WCU 2-Deep Roster vs. Chattanooga

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

 

2025 SoCon Power Rankings (after Week #9)

October 27, 2025

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2025 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 weeks ranking in parentheses.

1. (1) Mercer (5-0)
Next:  at Furman (3-2)

2. (2) Western Carolina (4-0)
Next: at Chattanooga (3-1)

3. (3) Chattanooga (2-1)

Next: Western Carolina (4-0)

4. (6) Furman (3-2)

Next: Mercer (5-0)

5. (4) The Citadel (2-3)
Next:  VMI  (0-4)

6. (7) ETSU (2-3)

Next:  Bye

7. (5) Wofford (1-3)

Next: Samford (1-5)

8. (8) Samford (1-5)
Next: at Wofford (1-3)

9. (9) VMI (0-4)

Next: at The Citadel (2-3)

1.          

WCU Football Game #9 - at Chattanooga

Game #9 - Chattanooga Mocs 

Western Carolina faces the Chattanooga Mocs for the 51th time on the gridiron since 1973, as the Cats travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee to face the Mocs in their "turn about is fair play" Homecoming game against the Catamounts.

When: Saturday, November 1, 2025

Time:  4:00 pm
Where:   Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tenn  
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   -announcers: Gary Ayers, PxP; Daniel Hooker, Color

TV/video:  ESPN+

Live Stats:  UTC Live Stats

Fan Message Board:  Moc Nation

The Series: In the 51st meeting between the two teams, the Cats own an 20-30 overall record against the Mocs. The Cats are riding a 3-game winning streak in the series, but is only 8-16 in games played in Chattanooga. 

Last Game vs. Chattanooga: (11-2-4) Dickens Tosses Five TD Passes in Homecoming Upset Win of UTC -  Taron Dickens threw for a career-high 431 yards and tossed five touchdowns including three to De'Andre Tamarez, the last coming inside the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter as Western Carolina came from behind to upset No. 25/18 Chattanooga 38-34 on Saturday afternoon in a crucial Southern Conference game at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Last Season's Record (2024):  7-5 overall, 3-2 home, 4-3 away, 5-3 SoCon  

This Season's Record (2025):  4-4 overall, 2-1 home, 2-3 away, 3-1 SoCon  

Head Coach:  Rusty Wright - Rusty Wright is in his seventh year as head coach of the Mocs football program. He was officially introduced on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. A 23-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Wright is a 1996 graduate of UTC with a degree in Sports Administration. He was a four-year letter winner for the Mocs football team and had two stints as an assistant coach at UTC

Record at UTC: 41-31 (7th year) 

Rusty Wright vs. WCU:  3 - 3

Kerwin Bell vs. UTC:  3 - 1

Offense: Multiple 

Defense: Multiple 

In preseason SoCon voting, the Mocs were picked to finish second in the standings by the coaches and 3 players selected for the preseason All-SoCon teams. The Mocs will enter the game riding a 3 game SoCon win streak, with wins over VMI, ETSU, and Samford, while the Cats come off a bye week - riding a 5 game win streak, including 4 conference games.  

2025 Mocs Statistics (7 games):

Rushing Offense: 1400 yards 

Yards per game: 200
Yards per rush: 5.3 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 62
TDs rushing: 14
Passing Offense: 1214 yards or 177 yards per game

Avg. per pass: 7.2 yards
Passing 1st downs: 58
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 97-173-7            
TDs Passing: 9
Total Offense: 2641 yards or 377 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 8-3
3d Down Conversions: 34 of 90 (38%)
4th Down Conversions: 8 of 13 (62%)
Field goal attempts: 4 - 6
On-side kicks: 1-1
Red Zone Scores: 17 of 18  (94%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 13 of 18 (72%)

PAT - Attempts  25 of 25 

2025 SoCon Power Rankings (after Week #8)

October 20, 2025

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2025 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 weeks ranking in parentheses.

1. (1) Mercer (4-0)
Next:  VMI (0-3)

2. (2) Western Carolina (4-0)
Next: Bye

3. (7) Chattanooga (2-1)

Next: at Samford (1-4)

4. (4) The Citadel (2-2)
Next:  at Furman  (2-2)

5. (5) Wofford (0-2)

Next: at Furman (2-1)

6. (6) Furman (2-2)

Next: The Citadel (2-2)

7. (3) ETSU (1-3)

Next:  Wofford (1-3)

8. (9) Samford (1-4)
Next: at Chattanooga  (2-1)

9. (8) VMI (0-3)

Next: at Mercer (4-0)

1.          

WCU Player of the Game (Taron Dickens) vs. The Citadel

For the fourth consecutive week, Purple & Gold's "Catamount Player of the Game" for the The Citadel game on October 18th is redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens. 

The Catamount Player of the Game, Taron Dickens completed 28 of 33 pass attempts for 369 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 45-38 win over the Citadel in a Southern Conference game played in Charleston on Saturday afternoon. Dickens connected with 8 different receivers and four different players for touchdown passes.  Tyger also rushed for 25 yards in 13 attempts. 

Congratulations to Tyger for his selection as WCU Player of the Game.  

Picture Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Cats win!!! Beat the Bulldogs from Charleston

It's 5 in a row!!!  Final score 45-28!!!  Now tied for 1st Place in the SoCon

Courtesy @WCUSports

 

WCU 2-Deep Roster vs. The Citadel

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

 

2025 SoCon Power Rankings (after Week #7)

October 13, 2025

Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2025 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. 

1. Mercer (4-0)
Next:  Bye

2. Western Carolina (3-0)
Next: at The Citadel (2-1)

3. ETSU (1-2)

Next:  at Chattanooga (1-1)

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

5. Wofford (0-2)

Next: at Furman (2-1)

6. Furman (2-1)

Next: Wofford (0-2)

7. Chattanooga (1-1)

Next: ETSU (1-2)

8. VMI (0-2)

Next: Samford (0-4)

9. Samford (0-4)
Next: at VMI (0-2)

1.          

WCU Football Game #8 - at The Citadel

For the eighth game of the season, the Catamounts hit the road to the South Carolina Lowcountry to face the The Citadel Bulldogs in Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, SC  

Game #8 - The Citadel

 

The Bulldogs come into this game on a two win streak, with victories over Chattanooga and Valdosta State.  The Bulldogs appear to have shown improvement, game by game this season, with a impressive 28-10 road win over the Chattanooga Mocs. The Citadel is 3-3 overall, and 2-1 in the SoCon.

When: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time:  2:00 pm
Where: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC
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 21-27-1 vs. the Bulldogs overall. The Cats and Dogs first played on the gridiron in 1972, and the Cats own a 9-14 record vs. the Citadel in games played in Charleston, SC, along with a 6-4 record in the last 10 games played. The Cats have won 4 of the last 5 games played and are on a two win game streak. 

Last Season's Game vs. The Citadel (10-12-24) -  Williams Three Rushing TDs Leads Catamounts to 30-16 Win - Cullowhee, N.C. – Jalynn Williams scored three rushing touchdowns and Cole Gonzales threw for nearly 300 yards including an 18-yard score to Zion Booker as Western Carolina claimed its second-straight home win in Southern Conference play as the Catamounts tallied a 30-16 victory over The Citadel as spectators were welcomed back to E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field on Heroes Day.

Last Season Record - (The Citadel 2024): 5-7 overall, 2-4 home, 3-3 away, 3-5 SoCon

This season's Record - (The Citadel 2025): 3-3 overall, 1-2 home, 2-1 away, 2-1 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 - 2

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

Offensive Formation: Option 

Defensive Formation: Multiple

Offensive Starters Returning / Lost: 6 / 5 

Defensive Starters Returning / Lost: 6 / 5 

The Bulldogs were picked by the coaches poll to finish 8th overall for the 2025 season, with 5 players receiving preseason honors. 

In the 2024 season, The Bulldogs ranked amongst the leaders in the SoCon for time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average 31:11 per game, good for 31st in the FCS and second leaguewide. Notably, the 2024 campaign marks the ninth year of the past decade that the offense averaged 30:00 minutes of possession or more, with The Citadel ranking inside the top ten nationally for the category in seven of the past 10 seasons. 

With the option offense, the Bulldogs will try to ground our the yardage, wearing down the defensive unit, and keep the WCU offense off the field.  Nothing new, just run, run, run the ball - what The Citadel is known for. 

2025 The Citadel Statistics (thru 5 games - VS not included):

Rushing Offense: 930 yards

Yards per game: 186 yards
Yards per rush: 4.1  yards

Rushing 1st downs: 49

TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 460 yards or 92 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 11.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 18
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 60-39-1

TDs Passing: 4
Total Offense:  1390 yards or 278 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 7 - 3
3d Down Conversions: 26 of 67 (37%)
4th Down Conversions: 5 of 13 (38%)
Field goal attempts: 2 of 5
PAT-Attempts: 9 of 9
On-side kicks: 0 of 2

Red Zone Scores: 8 of 11
Red Zone Touchdowns: 7 of 1

Punts - Yards: 24 for 1101 yards - Avg per punt: 43

Time of possession:  29:52 minutes per game

Catamount Player of the Game vs. Furman

For the third consecutive week, Purple & Gold's "Catamount Player of the Game" for the Furman game on October 11th is redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens. 

The Catamount Player of the Game, Taron Dickens completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 52-7 win over Furman in a Southern Conference rout on Saturday afternoon. .  Dickens connected with 10 different receivers and four different players for touchdown passes.  Tyger also rushed for yards in 7 attempts. 

Congratulations to Tyger for his selection as WCU Player of the Game.  

Picture Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

In Cullowhee, This Weekend

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

 

2-Deep Roster vs. Furman

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

 

Catamount Football Weekly with Head Coach Kerwin Bell

Monday, October 6, 2024 - Wofford review and a look at the upcoming Furman game

 

WCU Football Game #7 - Furman Paladins

For the Catamounts' seventh game of the season, Western Carolina welcomes the Furman Paladins to Cullowhee for the 2025 football edition of The Battle for Purple Supremacy.  

Game #7  Furman Paladins

The Paladins are coming off a 3-8 season and a 2-5 SoCon record in 2024. However, Furman is 4-1 this season with a 2-0 conference record coming into this game. The Paladins lone loss this season is a home loss to Presbyterian in their second game of the season

When: Saturday, October 11, 2025

Time:  2:30 pm EST
Where: EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
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 14-36-2 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 7-17-1 in games played in Cullowhee following last season blistetring of the Paladins 53-20 in Travelers Rest, SC 

The last game played vs. Furman:  Oct. 19, 2024 -   Record-Setting Offense Leads Catamounts to 52-20 Win at Furman - Cole Gonzales passed for a Southern Conference single-game record 620 yards and five touchdowns in guiding Western Carolina to a league benchmark 801 yards of total offense as the Catamounts stretched their current winning streak to three in a row with a commanding 52-20 victory over the Furman Paladins in Southern Conference action at Paladin Stadium.

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: 6-2

Bell vs. Furman:  2-2

Last Season's Record (Furman 2024): 3-8 overall, 1-4 home, 2-4 away, 2-5 in the SoCon 

This Season's Record (Furman 2025): 4-2 overall, 2-1 home, 2-0 away, 2-0 in the SoCon

Offensive Formation:  Multiple 

Defensive Formation:   3-4

Furman was a preseason No. 6 pick in a poll conducted by Southern Conference head coaches. Furman placed five players on the preseason All-Southern Conference team, which was announced in late July at the league’s media day in Greenville. The selections include four first team picks — offensive tackle Eli Brasher, tight end Jackson Pryor, linebacker Ryan Earl, and placekicker Ian Williams. Offensive guard Luke Petit garnered second team recognition. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players.

Furman has wins over William and Mary, Campbell, Samford, and ETSU with their lone loss coming at the hands of surprising Presbyterian Blue Hose. The Cats and Furman are currently tied for second place in the SoCon standing with 2-0 records, while Mercer stands at 4-0 this week.

2025 Furman Statistics  (thru 5 games)

Yards per game: 96.4
Yards per rush: 3.1 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 31
TDs rushing: 7
Passing Offense: 1386 yards or 277 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7 yards
Passing 1st downs: 69
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 196-140-4
Total Offense: 1868 yards or 351 ypg
3d Down Conversions: 29 of 73  (39.7%)
4th Down Conversions: 1  of  3  (33.3%)
Field Goal-Attempts 8 of 11
On-side kicks: 0 of 0
Red Zone Scores: 16 of 20
Red Zone Touchdowns: 11 of 20
Avg per punt 42 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 5-2

 

WCU Player of the Game (vs. Wofford) Taron Dickens

Purple & Gold's "Catamount Player of the Game" for the Wofford game on October 4th is redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens. 

The Catamount Player of the Game, Taron Dickens completed 46 consecutive passes to break the NCAA record for consecutive completions in a game, and threw three touchdown passes to lead Western Carolina to a 23-21 win over Wofford on Saturday afternoon in a Spartanburg, SC.

Dickens was 53 for 56 for 378 yards passing, hitting 10 different receivers. His 94.6 completion percentage is also the highest completion percentage in a game in FCS history.  He also carried the ball 19 times for 44 years rushing. 

Congratulations to Tyger for his selection as WCU Player of the Game.  

Picture Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

WCU 2-Deep Roster vs. Wofford

 https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/catamountsports.com/documents/2025/9/29/2025_WCUFB_TwoDeep_atWofford.pdf

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations