Box Score

Oct. 23, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina had a feverish fourth-quarter rally spoiled on a missed field goal with nine seconds left in the game as the Chattanooga Mocs upset the Catamounts' Homecoming weekend with a 27-24 victory Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. The Mocs improve to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the Southern Conference, while Western falls to 2-6; 0-4 in the league.

Western Carolina rolled up 504 yards of total offense, including 350 passing yards by Justin Clark and 100-yard receiving games by Calvin Guinyard and Michael Reeder. However, the Cats committed six turnovers, including two interceptions by UTC's Greg McConico, to lead to 14 UTC points.

Chattanooga, down 10-6 at halftime, scored on each of its first two possessions of the second half to take a 17-10 lead midway through the third quarter, a lead it would not relinquish. To start the second half, the Mocs took advantage of two WCU personal fouls to drive 66 yards in 12 plays, ending with a 32-yard Jonathan Godfrey field goal. On the Cats' ensuing possession, Clark was sacked by Bubba Austin, who forced a fumble which was recovered by UTC's Renaldo Jackson. On the next play, Chattanooga quarterback Cedric Stevens found an open Michael Gilmore for a 52-yard TD. Stevens then connected with Alonzo Nix to convert a two-point play and make the score 17-10.

Eddie Cohen catches a 36-yard TD.

The Mocs padded its advantage to start the fourth quarter, thanks to a 22-yard Godfrey field goal, making the score 20-10. The chip shot field goal was set up by a 51-yard Stevens-to-Nix pass to the WCU six. Western answered with a seven-play, 78-yard drive to make the score 20-17. Clark completed 5-of-6 passes on the drive, including passes for 14 yards to Xavier Godard, 20 yards to Reeder and a 36-yard touchdown to Eddie Cohen.

However, Chattanooga came right back with an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive. The big play of the drive was a 38-yard rush by Muhammed Ahmad Abdus-Salaam. Two plays later, and after a timeout with 8:00 left in the game, Stevens sprinted out to the right and threw back to tight end Barrett Brightwell for a 15-yard TD.

With 4:44 left in the game, Clark ran the WCU hurry-up offense to perfection, cutting the WCU deficit to three (27-24). During the drive, Clark hit Guinyard for 28 yards once, then, facing fourth-and-19 on the UTC 41, Clark aired it out for Guinyard, who came down with the ball on the UTC one. On the next play, Clark connected with Reeder for the one-yard score.

Western attempted an on-side kick, which the Mocs recovered. Western's defense did force a three-and-out, but the UTC punt went down the Catamount six. With 1:36 left in the game, Clark hit Cohen for nine yards, ran for 10 and found Cohen again for 22. After stopping the clock with WCU on the UTC 42, Clark completed a passes to Reeder for 16 and four yards to the Chattanooga 26. The field goal unit came on to try to tie the game, but the kick came up short to give Chattanooga with win.

In the first half, Chattanooga struck first. After Quentin Harris forced a fumble on a sack, the Mocs took possession on the WCU 14. Lironnie Davis took the ball to the four, then Abdus-Salaam did the rest with a four-yard TD. Western's Albert Reid blocked the extra point to leave the score at 6-0. With under two minutes left before the break, Western's Primus Glover forced and recovered a fumble, giving Western the ball on the UTC 29. Tim Mayse capped the six-play drive with a 26-yard field goal, making the score 6-3.

Western then forced Chattanooga to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession. The Cats got a 16-yard rush by Darius Fudge, putting Western near midfield. A 16-yard Clark-to-Reeder pass moved the Cats to the UTC 37, setting up Clark's Hail Mary pass, which was hauled in by Guinyard as time expired in the first half. Mayse converted the point after to make the score 10-6 at the break.

For the Mocs, who tallied 328 yard of offense, Stevens was 18-of-30 for 204 yards and two TDs. Nix was Steven's top target, catching six passes for 78 yards. Abdus-Salaam carried the ball 27 times for 72 yards and scored once. Randy Craft paced the Moc defense with nine tackles, while Steven Mills had three tackles for losses.

The Cats did get a career game from Clark, who completed 21-of-33 passes for his 350 yards. However, he was credited with four interceptions, while throwing three TDs. The Cats had two 100-yard receivers for the first time this season thanks to Guinyard's career-high 154 yards (six catches) and Reeder's 100 (nine catches). Western Carolina was led defensively by Bruce Lee, Lamar Barnes and Reid, each with six stops. Reid added three TFLs.

Western Carolina returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 30) at Elon. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm.