Carolina had a quarterback who threw
for over 400 yards, it was Gardner-Webb, who lived up to their Runnin' Bulldogs
name, sporting two 100+ yard rushers on the night, who were victorious on Saturday,
winning 52-34.

The first quarter did not have the fireworks that fans and
pundits alike were expecting. Gardner-Webb forced a three-and-out on the first
drive of the game, but fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, giving
Western Carolina the ball back in Bulldogs territory. The Catamounts took advantage
of the turnover, landing on the scoreboard first with a thirty-eight-yard
Richard McCollum field goal. Not wanting to be outdone by another in-state
kicker, Gardner-Webb's Austin McKay kicked his own field goal to knot the score
at three.

Although the first half was marred with turnovers with each
team fumbling twice and turning the ball over on downs once, there were bright
spots for each squad as well. Gardner-Webb running back Narii Gaither ran hard for Gardner-Webb
and wide receiver TJ Luther made two great catches with the sun right in his
eyes, the second in the back corner of the end zone to give the Bulldogs their
first touchdown of the day. Western Carolina's KJ Milner had multiple tackles
for loss and a recovered fumble and quarterback Rogan Wells was 12 of 16
passing with a scoring toss to Kenny Benjamin.

The teams started to settle down as the second quarter got
underway. After the Catamounts added another McCollum field goal to cut the
deficit to four, Rogan Wells led his team on their first/only touchdown drive
of the half, moving Western Carolina fifty-eight yards in eight plays,
culminating with a thirteen-yard scoring grab by Kenny Benjamin.

The Runnin' Bulldogs looked to regain the momentum late in
the quarter, and quarterback Bailey Fisher was ready to step up and led his
team on a seventy-yard scoring drive, finishing the drive on his own with a
keeper, but it was Western Carolina who would have the last word in the half with
Wells continuing with his hot hand, leading the visiting Catamounts
seventy-nine yards in eleven plays. Calvin Jones made a great grab at the one-yard
line to get the Catamounts into position and TJ Jones punched it in two plays
later to give Western a 20-17 halftime lead.

Gardner-Webb QB Bailey Fisher celebrates a touchdown. Photo: Brian Barnes

The second half was a tale of two quarters. The third quarter
saw both teams trading punches and trying to light up the scoreboard. After
forcing an initial punt which rolled all the way to the two-yard line, Western
Carolina struck fast and quarterback Rogan Wells broke free on an eighty-two-yard keeper three plays later to give the Catamounts a three-point lead. TJ
Luther got Gardner-Webb right back in scoring position after returning the
ensuing kickoff seventy yards to the Western Carolina thirty-yard line. This
set up Narii Gaither, who picked up eighteen of his team-leading 151 rushing yards
on a rushing touchdown three plays later. Wells and the Catamounts sought to
respond immediately. Wells, who finished with 427 yards on the evening, accounted
for all eighty-three yards through the air on this drive, finishing with a six-yard
pass to Raphael Williams to make it a two-score game again. Western Carolina
would not see the end zone again the rest of the night. The rest of the game
would belong to the home team.

Gardner-Webb got back into and then began to control the last
twenty minutes of the game. Freshman Donovan Jones added two scores for the
Bulldogs, a six-yard score, and a back-breaking seventy-nine scamper to seal the
deal. Between these two Jones scores was a pick-six for junior Jamari Brown.

Up Next

Gardner-Webb (2-2) takes on Monmouth in the Runnin' Bulldogs
Big South Conference opener while Western Carolina (0-4) opens Southern
Conference play on the road at Chattanooga.

Although Western Carolina’s Donnavan Spencer found the end
zone three times on the ground for the Catamounts, it was the Mercer run game
that made the difference as the Bears played keep-away with the football all
Saturday afternoon, running for over 300 yards and chewing more than forty
minutes off the clock on their way to a 45-28 win.

Spencer, a former Vance standout, now has twenty career
scores, inching him closer to a top ten spot in WCU history. Former Southern
Guilford defensive tackle Roman Johnson, along with Ty Harris, both led the defense
with eleven tackles each on the afternoon.

Appalachian State

9/2 - vs ECU (Charlotte)

9/11 – at Miami

9/18 – Elon

9/25 – Marshall

Charlotte

9/4 – Duke

9/11 – Gardner-Webb

9/18 – at Georgia State

10/2 – at Illinois

Duke

9/4 – at Charlotte

9/18 – Northwestern

9/25 – Kansas

East Carolina

9/2 – vs App State (Charlotte)

9/11 – South Carolina

9/18 – at Marshall

9/25 – Charleston Southern

NC State

9/4 – South Florida

9/11 – at Mississippi State

9/18 – Furman

10/2 – Louisiana Tech

North Carolina

9/11 – Georgia State

9/25 – Wake Forest*

10/30 – at Notre Dame

11/20 – Wofford

Wake Forest

9/4 – Old Dominion

9/11 – Norfolk State

9/25 – UNC*

10/23 – at Army

Campbell

9/4 – at Liberty

9/11 – Elon

9/18 – Presbyterian

11/6 – at James Madison

Davidson

9/4 – at VMI

Elon

9/11 – at Campbell

9/18 – at Appalachian State

Gardner-Webb

9/4 – at Georgia Southern

9/11 – at Charlotte

9/25 – Western Carolina

NC A&T

9/4 – at Furman

9/11 – Charleston Southern

9/25 – NC Central

NCCU

9/11 – at Marshall

9/25 – at NC A&T

WCU

9/4 – Eastern Kentucky

9/11 – at Oklahoma

9/25 – at Gardner-Webb

SBN Black College Football Poll

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