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Post-Game Notes
Western Carolina 42, VMI 27
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. - Saturday, November 15, 2014
Att: 8,339

With the Win ...
- Western Carolina earned its most seasonal victories (7) since scoring seven wins back in 2001 ... It also gives WCU five Southern Conference wins (5-2) for the first time since 2001 (5-3), matching the most in program history ... It also secured share of second-place in the SoCon - the highest finish since 1986 and just the fourth runner-up finish for WCU in the SoCon since joining the league in 1977;

- The Catamounts extend their current winning streak against VMI to 12-straight games dating back to 1992 and kept WCU perfect at home against VMI (11-0) all-time;

- Gives WCU a 5-1 record in home games this season - the squad's best home record since also finishing 5-1 at Whitmire Stadium/Waters Field in 2001;

- WCU snapped a five-game winless drought in games played on Hall of Fame day ... It was the first win on the same day it honored its Hall of Fame inductees since 2008;

- The victory over VMI gives WCU a 2-0 record over newcomer or returning members to the SoCon as the Catamounts defeated new league member, Mercer, 35-21, back on Oct. 18.

Post-Game Notes:
- Western Carolina's offense put up a season-high 640 of total offense on Saturday in the home victory over VMI ... the 640 total yards are the most by a Catamount offense since tallying 663 yards of total offense against Mars Hill back on Sept. 10, 2011 ... It is the second-time this season that WCU had 600-plus yards of total offense, recording 633 yards in a home win over The Citadel;

- The 42 points scored by Western Carolina against VMI is the second time this season WCU has scored 40 or more points in a game (45 vs. Brevard) ... It is also the most points scored by WCU against a NCAA Division I foe since putting 44 on the board in a home loss to Wofford in 2007;

- Junior quarterback Troy Mitchell's five touchdown passes are a career-high ... He finished with 339 passing yards in the win, the third time in his career he has thrown for over 300 yards in a game ... It is the first time a Catamount QB threw four-or-more touchdown passes in a single-game since former QB Zac Brindise tossed four TD passes against Tusculum on Sept. 11, 2010;

- Mitchell became the first WCU quarterback to pass for over 2,000 yards in a single-season since Brian Gaither threw for 2,717 yards back in 2003 ... Mitchell has 2,320 yards passing this year ... He has also accounted for 2,892 yards of total offense, the most for a WCU player since former quarterback David Rivers amassed 2,984 total yards back in 2000;

- Mitchell's 18 passing touchdowns in 2014 currently ranks as the third-best in school history, surpassing David Rivers' 17 passing TDs in 2000 ... Mitchell is just two shy of Lonnie Galloway's second-place mark of 20 in 1992 and three short of Jeff Gilbert's school single-season record of 21 accomplished in 1983;

- Redshirt junior Karnorris Benson hauled in a career-best four first-half touchdowns, the most by any Catamount ever in one half of football ... the previous mark was three held by three different receivers (Eddie Cohen at Georgia Southern, 2007; Jon Reed vs. Appalachian State, 1989; and Gerald Harp vs. Wofford, 1979) ... Benson's four scores also tied the WCU school record for most touchdowns in a game, matching Harp's four TD receptions from the 1979 meeting with Wofford;

- Benson's four touchdown receptions represents the first time since Brad Hoover scored five touchdowns in a single-game

- Benson moved into a tie for fifth-place in WCU's all-time career receiving touchdown record books with his four TDs on Saturday ... Benson now has 18 career touchdown receptions to match Jerry Gaines who also had 18 TD grabs from 1970-74;

- WCU had two 100-yard receivers as both Karnorris Benson (8 catches, 127 yards) and sophomore Terryon Robinson (12 catches, 127 yards) both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the win over VMI ... It is the first time since Jacoby Mitchell (116 yards) and Josh Cockrell (110 yards) both had over 100 yards through the air vs. Tusculum on Sept. 11, 2010;

- Junior tailback Darius Ramsey logged a career-best 128 yards rushing in the game marking the seventh time in his career that he has rushed for over 100 yards;

- In addition to Ramsey, WCU had two players rush for over 100 yards Ramsey was joined by quarterback Troy Mitchell who had 109 yards ... It was the fourth time in his career that Mitchell had rushed for over 100 yards ... It was the second time this year that WCU had two players rush for 100-plus yards in the same game - Mitchell (131 yds) and freshman Detrez Newsome (123 yds) vs. The Citadel;

- Tight end Tyler Sexton scored the third receiving TD of his career when he scored off a five-yard pass by Troy Mitchell with 29 seconds left in the third quarter;

- Defensive back Terrence Green made his second career start on Saturday afternoon in his final home game for the Purple & Gold - and came away with his first career interception with a first quarter pick that set-up WCU's opening touchdown;

- Senior linebacker Christon Gill picked up his first interception of the season - and second of his WCU career - running it back for eight yards ... Gill's INT came with the game still hanging in the balance as the Catamounts led by one score, 35-27, and driving into WCU territory at the 39-yard line;

- The 27 points scored by VMI is the most points Western Carolina has allowed at home this season ... The previous high was 21 by Brevard Sept. 6;

- Western Carolina led at intermission for the seventh time this season up on VMI 28-10 at the break;

Miscellaneous Notes:
- Western Carolina's team captains for Saturday afternoon's game were three seniors -- #18 Garrett Brown, #28 Ace Clark and #37 K.P. Hicks ... they were joined by classmates in tailback #1 Shaun Warren, linebacker #7 Christon Gill, defensive back #24 Terrence Green, placekicker #36 Richard Sigmon and #83 Jeff Moore ... Also out for the coin toss were juniors in quarterback #10 Troy Mitchell and tailback #20 Darius Ramsey;

- Western Carolina won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff ... WCU athletics historian and color analyst for the Catamount Sports Network, Mr. Steve White, conducted the pregame coin toss ... White, a veteran with over 50 years of service to WCU and its athletics department, will retire at the conclusion of the 2014 football season;

- Western Carolina held a pregame moment of silence in memory of former WCU defensive back, assistant coach, athletics administrator and Hall of Famer, Al "Mutt" DeGraffenreid, who passed away last Saturday ... the WCU football team wore special black nose-piece bumpers with the word "MUTT" in his memory ... Also, freshman all-purpose back Detrez Newsome wore the jersey No. 13 instead of his normal No. 21 - the number worn by the late DeGraffenreid - as a show of respect from WCU football;

- Catamount long snapper #59 Chandler Addertion carried the American flag out during pregame while sophomore wide receiver #8 Spearman Robinson carried the "All You Got" colors on Saturday;

- Western Carolina honored its eight football seniors in a special pregame ceremony: quarterback #18 Garrett Brown; defensive back #28 Ace Clark; linebacker #7 Christon Gill; defensive back #24 Terrence Green; linebacker #37 K.P. Hicks; wide receiver #83 Jeff Moore; placekicker #36 Richard Sigmon; and running back #1 Shaun Warren;

- WCU also recognized senior students who assist with athletic training and equipment, as well as the four members of the WCU Dance Team, 12 Catamount cheerleaders and 85 senior members of the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band;

- During a special halftime ceremony, WCU's 25th induction class into its Athletics Hall of Fame was held on the turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field ... the 2014 induction class included former football player Leroy Holden (1963-66) and the 2002-03 WCU women's golf team comprised of head coach Steve Lott, Brandy Andersen, Meredith Beck, Line Cordes, Ashley Hovda, Johanna Lundberg, Jennifer Palmer and Rebecca Twiner.