Box Score Oct. 7, 2006
Final Stats
Elon, N.C. - Elon quarterback Wes Pope completed 24-of-33 passes for 294 yards and three touchcdowns. Pope's top target was Terrell Hudgins, who caught seven passes for 142 yards. Michael Mayers also hauled in seven passes, gaining 74 yards.
Highlighting the day for Western were two, career-long field goals of 41 yards by sophomore placekicker Jonathan Parsons and the first career touchdown for freshman Willie Harper on an 87-yard kickoff return.
The Phoenix got off to a great start and never looked back. Mayers returned the opening kickoff 44 yards to the Catamount 49. Eight plays later, Andrew Wilcox connected on a 25 yard field goal for the early 3-0 Elon lead.
Western's first offensive possession ended in a punt, which Karlos Sullivan returned 47 yards to the WCU 31. Pope led a four-play drive, completing 3-for-4 passes, capped by a nine-yard score to Reggie Hall. The Catamounts' next possession ended in an interception, giving Elon the ball on the WCU 36. Mayers had a 16-yard run, setting up first and goal, then caught a four-yard pass for a TD to give Elon a 17-0 lead 10 minutes into the contest.
Darius Fudge would eventually get Western's offense on track, getting some tough yards and moving the chains. Todd Spitzer, getting his frist collegiate start for the injured Bennett Swygert, had a 13-yard completion to Eddie Cohen, followed by a 17-yard completion to Michael Hines to get Western in scoring position. Parsons put Western's first points on the board with the first of his 41-yard field goals on the day.
Elon answered right back with a 10-play, 56-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 24-yard field goal from Wilcox to make the score 20-3. That setup the 87-yard kickoff return by Harper, who took a short kickoff, started up the middle and broke right to reach paydirt. It was Western's first kickoff return for a TD since Mike Malone accomplished the feat, a 90-yarder, last year versus Elon.
The Phoenix wrestled the momentum back, thanks to an 18-yard pass and a 17-yard pass from Pope to Mayers. Pope would complete the seven-play, 70-yard drive with an 18-yard Pope to T.J. Clegg strike.
On Western's last drive of the first half, Spitzer completed four passes, including an 18-yarder to Chris Jefferson, to setup Parsons second 41-yard field goal of the game to make the score 27-13 at the break.
Elon put the game out of reach on its first two possessions of the second half. Wilcox connected on a 28-yard field goal on the Phoenix's first drive. On the second drive by Elon in the third quarter, the Phoenix got into scoring position when Pope hit Hudgins on a short pass, which the receive turned into a 62-yard gain. On the next play, Pope hit Hall on a four-yard pass to seal the scoring for the Phoenix.
In the fourth quarter, completed seven passes on a 13-play drive, including two fourth-down conversions. The first fourth down saw Spitzer hit Hines on a 28-yard pass. Then, on fourth an goal, Spitzer once again hooked up with Hines for a five-yard score. The two-point conversion failed to provide the 37-19 final.
For the Catamounts, Spitzer was 22-of-38 for 228 yards. Hines finished with eight receptions for 90 yards and a score. Cohen added six receptions for 68 yards, while Jefferson had a career-high five receptions for 51 yards. Fudge finished with 15 carries for 58 yards. Defensively, Shelton Gaffney led the way with a game-high 10 tackles. Chaz Jackson added seven, including two for losses, while Mitchell Dukes and Mordy Ornguze were each credited with six tackles.
Western Carolina will return to Cullowhee next Saturday (Oct. 14) to host Chattanooga, which will highlight a week full of activities on campus surrounding Homecoming Weekend. Check with CatamountSports.com through the week for all the happenings associated with Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm and the game will be televised on CSS TV (Charter-Comcast Sports Southeast).
