Nov. 14, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

Richmond, Ky. - Western Carolina turned a pair of second half Eastern Kentucky turnovers into points as quarterback Zack Jaynes tossed three touchdowns, including two to junior Marquel Pittman, as the Catamounts ended an eight-game road losing skid with a 24-7 non-conference victory over the Colonels in front of 4,200 fans Saturday afternoon at Roy Kidd Stadium.

EKU had a pair of miscues on punts, including muffing an opportunity in the fourth quarter, and also coughed up a fumble inside its own five-yard line, finishing with four turnovers on the day. WCU turned those turnovers into a pair of TDs in the win, WCU's first triumph away from Cullowhee since a two-point, 28-26, road win over Presbyterian in late September 2008. The victory also snaps WCU's current three-game losing skid.

Quarterback Zack Jaynes completed 24-of-34 passes for 232 yards to eight different receivers, and matched a career-high with three touchdown passes including two to junior Marquel Pittman. Jaynes added 26 yards rushing, including a 30-yard scamper that ended the first half.

EKU (5-5) capitalized on the early field position battle, taking advantage of a shanked punt out of the WCU end zone that netted just 13 yards to take an early 7-0 lead. Eastern Kentucky moved just 24 yards in five plays with running back C.J. Walker powering in from a yard out inside the final minute of the opening quarter.

The Catamounts answered, though, as Jaynes settled in the pocket and fired over the middle to Pittman who had found a seam in the Colonel secondary zone defense. The Maxton, N.C., native turned up field on the near hash and raced the remaining 30-plus yards, outrunning the EKU defensive backs for the equalizing score, 7-7.

Blake Bostic gave the Catamounts a field-goal edge it would carry into the halftime locker room. Moving off of its own two-yard line, the Catamounts, charged by an opening 34-yard pass play from Jaynes to Pittman and a 17-yard screen pass to Dion Wilson, moved into field goal range where Bostic punched one in from 43-yards out for the 10-7 lead. Pittman's catch came while working one-on-one with EKU's Jeremy Caldwell who entered the game ranked first in the NCAA FCS with seven interceptions on the year.

With time dwindling in the opening half, an Eastern Kentucky two-minute offense drive was thwarted as WCU senior Antoine George recorded his first interception of the season - and just the second for the Catamount defense in 2009. Classmates Gene Singletary and Chris Collins pressured EKU signal caller, T.J. Pryor, nearly dropping him before he uncorked a wobbling spiral that was snagged by George to essentially end the half.

Despite being held on its opening possession of the second half, punter Blake Cain helped turn the field with the Catamount defense coming up with its second takeaway of the afternoon to help stake the Catamounts to a 10-point lead. Cain boomed a season-long 51-yard punt that pinned EKU at its own six-yard line. Two plays later, Pryor fumbled the exchange under center with senior LB Chaz Jackson pouncing on the bouncing ball at the EKU eight.

Jaynes then found Pittman for the second time in the game, pushing Pittman over 100-yards receiving, Jaynes over 200-yards passing and handing WCU a 17-7 edge midway through the third quarter. Pittman finished with a season-high tying nine catches for 109 yards and the two scores.

Special teams again came through for the Catamounts after the EKU defense has slowed the Catamount offense and forced a punt. Cain's rugby-style kick took a high bounce off the artificial turf where Caldwell jumped to catch but could only get a finger tip on. Gunner Nate Harris was able to scoop the orb, giving the Catamounts possession back at the EKU 21-yard line.

Jaynes again struck through the air to give the Catamounts a 24-7 edge, finding tight end Chris Everett for the third-straight game for a scoring strike from 13 yards out.

Over the final quarter, the Catamount defense held EKU out of the end zone, stiffening on three fourth-down conversion opportunities for the Colonels, while the WCU offense sustained drives enough to run the clock out for the win.

Senior Adrian McLeod finished with 10 tackles including half a sack giving him his ninth-straight, double-digit tackle outing, while classmate Antoine George came away with his first interception of the season, seventh of his career. Chris Collins finished with seven stops with a break-up and three quarterback hurries including pressuring the QB on George's interception.

All told, Western Carolina outgained EKU, 335-to-276, including 232 passing yards for the Catamounts.

Western Carolina will wrap-up its 2009 season next Saturday, Nov. 21 as it travels to Boone, N.C., to face arch-rival Appalachian State in the annual "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug." Kickoff from Kidd Brewer Stadium is set for 3:30 pm, with the Catamount Sports Network pre-game show airing at 2:00 pm.