Sept. 26, 2010

Final Stats |  Notes |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina's defense forced four turnovers, scoring on a 12-yard fumble return for a touchdown, but could not overcome four, third quarter giveaways of its own as the Catamounts fell to the Chattanooga Mocs, 27-21, Saturday night in their Southern Conference opener at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

WCU sophomore wide receiver Jacoby Mitchell scored two receiving touchdowns for the Catamounts which suffered their second-straight loss to Chattanooga. Mitchell scored on two of his three receptions on the night, finishing with 35 total yards.

"I thought our defense played hard, but our Achilles heel right now is third down. We have got to be able to get off the field on third down," said WCU third-year head coach Dennis Wagner. "Some of that comes from our offense not moving the ball and being efficient and (the defense) being on the field so long - and I understand that. But there were just too many drives tonight where they kept drives going on third down and we allowed them to keep the ball and stay on the field.

"I want to praise (the defense) for making big plays, but it was just frustrating. And on offense, we just couldn't get any rhythm," Wagner added.

Junior quarterback Zac Brindise got the start for the Catamounts, but was lifted after halftime for true freshman Brandon Pechloff. Brindise finished 10-for-14 for 34 yards while Pechloff was 9-for-21 with three interceptions, but did toss his first career touchdown pass to Mitchell in the fourth quarter.

Down 14-7 early in the third quarter, the Catamount defense electrified the 10,187-fans in attendance as senior C.J. Johnson scooped up an Erroll Wynn fumble and rumbled 12 yards into the end zone to knot the game at 14. It is the second-straight week in which the WCU defense has put points on the board, posting both an interception and fumble return the week before.

The Mocs came back with an 11-play, 83-yard drive, methodically moving down the field where B.J. Coleman found Garrett Hughes for the second of his two receiving touchdowns on the night to pull ahead, 21-14.

With the game still in the balance, the two squads traded turnovers midway through the third. Pechloff was hit from behind by Chris Donald after being flushed from the pocket, fumbling in the process with the Mocs recovering. However, the WCU defense was equal to the task as Torez Jones recorded his SoCon-leading fifth interception of the season at the goal line to prevent UTC from recording points off the giveaway.

After a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Catamount defense again stiffened with the Mocs knocking on the proverbial door inside the 10-yard line. Keon Williams was dropped behind the line of scrimmage by WCU's Angelo Brown, falling on the fumbled football in the process to again thwart a Chattanooga scoring chance.

Unfortunately, a third interception by the Mocs set them up with great field position at the WCU 23-yard line early in the fourth quarter where Wynn raced off the left side for a one-play scoring drive and a 27-14 lead.

Pechloff, who was seeing his first collegiate action, orchestrated a nine-play, 80-yard drive in the waning moments of the final stanza. The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native native was 4-for-7 for 52 yards - including a career-long strike of 41 to Marquel Pittman - on the scoring drive, capping it with a one-yard strike to Mitchell.

Pittman finished with seven catches for 90 yards, moving to within six career receptions of tying former WCU standout Craig Aiken (1991-94) for 10th on the school's career catches chart.

The Catamounts attempted an on-side kick following the score, but Sutherland smothered the attempt which allowed UTC to kneel on the football three-straight plays to run out the clock.

Western Carolina (1-3, 0-1 SoCon) got on top first, taking advantage of great field position and unconventional play calling. Following a three-and-out which was capped by a quarterback sack by Trey Selby and C.J. Johnson, the Mocs - kicking out of their own end zone - only managed a 27-yard punt amidst heavy pressure from the Catamount rush.

Taking over at the 32 yard line, Brindise threw a lateral to the right side to redshirt junior Josh Cockrell. UTC's defensive pursuit collapsed on the wide side of the field, allowing Mitchell to slip down the right sideline unguarded where Cockrell tossed a perfect strike for the touchdown giving WCU a 7-0 lead.

Chattanooga responded on the ensuing possession as B.J. Coleman guided a seven-play, 72-yard drive, scoring in just under three minutes. Coleman bookended the drive with 23-yard completions to Brian Sutherland and the scoring strike to Garrett Hughes.

After a defensive stalemate through the biggest part of the second quarter, Chattanooga (2-2, 1-1 SoCon) lit the scoreboard just before halftime. The Mocs moved 77 yards in just four plays capped by a one-yard quarterback sneak by Coleman. The score was set-up by a 46-yard pass-and-catch between Coleman and Sutherland.

UTC led 14-7 at the break before C.J. Johnson's first career touchdown knotted the game at 14 early in the third quarter.

All told, the Catamounts were limited to 249 yards of total offense including a season-low 56 yards on the ground. The Mocs, which ran 74 plays on offense, finished with 356 yards including 259 through the air and just 97 on the ground. The Catamounts limited the SoCon's leading rusher, Wynn, to just 80 yards on 16 carries - 30 yards below his seasonal average entering the game.

Defensively, the Catamounts were paced by junior linebacker Brandon Vaught with a career-best 12 tackles including one for loss. Senior Angelo Brown likewise posted a career-best with 10 tackles while also forcing and recovering a fumble, with Ricky Schwarz finishing with nine total hits including four solo stops.

Western Carolina returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 2 as it travels to Charleston, S.C., to face The Citadel Bulldogs. Kickoff from Johnson-Hagood Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 pm.