Final Stats |  Notes |   

Birmingham, Ala. - Samford's Denzel Williams scored two touchdowns on the ground as a part of a 156-yard rushing performance and quarterback Michael Eubank tossed a pair of first half touchdown passes as the Bulldogs rode a 28-point outburst in the opening half to a 34-20 victory over Western Carolina in Southern Conference action at Seibert Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Western Carolina, which dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season, fell to 6-4 overall, 4-2 in league play while Samford improved to 6-3 on the season, also 4-2 in SoCon play.

Two Eubank scoring passes - one to Jeremiaha Gates on a 35-yard screen pass and one to Karel Hamilton - and Williams' two rushing touchdowns put Samford up 28-0 late in the second quarter. The Bulldogs scored 14 points in both of the first two quarters.

Eubank finished with 15-of-24 passing for 232 yards for the Bulldogs while Williams ran for 156 yards on 27 carries. Hamilton finished with a game-high 115 receiving yards

WCU quarterback Troy Mitchell capped a 75-yard drive when he ran it in from the three-yard line for the first Western Carolina score with 2:25 left in the first half to make it 28-7 at intermission. The score halted a string of five-straight quarters without points for the Catamounts while also halting Samford's run of nine-consecutive shutout quarters.

A pair of Reece Everett field goals in the second half sandwiched around Spearman Robinson's team and SoCon-leading ninth receiving TD - a one-yard strike - put it out of reach for Western Carolina.

Mitchell tightened the gap in the final minutes to provide the final score, again taking the Catamounts 85 yards in 11 plays and scoring his second rushing touchdown. Overall, Mitchell threw for 262 yards on 26-of-40 passing with two interceptions, tossing the score to Robinson.

Junior Karnorris Benson led the Catamounts with a season-best seven catches for 91 yards. Sophomore Willie Police hauled in six passes for 40 yards for WCU. Junior tailback Darius Ramsey rushed 18 times for 95 yards in the loss.

Defensively for WCU, senior linebacker Christon Gill and sophomore defensive back Trey Morgan recorded eight tackles apiece. Gill tallied two tackles for loss while Morgan recovered a pair of fumbles in the loss.

Western Carolina returns to Cullowhee for its final home game of 2014 as it hosts VMI on Hall of Fame Day. WCU will also honor its football seniors in a special pregame ceremony on Senior Day. Kickoff from E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field is scheduled for 2:00 pm.

Also on Saturday, WCU Athletics will be honoring all United States Military Veterans on Military Appreciation Day. All veterans will receive FREE Admission, and all families will receive discounted tickets for only $10. All branches will be represented at the game and giving out free promotional items to fans.

Pisgah High School's JROTC program will present the colors pre-game, Woodmen of the World will be handing out over 5,000 hand held American Flags, there will be exclusive WCU "Stars & Stripes" Apparel for sale, and we have a very special on-field presentation planned at halftime. For tickets, call the WCU Ticket Office at 800-34-GOWCU or visit catamountsports.com.