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Cullowhee, N.C. - Sophomore tailback Detrez Newsome rushed for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns as Western Carolina pushed past Presbyterian, 33-21, in nonconference action on Saturday afternoon at a rain-soaked E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Trailing 21-20 entering the fourth quarter, Western Carolina (2-2) controlled the final frame, outscoring Presbyterian, 13-0, while holding the football for nearly 11 of the 15 minutes in the frame to seal the victory. WCU out-gained Presbyterian, 151-to-27, including 115 yards on the ground against just 13 rushing yards by the Blue Hose in the fourth.

Newsome finished Saturday's game with over 200 all-purpose yards for a second-straight game, just missing his career-high of 241 established at Tennessee. Including 48 yards on three kickoff returns to accompany his career-night out of the backfield, the Raeford, N.C., product amassed 237 total yards. Saturday was also his sixth career, two touchdown game - the first coming this season.

Western Carolina senior quarterback Troy Mitchell accounted for 301 yards of total offense including 226 through the air and 75 yards and a touchdown on the ground in guiding the Catamounts to the win, halting a two-game seasonal slide. Mitchell's 14 completions were spread to just four different receivers with classmate Karnorris Benson leading the way with a season-high seven receptions for 149 yards.

Freshman placekicker Logan Howard also bested the elements for a pair of field goals, splitting the uprights from a career-long 46 and 45 yards, respectively.

Presbyterian (1-4) grabbed an early lead as Darrell Bridges scored from two yards away midway through the first quarter to give the visitors the 7-0 advantage. The Catamounts managed to convert the game's first turnover into its first points, capitalizing on a takeaway created by Tahjai Watt. The second-year defensive end knocked the football loose from Bridges and fell on the orb to give WCU possession in the red zone. Two plays later, Mitchell found tight end Tyler Sexton on a nine-yard strike to knot the game at seven.

Howard's first field goal capped a 12-play drive to give the Catamounts their first lead, 10-7, early in the second quarter.

Two scores coming 41 seconds apart provided the halftime tally, 17-14, in favor of WCU. Presbyterian defensive lineman Ugonna Akoh scooped-and-scored on a Catamount fumble, racing 73 yards in a convoy of Garnet & Blue for the short-lived, 14-7, lead. On the ensuing possession, it took the Catamounts just two plays to regain the advantage as Newsome raced a career-long 72 yards for the go-ahead score.

Howard's number was again called on WCU's first possession of the second half, nearly matching his career-long boot of 46 yards with a 45 yarder to stretch the Catamount edge to six, 20-14. The advantage held until late in the frame when PC quarterback Tamyn Garrick orchestrated an 82-yard drive, capping it with a 14-yard TD pass to DaShawn Davis - the first passing TD for the Blue Hose this season.

Newsome put Western Carolina ahead for good early in the decisive fourth quarter, capping an 80-yard drive with an eight-yard romp to make it 26-21. Then, following the first of two Trey Morgan interceptions, Mitchell ran the read-option to perfection with a 36-yard scamper around the left end for the game's final score.

Morgan's two picks were the first two of 2015 for the SoCon's returning leader from a season ago.

Linebackers Daniel Riddle and Tyson Dickson both finished with double-digit tackles, led by Riddle's career-high tying 18 stops. Dickson recorded 13, while Sertonuse Harris had eight stops including a tackled for loss - and nearly returned a lateralled interception for a touchdown which was negated by a penalty. Senior Caleb Hawkins harassed the PC signal caller much of the day, tallying a sack and was credited with a trio of quarterback hurries.

For Presbyterian, Bridges rushed for 121 yards and a score while Garrick finished 11-of-26 but tossed two interceptions to go along with his touchdown pass. Marquel Hines paced the Blue Hose with 171 all-purpose yards.

Western Carolina remains at home next Saturday, Oct. 10, returning to Southern Conference play against Mercer (2-2, 0-1 SoCon). WCU claimed the first-ever series meeting over Mercer in Macon, Ga., a year ago, 35-21. The first meeting between the Catamounts and Bears in Cullowhee is scheduled for 3:30 pm kickoff before a live television audience on the American Sports Network (ASN).