Cullowhee, N.C. ? Nearly two weeks after scoring its first victory of the 2019 season, Western Carolina returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 28 as the Catamounts travel to Chattanooga to face the Mocs in Southern Conference action at Finley Stadium. Kickoff of UTC's Homecoming game is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
For fans planning on attending the game, please note: Due to the higher than average temperatures being forecasted for Saturday's game, each fan in attendance at the Western Carolina ? Chattanooga football game at Finley Stadium will be allowed to bring in one (1) sealed clear plastic water bottle, twist cap seal clearly intact. Broken seals or reusable bottles will not be allowed.
Saturday's game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network (CSN) with an air time of the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 3:00 pm ahead of the 4:00 pm kickoff at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, the former home of the NCAA FCS National Championship game. Fans across western North Carolina can hear the game locally on eight CSN affiliates: in Cullowhee on 90.5 WWCU FM; 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC “The River” in Sylva; 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC in Franklin; WISE Sports Radio 1310 AM and 102.9 FM in Asheville; and 970 AM WYSE in Canton, with live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.
The WCU-UTC game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live streaming video available online as Chris Goforth (pxp) and Scott McMahan (analyst) have the call. Catamount fans not making the trip to Chattanooga are invited to gather at Ultrastar Multi-tainment in Cherokee, N.C., on Saturday afternoon for a special WCU Watch Party. Ultrastar Multi-tainment is the official home for watch parties when the Catamounts are on the road this season.
WCU (1-2, 0-1 SoCon) is looking to start a couple of streaks as it faces its first league road test of the season. The Catamounts seek their first back-to-back wins of 2019 ? and the first since claiming victory in the first three games of the 2018 season before dropping eight straight. The Purple & Gold are also seeking consecutive road wins over the Mocs when coupled with the convincing, 45-7, victory from the 2017 season. WCU has not won back-to-back road games over Chattanooga since doing so in consecutive years in 1992 (W, 44-13) and 1993 (W, 41-10).
After halting a 10-game drought with the victory over North Greenville, the Catamounts will again look to play streak-buster in trying to halt a pair of lengthy skids. WCU's current eight-game winless drought in SoCon play ranks as the third-longest in the NCAA FCS as it relates to conference losing skids. WCU is also looking to put the clamps on a six-game road losing streak that includes five-straight in league play in 2018 and the first road game at NC State this season.
Though redshirt senior QB Tyrie Adams has returned to the team after serving a two-game team suspension, it's expected that redshirt sophomore QB Will Jones ? who earned his first career victory as a starting quarterback ? will get the first snaps on Saturday at Chattanooga. Last year, the Mocs smothered the high-octane Catamount offense, limiting WCU to a season-low 238 yards of total offense in the 26-6 victory in Cullowhee. Adams managed just 88 yards passing with just six completions before leaving the game while Jones only managed 68 yards through the air on 3-of-5 passing.
After winning its season-opener over Eastern Illinois, 24-10, the Mocs have dropped three-straight overall ? but two of the losses have been to nationally ranked FCS opposition in #17/18 Jacksonville State and #2 James Madison, with the third loss at FBS-member, Tennessee. According to HeroSports, the Mocs' 2019 schedule to date is the second-toughest in all of NCAA FCS football.
WESTERN CAROLINA vs. CHATTANOOGA ? SERIES HISTORY:
? Western Carolina and Chattanooga meet on the football gridiron for the 46th time in the all-time series history with the Catamounts trailing, 17-28 ... the series dates back to 1973 and the two squads have met every year since, minus one (1974) ... In Chattanooga, the Mocs have won 15 of the 22 series meetings;
? WCU halted a series-long, eight-game losing skid in the series overall with a convincing 45-7 win at Finley Stadium in 2017 ... WCU has dropped 13 of the last 16 overall dating back to 2006 ... WCU last won consecutive games over UTC in Chattanooga in 1992 and 1993;
? WCU did win 5-of-9 meetings from 2000 through 2008 in the series ... the longest win streak for the Catamounts against the Mocs was four-straight (1991-94).
? TWO WALTER PAYTON AWARD CANDIDATES: Two of the top offensive players in the nation could be on display Saturday in Chattanooga ? WCU's redshirt senior QB TYRIE ADAMS and Chattanooga junior WR Bryce Nunnelly ... Both appeared on the preseason watch list for the 2019 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award given annually to the nation's top offensive player ... Adams, the 2019 Preseason SoCon Offensive Player of the Year, finished tied for 19th in last year's final voting.
Game?4:?Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019?? 4:00 pm
Location:?Chattanooga, Tenn. (Finley Stadium / Davenport Field ? 20,668)
Records:?Western Carolina (1-2, 0-1 SoCon) at Chattanooga (1-3, 0-0 SoCon)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Online Video Stream:?ESPN+ (subscription required)
PBP:?Chris Goforth; Color: Scott McMahan
Radio:?Catamount Sports Network
PBP: Gary Ayers; Color: Daniel Hooker; Producer: Jeff Bryson; Sidelines: Greg McLamb
CSN Affiliates:
Cullowhee ? WWCU, 90.5 FM
Sylva ? 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC
Franklin ? 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC
Asheville ? WISE Sports Radio 102.9 FM / 1310 AM
Canton ? WYSE Sports Radio 970 AM
Online: CatamountSports.com
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports) and Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB).
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