Aug 30, 2001
Stats
CULLOWHEE, N.C. -Senior tailback Donnie Bryant rushed for 116 yards and the only two touchdowns scored in the contest to lead Western Carolina to 15-6 victory over Mars Hill Thursday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. The game was the 2001 season opener for both teams.
Bryant (Jonesville, N.C.) carried the ball 22 times and averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per rush. It marked the second time he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in his two-year career as running back, gaining 120 yards on 23 carries last season versus East Tennessee.
Western jumped out to a 2-0 lead with 9:37 left in the second quarter when senior, captain Jeff Chambers (Spencer, N.C.) dropped Mars Hill running back Travis McFadden in the endzone for a safety. On the ensuing free kick, Western put together a seven-play, 61-yard drive to take an 8-0 advantage at the break. The scoring drive was capped by a 13-yard run by Bryant, who had four rushes for 38 yards in the possession.
The Catamounts extended their lead to 15-0 late in the third quarter, using 7:24 on the clock during a 12-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Once again the drive was capped by a Bryant score, a five-yard rush on an option to the left. Bryant had eight rushes for 42 yards, carrying the ball the last five plays of the drive.
Mars Hill immediately responded with a 10-play 79-yard drive to cut the advantage to 15-6 when Lion quarterback Carlos Gatlin found tight end David Cassell in the endzone for a two-yard pass.
Western's defense, which only surrendered 161 yards of total offense and held MHC to 1-of-13 on its third-down conversion attempts, sealed the victory for the Catamounts with two key stops in the fourth quarter. With 6:23 left in the contest, Mars Hill had the ball on Western's 10-yard line after a blocked punt. However, Justin Fryer (Connelly Springs, N.C.) intercepted a pass on third and goal with the ball on the five yard line. Mars Hill's next offensive possession was also ended on a WCU pick-off, this time by senior Marquail Wells (McComb, Miss.). From that point, the Cats ran out the clock for the win.
Western Carolina improves to 11-5-1 in the all-time series versus Mars Hill, wining the last 11 encounters.
The Catamounts will return to action next Saturday (Sept. 8) when they travel to Louisville. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
