2-Deep vs. UTC

 

courtesy WCU Athletic Media Relations

2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings - (after week #9)

October 28, 2024

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings.

Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.  Here are this week's power rankings, after week #9.  Last week's ranking are in parentheses.

1. (5) Mercer (7-1)
Next:  ETSU  (5-3)

2. (2) Chattanooga (5-3)
Next: at Western Carolina  (4-4)

3. ( 1) Western Carolina (4-4)
Next: Chattanooga  (5-3)

4. (3) ETSU (5-3)
Next:  at Mercer (7-1)

5. (8) The Citadel (3-6)
Next:  Bye week

6. (4) Samford (3-4)
Next: Wofford  (4-5)

7. (6) Wofford (3-5)
Next: at Samford  (3-4)

8. (7) Furman (2-5)

Next: at VMI  (0-8)

9. (9) VMI (0-8)
Next: Furman  (2-5)

1.          

WCU 2-Deep vs. Mercer

         Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations          

  

WCU Game 8 - at #14 Mercer Bears

In the season's eighth game, the #24 nationally ranked Catamounts remain on the road, as they travel to Macon, Georgia to face the # 14 ranked Mercer Bears.  

The Bears finished the 2023 season tied for second place with the Chattanooga Mocs, finishing with a 9-4 overall record, and were picked to finish this season in forth place in preseason voting by the SoCon coaches. 

Prior to Week #8 games this season, the Bears were undefeated and ranked #7 nationally, but were stunned by unranked Samford, 55-35 in Homewood, AL last Saturday. 

Game 8 - at  #14 Mercer Bears

When: Saturday, October 25, 2022

Time:  3:30 pm
Where: Five Star Stadium, Macon, GA
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   -Play-by-Play:  Gary Ayers • Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV/video:  ESPN+ ESPN+

Live Stats:   Live Stats

Enrollment:  9,100

Nickname:  Bears

Mascot: Toby & Tot

Fan Message Board:  MU Bear Down

2-Deep Roster:   Western Carolina     -    Mercer

Game Notes:   Western Carolina   -   Mercer   -     Southern Conference 

The Series: In only the 11th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-8 overall record against the Bears, having dropped the last eight (8) games played in the series. The Cats are 1-4 against the Bears in games played in Macon.  

Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (October. 19, 2023) - Turnovers Costly in Homecoming Loss to Mercer - Cole Gonzales matched his career-high with five touchdown passes including two to tight end Ajay Belanger, but #16/10 Western Carolina was unable to overcome six turnovers including two that went for Mercer scores in suffering a 45-38 loss to the Bears on Homecoming Saturday in front of 12,154 fans at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Last Season's Record (2023 Mercer): 9-4 overall, 5-1 home, 3-3 away, 1-0 neutral, 6-2 SoCon

This Season's Record (2024 Mercer): 6-1 overall, 3-0 home, 3-1 away, , 0-0 neutral, 3-1 SoCon

Head Coach: Mike Jacobs -  A 21-year collegiate coaching veteran with footprints of success throughout each stop of his storied career, Mike Jacobs was announced as the 21st head coach in the history of the Mercer football program on Jan. 18, 2024. Jacobs, who has compiled a 74-17 (.813) record across head coaching stops at both Notre Dame (Ohio) and Lenoir-Rhyne, boasts the nation’s sixth-best winning percentage among active coaches at the NCAA Divisions I and II levels. He is fresh off of a 2023 campaign that saw him lead Lenoir-Rhyne to a 13-2 clip that was accentuated with an appearance in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Kerwin Bell's record vs. Mercer:  0 - 3

Mike Jacobs's record vs. WCU:  0 - 0

The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the standings in the 2024 pre-season poll and had 6 players selected for preseason honors.  Seniors linebacker Isaac Dowling and senior linebacker Ken Standley picked up  preseason honors when the duo were both selected with preseason all-America accolades by Stats Perform.

 

The Bears added 12 player in the offseason, as well as a pair of NCAA Division II all-Americans. Mercer found depth in six different areas including three each on the offensive line and at wide receivers, two defensive linemen and defensive backs, one running back and a punter.  The 2024 transfer class additions are Ian Hover (OL, Texas State), Lonnie Ratliff IV (QB, Holmes CC) and D.J. Smith (QB, Jones JC).

Prior to week #8, the Mercer Bears were on Cloud 9.  The 2024 edition of the Bears was the first Mercer team in the 50-plus year history of the program to begin a season with five-straight victories.  Mercer also broke a school record for consecutive wins (6) with the triumph over Princeton in Week 7.  Mercer had jumped up four spots to No. 7 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll on October 7, while crawling up three spots to No. 8 in the Stats Perform for their first appearance in the FCS Top 10. 

The Bears also possessed the NCAA FCS’s second-ranked total defense, and ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams in a dozen other defensive statistical categories as well. 

However, after the 55-35 beatdown by the Bulldogs, these rankings fail by the way side... While the mainstream marveled at their success, most of their SoCon opponents looked at their strength of schedule, and realized how weak the first half of their schedule really turned out to be, and this was shown as the Bulldogs put up 446 total yards and 55 points against they highly touted defense. 

2024 Mercer Statistics (13 games):

Rushing Offense: 1092 yards
Yards per game: 156

Yards per rush: 3.8 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 65
TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 1665 yards or 237 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 12.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 70
Passing: Att-Comp-Int: 188-130-9

TDs Passing: 12
Total Offense: 2757 yards or 394 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 6-5
3d Down Conversions: 33 of  91 (36%)
4th Down Conversions: 5 of 8 (63%)
Field goal attempts: 7 of 11
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 26 of 29  
Red Zone Touchdowns: 19 of 29

PAT:  30 of 30 

2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings - (after week #8)

October 31, 2024

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings.

Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.  Here are this week's power rankings, after week #8.  Last week's ranking are in parentheses.

1. (2) Western Carolina (4-3, 3-0 SoCon)
Next: at Mercer (6-1, 3-1 SoCon)

2. (3) Chattanooga (4-3, 3-1 SoCon)
Next: VMI  (0-7, 0-3 SoCon)

3. (4) ETSU (4-3, 2-1 SoCon)
Next:  at Wofford  (3-4, 1-3 SoCon)

4. (5) Samford (3-3, 2-1 SoCon)
Next: at The Citadel  (2-6, 0-4 SoCon)

5. (1) Mercer (4-3, 3-0 SoCon)
Next:  Western Carolina   (4-3, 3-0 SoCon)

6. (7) Wofford (3-4, 1-3 SoCon)
Next: ETSU  (4-3, 2-1 SoCon)

7. (6) Furman (2-4, 1-1 SoCon)

Next: Western Carolina  (3-3, 3-0 SoCon)

8. (8) The Citadel (2-6, 0-4 SoCon)
Next:  Samford  (3-3, 2-1 SoCon)

9. (9) VMI (0-7, 0-3 SoCon)
Next: at Chattanooga  (4-3, 3-1 SoCon)

1.          

WCU Player of the Game (vs. Furman)

Purple & Gold's "Catamount Player of the Game" for the Furman game on October  19th  in Travelers Rest is junior quarterback Cole Gonzales. 

The Catamount Player of the Game, Cole Gonzales threw five touchdown passes and a program-record 620 yards to lead Western Carolina to a 52-20 victory over Furman on Saturday. Gonzales completed 35 of 55 passes and connected with Isaiah Johnson, De’Andre Tamarez, Zion Booker and Branson Adams for scores. Johnson caught six passes for 117 yards with two touchdowns. Booker and Boyd each broke 100 yards receiving for the Catamounts.

WCU 2-Deep Roster vs. Furman

Courtesy WCU Athletic Media Relations

 

WCU Game #7 - Furman

For the Catamounts' seventh game of the season, Western Carolina heads down the mountain to Traveler's Rest, SC to face the Furman Paladins for the 2024 football edition of The Battle for Purple Supremacy.  Furman, unfortunately for them scheduled this game as their "Homecoming" showing their disrespect of the Cats who enter the game having lost two in a row to the Paladins.

Game #7  Furman Paladins

The Paladins are coming off a 10-3 season and a 7-1 SoCon record in 2023, as well as, a SoCon Championship, and the Cats have dropped the last two games to Furman. But, this year,  the Paladins are coming off a 41-10 lossby Chattanooga over the Paladin in their hometown of Travelers Rest, SC

When: Saturday, October 19, 2024

Time:  2:00 pm EST
Where: Paladin Stadium, Traveler's Rest, SC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

     -announcers:  Gary Ayers, Daniel Hooker, Jeff Bryson
TV/video: ESPN+ 

Furman Message Board:  GoPaladins

Game Notes:    Western Carolina    -     Furman

2-Deep Rosters:   WCU     -      Furman

The Series:  The Cats are 13-36-2 overall against the Paladins in the series that started back in 1972. The Cats had lost 5 in a row to the Paladins, a string that was broken in the 2021 season with a 43-42 win in Whitmire Stadium.  The Cats are 6-19-1 in games played in Travelers' Rest. 

The last game played vs. Furman:  Oct. 21, 2023 - Catamounts Drop a 29-17 Decision in Battle of SoCon Unbeatens - Cole Gonzales tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Richard McCollum connected on a season-long 43-yard field goal, but #3/4 Furman posted a pair of passing scores and tallied two rushing scores including the second inside the game's final minute in dealing #14/8 Western Carolina a 29-17 setback in Saturday's battle of Southern Conference unbeatens at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Head Coach: Clay Hendrix - Introduced as Furman’s new head football coach on December 19, 2016, Clay Hendrix in seven seasons has reinvigorated a Paladin football program accustomed to success. Hendrix, a former standout Paladin offensive guard and assistant coach who returned to his alma mater following a decade as an assistant coach at the US Air Force Academy, directed Furman to an 8-5 campaign and Football Championship (FCS) playoff appearance in 2017.

Hendrix vs. Western Carolina: 6-1

Bell vs. Furman:  1-2

Last Season's Record (Furman 2023): 10-3 overall, 6-0 home, 4-3 away, 7-1 in the SoCon 

This Season's Record (Furman 2024): 2-4 overall, 1-2 home, 1-2 away, 1-1 in the SoCon

Offensive Formation:  Multiple 

Starters: Returning: 3

  (Ben Ferguson (WR/8), Joshua Harris (WR/35), Luke Petit (OG/6))

Defensive Formation:   3-4

Starters: Returning: 3

  (Luke Clark (BAN/26), Evan DiMaggio (ILB/7), Xavier Stephens (NG/13)

The Paladins were picked to finish second in the SoCon preseason polls, behind Chattanooga, and just ahead of the Cats, and 8 total Paladins picked up preseason all-conference honors (coaches).

Offense - The Paladins return 3 starters from last year’s championship squad that went two rounds into the playoff. 

Defense - The Furman defense return 3 starters from last season team.  

On the offensive side of the ball, the Paladins lost starting QB Tyler Huff, their top running back and four starting offensive linemen. While the Paladins lost a lot to transfers and graduation, they picked up a lot in the transfer portal. Most notable are, Joshua Burrell a TE from Florida State, Jalen Tate a DB from Georgia State, and Isaac Ward a QB from USC.  Carson Jones,  the SoCon’s Co-Freshman of the Year Award returns at quarterback. Jones played in six games last season and filled in for injured Huff, starting two games.  Furman’s top three receivers also all returned, Colton Hinton, Joshua Harris, and Ben Ferguson. The Paladins will have to replace 4 offensive linemen.

The Paladins fielded 10 first-time starters in its 2024 season opener against Ole Miss, five each of offense and defense. The first-time starters on offense included center Chris Luna (R-Fr.), offensive tackle Eli Brasher (R-Fr.), wide receiver John Holbrook (R-Fr.), running back Myion Hicks (R-Jr.), and tight end Joshua Burrell (Gr.). Defenders making their career starting debuts against the Rebels included tackle Malachi Harrison (R-Fr.), cornerback Jaylon Moson (R-Fr.), cornerback Charles Ingram V (R-Fr.), spur Maurice Perkins (Gr.), and free safety Tre’ McLeod (R-So.).

The list of first-time starters grew to 11 against CSU when linebacker Raleigh Herbert (R-Fr.) made his collegiate starting debut against the Buccaneers, and three Paladins — tight end Brock Chappell (So.), quarterback Trey Hedden (Fr.), and spur Brandt Babin (R-Jr.) — made it 14 first time starters this year when they joined the lineup for the first time against Stetson. The latest and 15th Paladin newcomer to make his career starting debut this year is wide receiver Devin Hester, Jr. (Fr.), who got the nod versus William & Mary.

Lots of injuries reported this season for the Paladins:  WR Josh Harris (starter) - out for year,  TE Josh Burrell (starter),  DB AK Burrell (starter),  WR Santino Varvel,  DB Jalen Tate (2 deep),  Spur Justin Hartwell (starter),  Ban Alex Maier (2 deep),  RB Jayquan Smith (2 deep),  LB Raleigh Herbert (2 deep),  DE David Alabi, & DT Bryce Stanfield (starter)

2024 Furman Statistics  (6 games) 

Yards per game: 90
Yards per rush: 2.8 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 39
TDs rushing: 6
Passing Offense: 1333 yards or 222 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.3 yards
Passing 1st downs: 48
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 184-112-9
Total Offense: 1873 yards or 312 ypg
3d Down Conversions: 21 of 77  (27%)
4th Down Conversions: 3  of  6  (50%)
Field Goal-Attempts 7 of 10
On-side kicks: 0 of 0
Red Zone Scores: 15 of 19 
Red Zone Touchdowns: 10 of 19
Avg per punt 41 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 11-5

 

2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings - (after week #7)

October 14, 2024

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings.

Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.  Here are this week's power rankings, after week #7.  Last week's ranking are in parentheses.

1. (1) Mercer (6-0, 3-0 SoCon)
Next:  at Samford (2-3, 1-1 SoCon)

2. (2) Western Carolina (3-3, 2-0 SoCon)
Next: at Furman (2-4, 1-1 SoCon)

3. (3) Chattanooga (3-3, 2-1 SoCon)
Next: Wofford  (3-3, 1-2 SoCon)

4. (5) ETSU (4-3, 2-1 SoCon)
Next:  Bye week

5. (7) Samford (2-3, 1-1 SoCon)
Next: Mercer  (6-0, 3-0 SoCon)

6. (4) Furman (2-4, 1-1 SoCon)
Next: Western Carolina  (3-3, 3-0 SoCon)

7. (6) Wofford (3-3, 1-2 SoCon)
Next: at Chattanooga  (3-3, 2-1 SoCon)

8. (8) The Citadel (2-6, 0-4 SoCon)
Next:  at VMI  (0-6, 0-2 SoCon)

9. (9) VMI (0-6, 0-2 SoCon)
Next: The Citadel  (2-6, 0-4 SoCon)

1.           &nbs

WCU Player of the Game (vs. The Citadel)

Purple & Gold's "Catamount Player of the Game" for the The Citadel game on October  12th  in Cullowhee is junior quarterback Cole Gonzales. 

The Catamount Player of the Game, Cole Gonzales completed 28 of 38 passes for 294 yards and a 74% completion rate, and a touchdown.  Cole had no interceptions or sacks in the game to lead the Catamounts to a 30-16 win over The Citadel Bulldogs..

Gonzales' 18-yard touchdown pass went to Zion Booker to open the scoring. Booker finished with 102 yards receiving. Williams capped two long drives with second-quarter touchdowns and the Catamounts led 21-7 at halftime.

                                                              

WCU 2024 Atheltic Hall of Fame Class

Three former Catamount student-athletes have been chosen to be inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. 

These athletes are Matt Cook (mens golf, 2004-08), Jennifer Gardner (women's basketball, 2001-05), and Manteo Mitchell (track & field, 2005-09). 

They were all part of the Southern Conferences 100th Anniversary Team in 2021 and have now been selected by the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame committee to join the 35th class of inductees.

   

 Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

 

WCU Game #6 - The Citadel

For the sixth game of the season, the Catamounts host The Citadel Bulldogs in EJ Whitmire Stadium on Hero's Day in Cullowhee. 

Game #6 - The Citadel

 

When: Saturday, October 12, 2024

Time:  2:30 pm
Where: EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio:  Catamount Sports Network

     -announcers:  Gary Ayers • Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV/video: ESPN+

Live Stats:  Citadel live stats

Game Notes:   Western Carolina   -    The Citadel 

Citadel Message Board:  Citadel Fan Message Board

Nickname:  Bulldogs

Mascot:  Spike

The Series: Western is currently 20-27-1 vs. the Bulldogs overall. The Cats and Dogs first played on the gridiron in 1972, and the Cats own an 11-13 record vs. the Citadel in games played in Cullowhee, NC, along with a 5-5 record in the last 10 games played. The Cats have won 3 of the last 4 games played. 

Last Season's Game vs. The Citadel (9-30-23) - Reid Runs for Record Books in Victory at The Citadel  - Charleston, SC – Sophomore running back Desmond Reid set a school record with a career-best five first-half rushing touchdowns as #21/17 Western Carolina downed The Citadel 49-14 in Southern Conference action on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Reid posted rushing scores of 11, 1, 9, 1, and 13 yards to cap WCU's five first-half drives as the Catamounts saw one player account for five scores in the opening two quarters for the second consecutive week.

This season's Record - (The Citadel): 2-4 overall, 1-3 home, 1-1 away, 0-3 SoCon

Last season's Record - (The Citadel): 0-11 overall, 0-5 home, 0-6 away, 0-8 SoCon

Head Coach: Maurice Drayton -  Former Bulldog player and defensive coordinator Maurice Drayton has been named the next head football coach at The Citadel. The announcement was made by Director of Athletics Mike Capaccio on Tuesday. A former standout player and defensive coordinator, Drayton returns to The Citadel after spending the previous seven seasons working in the NFL.

Drayton's Record vs. WCU:  0 - 1

Bell's record vs. The Citadel: 3 - 1

The Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the SoCon by league coaches, with Chattanooga, Furman and Western Carolina leading the way. Only one Citadel player, punter James Platte, was named to the all-SoCon preseason teams; he was a second-team pick. 

In the crucial role of quarterback, the Bulldogs recruited Johnathan Bennett, a standout player from Summerville High School who transferred from Liberty, to join their team. In the 2022 season, Bennett, started all seven games he played in, led the Flames with 1,534 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and two rushing scores. He was the starting quarterback in two consecutive victories against Arkansas and BYU, where he completed 24 out of 29 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Graeson Underwood and Dustin Fletcher, who shared the quarterback position in the previous season, are still on the roster and in the quarterback training program. 

The Bulldogs come to Cullowhee with a 2-4 overall record, and are 0-3 in conference play having lost a heartbreaker to Furman this past Saturday. Despite holding an advantage  throughout the game with Furman and dominating the opening three quarters of play, The Citadel stumbled down the stretch, falling to the Paladins in a 17-16 final score at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

The Bulldogs have not won a conference game since November 2022, going 0-11 in that time in conference play.  

2024 The Citadel Statistics (6 games):

Rushing Offense: 842 yards
Yards per game: 140.4 yards
Yards per rush: 3.6  yards
Rushing 1st downs: 45

TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 1058 yards or 176 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 43
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 155-80-4

TDs Passing: 4
Total Offense:  1900 yards or 317 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 6 - 3
3d Down Conversions: 32 0f 88 (36%)
4th Down Conversions: 6 of 12 (50%)
Field goal attempts: 9 of 11
PAT-Attempts: 9 of 12
On-side kicks: 0 of 1

Red Zone Scores: 18 of 23
Red Zone Touchdowns: 13 of 23

Punts - Yards: 26 for 1222 yards - Avg per punt: 47

2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings - (after week #6)

October 7, 2024

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2024 SoCon Football Power Rankings.

Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.  Here are this week's power rankings, after week #6.  Last week's ranking are in parentheses.

1. (1) Mercer (5-0, 3-0 SoCon)
Next:  Princeton (1-2)

2. (3) Western Carolina (2-3, 1-0 SoCon)
Next: The Citadel (2-4, 0-3 SoCon)

3. (4) Chattanooga (2-3, 1-1 SoCon)
Next: at Furman  (2-3, 1-0 SoCon)

4. (6) Furman (2-3, 1-0 SoCon)
Next: Chattanooga  (2-3, 1-1 SoCon)

5. (2) ETSU (3-3, 1-1 SoCon)
Next: Samford  (2-2, 1-0 SoCon)

6. (5) Wofford (2-3, 0-2 SoCon)
Next: VMI (0-5, 0-1 SoCon)

7. (8) Samford (2-2, 1-0 SoCon)
Next: at ETSU  (3-3, 1-1 SoCon)

8. (7) The Citadel (2-4, 0-3 SoCon)
Next:  Western Carolina  (2-3, 1-0 SoCon)

9. (9) VMI (0-5, 0-1 SoCon)
Next: at Wofford (2-3, 0-2 SoCon)

1.           &nbs

Cats Win Without Spectators

                                                                           

Western Carolina's Jalynn Williams had two short touchdown runs, and CJ Williams broke up a fourth-down pass with 45 seconds remaining as Western Carolina held off the Wofford Terriers to win 21-17 on Saturday in Cullowhee without spectators, due to rescue and recovery efforts around the western North Carolina region.

WCU elected to attempt a 53-yard field goal on fourth-and-14 with 1:36 remaining, but Paxton Robertson narrowly missed it to the right, setting up Wofford at its 36-yard line for a potential game-winning drive.

The Terriers' Pauly Seeley ran for a 15-yard gain on first down and then completed a 3-yard pass to Dylan Djet. Seeley overthrew a wide-open receiver on third down and then tried to squeeze a pass to Rickie Shaw over the middle that Williams batted to the ground in the closing seconds.

Purple & Gold's "Player of the Game" junior quarterback Cole Gonzales, completed 29-of-39 attempts, passing for 257 yards, and rushed 7 times for 65 yards (second leading rusher in the game) for WCU. Junior running back Branson Adams rushed for 84 of the Catamounts' 218 yards in 13 attempts, averaging 16 and a half yards per carry. Wofford's Seeley threw for 209 yards and a touchdown for the Terriers (2-3, 0-2 Southern Conference).

Western Carolina (2-3, 1-0 Southern Conference) has now won four straight games in the series between the Catamounts and Terriers.  Next week the Cats face The Citadel in Cullowhee, as the Bulldogs lost to Furman today, as the Paladins outscored the Bulldogs 14-3 in the fourth quarter to narrowly pick up the  win 17-16.

2-Deep Rosters for the Wofford Game