WCU Preseason Preview: Game #2 - Campbell

Throughout this preseason, we will preview all of  Western Carolina's 2024 football opponents.

 

In Western Carolina's second game and home opener, the Cats host the Campbell Camels, in a "White Out Whitmire" game.  WCU will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E.L. Whitmire Stadium.  The traditional WCU Freshmen run will take place just before kickoff and it is also the third-annual High School Band Day.

The game is the "Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week" and will be shown on the Nexstar Media Group stations in the SoCon area. 

The Camels finished the 2023 season with a 5-6 overall record and  a 4-4 CAA record. 

Game #2 - Campbell Camels

When: Saturday, September 7, 2024

Time: 1:00 pm (ET)  (updated time)
Where: Bob Water Field, Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

   -Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers • Color Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV / video:  ESPN+ /  Nexstar affiliate WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville)
Live Stats: WCU Live Stats

Colors: Orange and Black

Conference: Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)

The Series: Campbell actually hold a 2-0 record over the Cats from games played in 1935 & 1937 in Cullowhee, prior Campbell dropping football in 1950. The Camels returned to the gridiron in 2008.  

Head Coach: Braxton Harris. Campbell director of athletics Hannah Bazemore announced Braxton Harris as the Fighting Camels’ head football coach on January 2, 2024. Harris, who previously spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons on staff at Campbell, returns to Buies Creek after spending 2023 as head coach at FCS Southland Conference member Houston Christian. Harris becomes the third head coach in Campbell’s modern football history (since 2008). . 

Harris's record vs. Western Carolina: 0-0

Kerwin Bell's record vs. Campbell: 0-0

Last Season's Record - 2023 (Campbell): 5-6 overall, 1-3 home, 4-3 away, 4-4 CAA

Campbell was picked to finish 11th in the 16 team CAA football conference in preseason voting for 2024. The Camels have one player picked for preseason honors, CJ Tillman a senior linebacker. 

Campebll head coach Braxton Harris, wide receiver RJ Jackson, linebacker CJ Tillman  (CAA Media Day interview)

First year head coach Braxton Harris enters the season without four-year quarterback starter Hajj-Malik Williams, who transfered to UNLV. Expected starting QB (redshirt sophomore) Chad Mascoe Jr. was held out of the spring game as a precaution, however CU’s orange squad found success multiple times, both through the air and ground.  Redshirt senior wideout Sincere Brown did most of the heavy lifting in the passing game. Brown, who sat out last season, hauled in a host of receptions, including two touchdowns. The Camel's two top returning rushers, Lamagea McDowell and NaQuari Rogers both churned their way through the defense for scores on the ground.  

Linebacker C.J. Tillman, a former Phil Steele Freshman All-American made his presence known throughout the practice game, wrecking plays in the backfield and flying to the ball like he’s done the past three years. Tillman’s led the team in tackles for two straight seasons and was just shy of 100 wrapups in 2023. Tilman joined fellow returners like Idris Williams in implementing the changes made by new defensive coordinator Eric Daniels. Williams had his hands in a few plays, none more impressive than the pick-6 that sent those wearing black into a frenzy.  

2023 Campbell Statistics (11 games)

Rushing Offense: 1644 yards
Yards per game: 149.5
Yards per rush: 4.1 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 101
TDs rushing: 22
Passing Offense: 2646 yards or 240.6 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 127
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 337-235-8

TDs Passing: 20
Total Offense: 4290 yards or 390 yards per game
Fumbles - Lost:16 - 9
3d Down Conversions:  59-129 (46%)

4th Down Conversions: 10 of 19 (53%)
Field goal attempts: 5 - 11
PAT-Attempts: 39 of 42
Red Zone Scores:  39 of 46 
Red Zone Touchdowns: 36 of 46 
On-Side Kicks: 0 - 1
Penalties-Yards: 75 - 626