Sept. 21, 2008

Final Stats |  Notes |   

Clinton, S.C. - Red-shirt sophomore Marquel Pittman hauled in an acrobatic four-yard scoring strike with just over three minutes showing on the Bailey Memorial Stadium clock Saturday afternoon. But it wasn't until Presbyterian's Cam Miller hooked a 23-yard field goal wide left that the Catamounts were able to celebrate their first road win since late October, 2005, downing the Blue Hose, 23-21.

The victory snapped Western's 14-game road losing skid which dated back to '05 when the Cats defeated Chattanooga. It also was WCU's eighth-straight over Presbyterian dating back to 1970, and its first in Clinton since 1976, snapping PC's six-game home winning streak.

But the big story of the day was the running of red-shirt freshman Quan Warley. The Thomasville, N.C., native rushed for 202 yards on 29 carries to help lead the Catamounts back to the .500 mark on the season at 2-2. He added 17 yards receiving on three catches.

Warley became just the eighth different Catamount to surpass 200 yards rushing in a single-game, eclipsing the century mark for the first time in his collegiate career. His performance was also just the 10th, 200-yard rushing performance in school history and WCU's first since Fred Boateng rushed for 213 against Georgia Southern in 2000.

He is also the third freshman to rush for 200 yards in school history joining Darryl Jackson (vs. Mars Hill, 200 yards, 10/10/87) and Darius Hooks (vs. Wofford, 203 yards 9/14/96)

Western Carolina held a 483-to-313 yard advantage in total offense, amassing 28 first downs to Presbyterian's 14. The Catamounts monopolized possession on the day, tallying just under 40 minutes in time of possession (39:07) with all five scoring drives taking at least eight plays and three encompassing 70 yards or more including a season-best, 97-yard drive that culminated in the end zone.

Sparked by a career-long, 33-yard run by Warley, Western drove 79 yards in 13 plays to light the scoreboard first. Junior Blake Bostic booted his first of three field goals - a 26-yarder to give the Catamounts an early, 3-0, lead.

However, the home-standing Blue Hose answered with a touchdown drive to reclaim the lead, 7-3. Following the score, the Presbyterian bench cleared in a pre-meditated celebration in the end zone drawing one of two penalty flags which set up the Catamounts with great starting field possession after the ensuing kickoff. WCU moved 31 yards into scoring position before the drive stalled and Bostic connected on his second kick, a 32-yard field goal.

Presbyterian (1-3) pushed across its second touchdown of the opening 30 minutes with just 43 seconds showing on the game clock, capping a seven-play, 77-yard drive to lead at intermission, 14-6.

Late in the third quarter, Western cut into the Blue Hose advantage on Bostic's third triple of the game. The Bostic, N.C., native booted a career-long 39 yarder to pull the Catamounts to within five points, 14-9.

Western reclaimed its lead midway through the third quarter on its longest drive of the season. The Catamount offense moved 97 yards in eight plays, including double-digit Warley runs of 16, 11 and 12 yards, and a 29-yard pass from senior quarterback Andy Horn to classmate Donald James. The duo again hooked up to cap the drive with a 16-yard, pass-and-catch into the end zone to push WCU to the lead, 17-14.

Presbyterian moved back in front with a four-yard touchdown strike to lead 21-17 before what proved to be the game-winning drive. Starting at its own 30 yard line after a 19-yard kickoff return by red-shirt sophomore Adam Hearns, Horn marched the Catamounts down the field capitalizing on an 11-yard pass to Hearns and a game-long, 39-yard strike to Pittman.

After moving inside the 10-yard line, Horn again found Pittman on a fourth-and-goal on a lob pass into the right corner of the end zone where the Maxton, N.C., native skied and pulled it in between two PC defenders for the go-ahead score, 23-21.

The Blue Hose managed to drive down the field thanks to a 45-yard romp by S.J. Worrells into field goal range. But then, on a third and 1 from the five-yard line, the PC center felt that the WCU defensive line jumped on a hard cadence, snapping the ball and QB Tim Webb kneeling in accordance. However, no infraction was ruled and it ended up costing the Blue Hose the down, forcing Presbyterian into a field goal attempt. Miller's 23-yard attempt missed wide left with WCU sealing the win as Warley rushed 30 yards on a third down play while trying to run out the clock.

Horn finished 24-of-35 - both career highs - for 241 yards passing and two TDs. He also rushed 11 times for 31 yards, including a career-long, 19-yard scramble in the first quarter. Pittman just missed 100 yards finishing with 94 yards receiving on seven catches, while James also caught seven passes for 52 yards in the win.

After failing to record a turnover through its first four games, the Catamount defense recorded two takeaways against Presbyterian. Red-shirt freshman John Julien single-handedly gave WCU its first turnover as he stripped Presbyterian's Chetyuane Reeder early in the second quarter. Senior Jeff Bradley pounced on a fumble in the PC backfield to create the Catamounts' second takeaway of the season.

Junior Chris Collins led WCU with seven tackles, including one for a three-yard loss, while sophomore Mitchell Bell and freshman Brandon Vaught, who earned the starting nod, each tallied six tackles including five solo stops apiece.

Western Carolina will stay on the road next week as it opens Southern Conference play at The Citadel at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Catamounts will try and snap a two-year drought in league play, last winning a conference game at Chattanooga in 2005. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.