Box Score Sept. 10, 2005
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
With just under seven minutes left to play in the game, preseason All-Southern Conference defense end Rico Reese intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, marking one of five Catamount picks in the game and essentially sealing the outcome in Western Carolina's 41-21 upset over #2 Furman Saturday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
The game was the SoCon season opener for both teams with Western improving to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the league and the Paladins falling to 1-1, 0-1. The win for Western was also its first over a team ranked as high as number two since upsetting eventual national champion Marshall (who was ranked second at the time) 38-30 on Oct. 31, 1992.
After Western jumped out to a 27-0 lead midway through three quarters, Furman reeled off three unanswered touchdowns and had all the momentum with just over seven minutes left in the game. However, Reese read a screen pass in the flat, tipped it to himself and raced 18 yards for the score. On the Paladins ensuing drive, senior Francis Brown picked off a Paladin pass on the first play of the series. Then, with WCU facing third and 10 on Furman's 36, Western ran its third "trick" play of the game as running back Lamont Reid completed a 36-yard pass to J.C. Brown. One play later, John Bush scored to provide the final margin.
After only gaining 227 yards of total offense over NCAA Division II Mars Hill in the season opener, Western Carolina had 363 yards versus Furman, thanks largely to 133 rushing yards by Darius Fudge. Fudge set the tone early, having a 26-yard run, followed by an eight-yard touchdown run on Western's first series.
Furman missed a field goal on its first possession and the Catamounts responded by marching 69 yards in seven plays to take a 13-0 lead. The big play of the drive was a 38-yard run by Fudge on fourth-and-two on a fake punt. Reid capped the drive with a three-yard run. Furman had their second, third and fifth drives of the game end on interceptions, while Western threw an interception, had two punts and a fumble as the half ended the score 13-0 in the Cats' favor.
Western started the second the same as it did the first, scoring on its first two possessions. First, with Fudge gaining 44 yards to the Furman two, Bush scored on fourth-and-goal from the one to put Western up 20-0. Then, the Cats' pulled off their second "trick" play as freshman kicker
Jonathan Parsons blooped a kickoff, which was recovered by
Shelton Gaffney on the Furman 15. Three plays later, Reid scored from three yards out to make the score 27-0.
As the third quarter ended, Furman started to gain the momentum. Ingle Martin engineered a nine-play, 66-yard drive. The senior was 6-of-8 during the drive, including a six-yard scoring strike to John Rust. Western punted on its next drive and Furman only needed 2:18 to cover 88 yards in nine plays to trim the margin to 13 (27-14). Daric Carter had a 15-yard run early in the drive and, after Martin completed an eight-yard pass to Justin Stepp, capped the drive with a twenty-yard touchdown run.
The Paladins used some trickery was well on the ensuing kickoff as Scott Beckler squibbed the ball off a WCU front-line player, which was recovered by Furman's Maurice Duncan. During that drive, Furman took advantage of back-to-back, 15-yard penalties by Western to get to the Catamount 13. Martin made it a six-point game (27-21) with 8:43 left by hitting Stepp for a 13-yard score.
After only keeping the ball for 1:07 and punting, Furman looked to have all the momentum. However, Martin threw back-to-back interceptions, one to Reese for his TD and one to F. Brown, and the Cats held on for the win.
In addition to Fudge averaging 10.2 yards per carry, Western was led on offense by Justin Clark, who completed 17-of-27 passes for 138 yards. Michael Hines was Clark's top target, hauling in six passes for 29 yards, while J.C. Brown had 86 yards on four receptions. Defensively, Western had numerous standouts. Primus Glover recorded six tackles with a sack, an additional tackle for loss and a pass break up. Mitchell Dukes also had six stops. Reese added five tackles and a sack to go along with his interception, while F. Brown had five stops, a TFL and a pick. Bruce Lee, Andre Hemphill and Gaffney each registered interceptions as well.
For the Paladins, Carter had five carries for 43 yards and a score. Martin finished the night by completing 24-of-42 passes for 249 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions, while Rust had nine receptions for 109 yards. Defensively, Shelton Riley led the way with eight tackles, including seven solo stops, while reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Year William Freeman had seven tackles on the night. Corner back Austin Holmes added three tackles, three pass break ups and an interception.
Western Carolina will take to the road next Saturday (Sept. 17) to face Big East member Cincinnati.
