Sept. 13, 2008

Final Stats |  Notes |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Trailing by a dozen entering the fourth quarter, Western Carolina scored nine unanswered points in the final frame - including a 78-yard touchdown pass from senior Andy Horn to Marquel Pittman and the first career field goal from junior Blake Bostic. But it was not enough as the 25th-ranked Liberty Flames escaped with a three-point, 19-16, victory Saturday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Western (1-2) dropped its second-straight contest while Liberty extended the nation's second-longest winning streak dating back to last season by winning its eighth straight, improving to 3-0 on the season. The loss also evened the all-time series between the two schools at three.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Horn and Pitman ignited the crowd of 7,289 on a 78-yard, pass-and-run to pull within six points, 19-13. After catching the pass roughly 12 yards from the line of scrimmage, Pittman ran through four arm tackles, juked his way past an additional would-be tackler and raced down the left sideline into the end zone.

The Catamount defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, taking over at its own 25-yard line after a touchback punt and procedure penalty. Western then drove 54-yards in 12 plays, including a 19-yard strike from Horn to red-shirt sophomore Adam Hearns - listed as a wide receiver on the depth chart for the first-time this season - on a fourth and five from the Liberty 26 yard line.

However, with WCU looking at a first and goal from the Liberty seven-yard line, consecutive losses on a nine-yard sack and a delay of game penalty pushed the Catamounts back to the 21. Back-to-back incomplete passes forced WCU into a 38-yard field goal, a career-long for Bostic to pull within three, 19-16.

Western's defense only allowed the Flames to gain one first down on its next possession, with the Catamounts taking over at their own nine-yard line with 3:34 showing on the game clock.

Staring at the ball game on fourth and three, Horn found red-shirt freshman Quan Warley - who tallied his first collegiate score in the loss - for six yards to keep the drive alive. A pass interference call against Liberty gave the Catamounts the ball at their own 37. Yet, inside the final two minutes, three-consecutive incomplete passes, including the last on fourth and six, ended WCU's quest to pull off the upset.

"This was a wasted opportunity tonight," said first-year Catamount head coach Dennis Wagner during post-game comments. "Our efficiency on offense was not there at critical times. Don't take anything away from Liberty, but we just did not get the job done."

Western Carolina limited the Flames' offense, which came in averaging 46.5 points per game through its first two wins, to three first-half field goal attempts. Liberty took an early, 3-0, lead after its drive stalled the WCU 19-yard line. Red-shirt freshman Ben Shipps' 29-yard boot split the uprights for the 3-0 visitor lead.

The Catamounts countered, though, just before the end of the opening period. Taking over near midfield, Western moved 54-yards in five plays to take the lead. Warley, sprung by text book blocks on the left side and one thrown by Hearns on the edge, scampered in from 15 yards out. The two-time AP North Carolina Player of the Year from Thomasville finished with 58 yards rushing on 12 carries, gaining positive yards every time he touched the ball.

On the other two field goal attempts, WCU red-shirt freshman Chris Everett blocked one and Shipps connected on the second to provide the halftime tally, 7-6.

Liberty out-gained Western offensively, 338-to-247 - numbers skewed by three sacks that reduced the Catamount rushing game to 19 total yards. Horn finished 18-of-33 for 228 yards and the 78-yard TD

Warley and senior wideout Donald James each recorded five passes apiece, James finishing with 49 yards including a long of 21. Hearns led all players with a game-high 173 all-purpose yards, including 114 on kickoff returns.

For Liberty, senior tailback Rashad Jennings rushed 28 times for 116 yards, while halfback Zach Terrell finished with eight carries for 51 yards, adding four catches for 27 in the win.

Defensively for Western, junior linebacker Quintin Phillips led all defenders with 16 tackles, while classmate Chris Collins recorded 11, including half a tackle for loss and forced a fumble.

Western hits the road for back-to-back road games in the Palmetto State beginning next week. The Catamounts venture to Clinton, S.C., for the first time since 1976 to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Saturday, Sept. 20 before beginning Southern Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 27 at The Citadel.