Aug 30, 2003

Box Score

Raleigh, N.C. -- Western Carolina's Brian Gaither and Michael Reeder each had career games, but their efforts were not enough as the Catamounts fell to 14th-ranked North Carolina State, 59-20, Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in the teams' 2003 season opener.

Gaither, a senior quarterback from Winston-Salem, N.C., posted career highs in completions (20) and attempts (37) while throwing for 173 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions or sacks. Reeder, a junior wide receiver from Wagener, S.C., posted career highs with nine receptions for 132 yards while scoring his first career touchdown. Reeder's previous best efforts were four receptions at Auburn in 2002 and 92 yards at The Citadel in 2002.

The Wolfpack, under the direction of Heisman Trophy candidate Phillip Rivers, scored on each of their first three possessions. Rivers, who was 26-of-30 for 320 yards and three scores, completed 4-of-4 passes on the first drive, including a six-yard touchdown to Tremain Hall. The Catamounts answered with an impressive 13-play, 62-yard drive. However the drive stalled at the NC State 18 and the Cats were unable to put points on the board. The `Pack extended their advantage to 21-0 thanks to TD runs of eight and 17 yards by T.A. McLendon.

Western would get on the board early in the second quarter. A 53-yard punt by Stanton Horne, who averaged 45.0 yards on six punts, backed NC State up to its own 21 yard line. One play later, sophomore Deonte Cook forced and recovered a McLendon fumble. Western moved to the 14 on a Gaither-to-Reeder pass and true freshman Nicholas Wishart did the rest with runs of eight and six yards, making the score 21-7.

NC State extended its advantage to 42-7 with a three-yard TD run by Cotra Jackson, a 67-yard punt return by Hall and an 18-yard Rivers-to-Jerricho Cotchery touchdown pass.

With 2:39 left in the first half, Gaither directed an impressive 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive. After a 16-yard rush by Wishart to start the drive, Gaither would complete 5-of-8 passes, including a 30-yard strike to Reeder for a TD and making the score 42-14 at the break. Reeder caught three passes in the drive for 54 yards, while Lamont Seward caught the other two for 15 yards. Seward's second grab, a 10-yard catch, played a key role in the score as the Cats were facing a fourth and nine situation. Two plays later, Gaither hit Reeder for the touchdown.

The Cats kept the momentum as the second half began. Junior T. Alford gave WCU good field position, taking the second half kickoff at the goal line and returning it to the WCU 33. Western took advantage of two NC State penalties and a 29-yard Gaither-to-Reeder pass to get to the Wolfpack 10. Two plays later, senior Manny DeShauteurs made a highlight-reel run, bouncing off several would-be tacklers, and reached the endzone, cutting the Catamount deficit to 42-20.

NC State would close the game with two touchdowns and a field goal to provide the final 59-20 margin.

In addition to solid performances by Gaither and Reeder, the Cats were led by Wishart, who gained 34 yards on six carries for a an average of 5.7 yard per rush. Seward hauled in five passes to give him 121 for his career and only 14 shy of entering the WCU all-time list. The Catamount defense, which held the Wolfpack to only 91 yards rushing, was led by redshirt freshman Bruce Lee. The cornerback tallied 10 tackles in his first collegiate game. Sophomore linebackers Lamar Barnes and Jada Sullivan contributed eight and seven tackles, respectively. Senior linebacker Rod Dunlap tallied two tackles for losses, giving him 27 for his career and just one shy of entering the WCU all-time list.

Western Carolina will return to the Triangle next Saturday (Sept. 6) to face Duke at 6 pm. Not only is it WCU's return to the Triangle, but the Cats' second straight game versus an Atlantic Coast Conference school, making Western the only team in I-AA football to play two BCS eligible teams in the 2003 season.