Cullowhee, N.C. – The traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the annual gridiron grudge match, the "Blue Ridge Border Battle" is again on the line this Saturday as Western Carolina, riding a three-game winning streak, remains at home at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field to host the first place and nationally-ranked ETSU Buccaneers. WCU also celebrates its Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day with kickoff of the final home game of the season scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Tickets for Saturday's conference match-up are available in advance through the Athletics ticket office located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center; by calling (800) 34-GOWCU; or online with the option to print from home through CatamountSports.com. The ticket booth at Gate 1 at the stadium also opens at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday for walk-up sales on game day.
Saturday's game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network (CSN) with an airtime of the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 1:00 pm. Fans across western North Carolina can hear the game locally on seven CSN affiliates: in Sylva, 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River"; 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 51st all-time series meeting between WCU and ETSU will be
broadcast live on ESPN3 (
cable subscription required) with Kyle Rush and Phil Cox on the call. Fans can also follow the game with live stats accessible online at CatamountSports.com with timely in-game updates on Twitter using @Catamounts and @CatamountsFB.
Winners of three-straight league games for the first-time since 2015 and amidst its longest win streak since opening the 2018 season with three-straight wins, Western Carolina looks to continue its recent trend of streak snapping. This fall, the Catamounts have ended a myriad of skids – and seek to end a five-game slide against nationally-ranked FCS opponents that dates back to 2017 and includes a road loss at Chattanooga earlier this season. WCU's last win against a ranked opponent came in Cullowhee with an exciting 38-34 home win over then No. 17 Samford.
The Buccaneers (8-1, 5-1 SoCon) enter Saturday's game looking to keep pace with in-state foe Chattanooga and Mercer who are all among a three-way tie atop the league standings. UTC and Mercer meeting in Macon, Ga., on Saturday with the Bucs hosting the Bears to end the year in Johnson City. ETSU remains the highest-ranked SoCon team in both the Stats Perform FCS poll – ranked 11th – and in the NCAA FCS Coaches Poll, ranked 12th nationally.
Behind a two-headed rushing attack of backs Quay Holmes – who leads the SoCon at 120.8 rushing yards per game – and Jacob Saylors who ranks eighth with an average of 74.0 yards per game, the Buccaneers have a balanced offensive attack that ranks third in the SoCon at 431.6 yards per game. ETSU counters with one of the stingier defenses in the league, limiting foes to just 18.6 points per game – the second-best in the conference – on just an average of 340 yards of total offense.
ETSU will see a stiff challenge on Saturday, though, as Western Carolina's offense has scored 41-or-more points in each of its three-straight wins and boasts the SoCon's top passing attack at 301.4 yards per game – 10th in the NCAA FCS. The Catamounts add 145.3 rushing yards per game to rank second in total offense on the season, averaging 446.8 yards per game behind QB
Rogan Wells who ranks second in both passing (258.7 yds/gm) and total offense (318.4 yds/gm).
Six of the top defenders in the SoCon will be on display in Cullowhee on Saturday – three wearing Purple & Gold and a trio in the road white. WCU's
Kareem Taylor is tied with ETSU's Donovan Manuel with an average of 9.1 tackles per game, with veteran Jared Folks for the Bucs averaging 7.7 hits per game in fifth. WCU defensive back
Jacob Harris ranks 11th with 6.8 tackles per game, while
Ivan Hogans averages just over six stops per game and has 10.0 tackles for loss, matching ETSU's Jalen Porter.
Kickoff is slated for 2:00 pm.
Western Carolina vs. ETSU – All-Time Series:
The Catamounts lead the competitive head-to-head series with ETSU, 25-24-1 … the series was dormant from 2003 until 2016 after ETSU dropped its football program … the two mountain rivals have split the last eight series meetings evenly with two games needing overtime to decide the victor – a 23-20 overtime win by WCU in Cullowhee in the most recent meeting held at Whitmire Stadium in 2019 and a 45-43 triple-OT thriller in Johnson City, Tenn., won by ETSU back in 2018 … Including the two overtime games, five of the last six series meetings have been decided by just one score.
Game 10: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 • 2:00 pm
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)
Records: No. 11/12 ETSU (8-1, 5-1 SoCon) at Western Carolina (3-6, 3-3 SoCon)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV / Video Stream: ESPN3 (
cable subscription required)
PBP: Kyle Rush; Color: Phil Cox
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
PBP: Gary Ayers; Color: Greg McLamb; Producer: Jeff Bryson
CSN Affiliates:
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).
Things to Know Before You Go:
Where to Park:
• Parking lots open at 8:00 am on Saturday, Nov. 13 … Tailgating begins at 10:30 am, pursuant with University Policy 101;
•
General Admission parking: H.F. Robinson Building and both the North Baseball Parking Deck and the South Baseball Lot … Access to the HFR lot is through the main entrance – to access the North and South Baseball Lots, turn left onto FOREST HILLS ROAD (third stoplight, near Ramsey Center) ... Parking –
especially for visiting fans – is also available down Little Savannah Road behind the Catamount Travel Center and past the Cullowhee Post Office at the WCU Health & Human Science (HHS) parking lots (FREE SHUTTLE beginning at Noon, see below) … It is also suggested that fans consider taking Old Cullowhee Road to the old entrance to the WCU campus and utilize parking in the lots behind Hunter Library for game day;
•
Catamount Club Reserved Parking Lots (
parking pass required) include: Camp Lab (Lot13), Belk (Lot14), Jordan-Phillips Field House (Lot12), Football Stadium (Lot10), Creek (Lot9C) Lot, and Camp Lab Festival Parking (Lot4A) ... All patrons with parking passes should enter the main entrance of the WCU campus, display parking credential to gain access to their designated, assigned parking lots;
•
Student Tailgating Lot (
pass required): Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center Lots (Lot 13) … those spaces are reserved on-campus by student organizations for each game day … Reminders that set-up is not allowed until 10:30 am when the lot opens and glass beverage containers are not permitted in WCU's tailgating lots;
Note: WCU Parking & Transportation will run a FREE "Tailgate Express" CatTran Shuttle for each home football game this year. Vehicles will be directed to park at the Health & Human Services (HHS) Lot and HHS Adjacent Lot down Little Savannah Road where patrons will be picked up. The FREE shuttle will transport fans to both the Ramsey Center circle drive for West Side seating and Gate 1 entrance for patrons with East Side tickets. Shuttles will also be available after the game for return trips to these lots. Please note: this is not a shuttle around campus – just to and from the parking lots.
The Catamount Club:
• The Purple Zone (
requires RSVP): Located on the Ramsey Center Patio – is open from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm;
• Paws Porch (
requires a ticket, access credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Fieldhouse; doors open at 1:30 pm;
• Catamount Corner (
requires a ticket, access credential): Located on the Northwest patio of the Ramsey Center; opens at 1:30 pm.
Where to Buy Tickets:
•
Purchase – and PRINT – tickets in advance through CatamountSports.com … Avoid any lines at the ticket windows on game day and purchase tickets in advance!
On Game Day:
• WCU Athletic Ticket Office: (828) 227-2401 – phone lines open beginning at 10:00 am until Noon for ticket information and phone orders ONLY – NO WALK-UP SALES through the Ramsey Center Ticket Office;
• Gate 1 Ticket Sales on the West Side of the stadium open at 10:00 am for walk-up sales;
• Ticket sales at all other gates begin at Noon – Gates 2, 3, and 4;
• All stadium gates open to the public at 12:30 pm ... Gate 6 for Player Pass also opens at 12:30 pm;
• Per University policy, face coverings are required indoors in all university buildings – and are encouraged in high density areas where physical distancing can't be accomplished;
• Please be reminded, WCU Athletics will enforce
a clear bag policy this season. Only standard clear bags, 12-inches by 6-inches by 12-inches in size, small purses approximately 4.5-inches by 5-inches not including the strap, and clear gallon size storage bags are permitted. Diaper bags (child must be present upon entry) and any medical-related bags will be allowed …
All bags are subject to screening before admittance into the stadium.
WILL CALL:
• Remember to
bring proper photo identification to pick up tickets at WCU's Will Call;
• Main Will Call for picking up purchased tickets or tickets being left for pick-up is at Gate 1. However, fans are able to receive Will Call at any entrance gate ticket booth;
• Guests of WCU Chancellor's Office can pick up tickets at Will Call at Gate 4;
• WCU Football Player's Guest will utilize Gate 6 (as well as Dance/Cheer Guests) ... Those who are on the player pass list must show a photo ID to pick up tickets. Player Pass Will Call does not open until 12:30 pm when the stadium gates are open … Once the player pass tickets are picked up, they are scanned, and the individual MUST enter the stadium;
• Football Recruits: North Concourse, enter the Southeast doors of the Ramsey Center. Arrivals after 9:30 am, please go to Gate 6;
• All Other WCU Recruits: Gate 6;
• High School Coaches: Present card to any ticket booth and receive up to TWO free admission tickets ... Pick up tickets from any ticket booth -- not the player pass location.
TICKET PRICES:
•
Chair Back Reserved: Adult $35 Youth (Ages 3-12) $25 – Sections DD, JJ, KK, LL;
•
Bench Back Reserved: Adult $30 Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 – Sections JJ, MM;
•
Bleacher Reserved: Adult $30, Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 – Sections D, E, F, J, K, L
•
General Admission – Game Day: Adult $20, Youth (Ages 3-12) $15 – Sections G, GG
•
Full-time WCU Students: Free with valid CatCard ID;
•
WCU Student Guest Tickets: $13 (WCU students can purchase up to 2 guest tickets and sit in the student section)
Other Helpful Game Day Hints:
• BRING CASH – though WCU's ticket booths and the concessions stand at Whitmire Stadium
are capable of credit/debit card transactions, lines for the popular stadium fare can back up ... There will be extra CASH-ONLY lines for items such as drinks on game day;
• Arrive early to avoid long lines entering Whitmire Stadium ... Also, numerous gates allow entry to the stadium -- familiarize yourself with the best gates to get you to your seats for all the pregame festivities;
• Be sure to enjoy a variety of stadium fare at the Catamount Dining concessions stands, proudly serving ice-cold Pepsi products … Fans can also enjoy concession items from Bojangles and Tubby's Popcorn & More out of Cherokee.
Game Day Promotions:
• WCU will celebrate its
annual Hall of Fame Day with a special Saturday morning ceremony in the Grand Room of the Hinds University Center beginning with a reception at 8:15 a.m. and the ceremony –
which is open to the public – slated for 9:30 a.m. Six inductees from the last two induction classes will be honored including
Beth Crisp (women's basketball & softball, 1977-81),
Joe C. Love (football, 1964-69), and
David Rathburn (football, 1971-74) from the Class of 2020;
Gerald Austin (career achievement, WCU 1964-69),
Paul Menhart (baseball, 1988-90; 2003-05) and
Harvey Walker (football 1969-70; 1975-76) … … the on-field presentation is slated to take place between the first and second quarters;
• RELATED LINK:
Western Carolina's 2021 Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced
• RELATED LINK:
Trio of Student-Athlete Alum Mark 2020 WCU Hall of Fame Class
• Western Carolina will honor the senior members of the Catamount football team, Catamount Cheerleaders, WCU Dance Team, and "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band during Saturday's final home game;
• Gather with other Purple & Gold clad faithful to cheer on the Catamounts during the "Cat Walk" to the stadium at approximately 11:45 am in the Stadium and Field House parking lots;
• The "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band, WCU Dance Team, and Catamount cheerleaders pregame march to the stadium begins at approximately 12:55 pm;
• The WCU Game Day Information Booth opens at 12:30 pm just inside of Gate 1 … the WCU Bookstore will be on hand selling WCU merchandise outside of Gate 6 at the stadium;
• At halftime, the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band will perform their show to the East Side stands with an encore presentation following Saturday's game.
