Final Stats |  Notes |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Quarterback Troy Mitchell accounted for six touchdowns including a career-best five TD passes and added a 55-yard touchdown run to highlight a strong offensive performance for the Catamounts on Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina closed the home portion of its schedule with a 42-27 Southern Conference victory over VMI on Hall of Fame Day at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

WCU's offense exploded for a season-high 640 yards as two players rushed for over 100 yards and two receivers eclipsed the century mark through the air. All told, the Catamounts rushed for 301 yards while passing for 339 in the winning effort.

Redshirt junior Karnorris Benson set a school-record with four first-half receiving touchdowns, matching the program's benchmark for TD catches in a single-game as a part of a 127-yard receiving performance. He was joined by sophomore Terryon Robinson who pulled down a game-high 12 passes, also for 127 yards.

Junior tailback Darius Ramsey rushed for a 78 of his season-high 128 yards in the first half, toting the football 19 times for his sixth career 100-yard game.

But the orchestrator of it all was Mitchell who combined for 448 yards of total offense including 339 yards through the air - the third-highest total of his career - and 109 yards on the ground including a game-sealing 55-yard touchdown romp late in the fourth quarter. Mitchell only misfired 10 times on 32-of-42 passing with one interception.

Western Carolina improved to 7-3 overall, 5-2 in the Southern Conference and finishes tied with Samford for second in the league standings. VMI falls to 2-9 on the season, 1-5 in conference play with one remaining SoCon game - the "Military Classic of the South" against rival, The Citadel.

Making just his second career start - and with it coming in his final home game - defensive back Terrence Green set-up WCU's first score of the day as he picked off VMI quarterback Al Cobb. Mitchell and the offense marched 62 yards in eight plays with Benson catching his first of four touchdown passes from seven yards out to cash-in WCU's first takeaway for the 7-0 lead.

Mitchell and Benson would again hook-up for scoring strikes of 39 and 17 yards to grab a 21-0 advantage early in the second quarter.

VMI (2-9, 1-5 SoCon) got on the board midway through the second stanza as the Keydets moved 65 yards in just four plays capped by a nine-yard scoring run by Deon Watts to make it 21-7. Watts rattled off a 28-yard rush and Cobb found Aaron Sanders for a 44-yard pitch-and-catch to spur the scoring drive.

Benson put an exclamation point on a superb first half with his fourth receiving score on a 28-yard strike from Mitchell with the Keydets tacking on a 45-yard Dillon Christopher field goal to provide the halftime score, 28-10.

Out of the halftime locker room, Cobb put VMI back on the scoreboard with a second 44-yard hook-up with Sanders making it a 28-17 affair just two and a half minutes in to the third quarter.

The Catamounts responded by moving 77 yards into scoring position, but were unable to put points on the board as a turnover thwarted the would-be scoring drive. Ramsey powered 11 yards to the one-yard line and appeared to be ruled down when the football popped loose and was pin-balled around the end zone before eventually wobbling out of bounds for a touchback, preventing the score and giving VMI the football. The Keydets turned the miscue into another Christopher field goal making it a one-score game, 28-20.

On the ensuing possession, though, Mitchell guided the Catamounts down the field on an 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive where he found sophomore tight end Tyler Sexton from seven yards out to create some breathing room, 35-20. The TD catch was the third of the year for Sexton who finished with a season-best three catches for 32 yards.

However, VMI would not go away as Cobb moved the visitors down the field and finished the drive with a 37-yard scoring strike to Doug Burton to again make it a one-score game, 35-27. Cobb connected on 5-of-9 passes on the scoring drive that moved 75 yards in 10 plays.

Cobb finished with 321 yards through the air with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He became the VMI single season passing leader with 2,575 yards and also set a new mark for single season total offense with 2,673 yards.

VMI's defense forced a Catamount punt inside the game's final 10 minutes, looking to drive for the potential game-tying score. Taking over near midfield, the Keydets moved into WCU territory before one of the WCU seniors stepped up. Dropping into zone coverage, Cobb did not see linebacker Christon Gill lurking over the middle. The senior from Bridgeport, Conn., jumped in front of the pass at the 32-yard line and returned the interception eight yards.

Mitchell then did the rest, breaking free on the second play of WCU's next possession for a career-long 55-yard romp that ended in pay-dirt to seal the Catamount victory and provide the final tally, 42-27.

Gill led the Catamount defense with eight tackles including five solo stops and half a tackle for loss in addition to his interception. His classmate Ace Clark matched his tackle total with eight stops with a pair of pass break-ups while redshirt freshman linebacker Daniel Riddle finished with six tackles. Defensive end Andrew Mayton sacked VMI's quarterback once while both Caleb Hawkins and Damian Whitaker forced fumbles, the latter recovering his own strip.

Western Carolina concludes its 2014 season next Saturday, Nov. 22 as it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the nationally-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm CT and can be seen on the SEC Network.