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Hayward McQueen (5) and CJ Williams (4) combine for a tackle in Saturday's SoCon match-up against Furman.
Mark Haskett

Football

Postgame Notes - vs. #3/4 Furman

Postgame Notes
#3/4 Furman 29, #14/8 Western Carolina 17
E.J. Whitmire Stadium  / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023
Att: 10,736
 
With the Loss:
  • Western Carolina saw its five-game seasonal winning streak snapped while also having its eight-game winning streak against NCAA FCS opponents come to an end … the Catamounts suffered their first loss to an NCAA FCS opponent since Oct. 22, 2022 – both coming at home to teams from the Palmetto State (The Citadel, 2022; Furman, 2023);
  • WCU additionally saw its three-game win streak against NCAA FCS nationally-ranked opponents snapped – the Catamounts had secured wins over No. 15 Chattanooga in 2022 and both No. 7/8 Samford and No. 20/24 Chattanooga this season;
  • Represented WCU's seventh defeat in the last eight series meetings vs. Furman, denying WCU consecutive home victories after winning at home back in 2021;
 Post-Game Notes:
  • Western Carolina's offense finished with 353 yards of total offense, halting a run of five-straight games the Catamounts had eclipsed the 500-yard plateau … the Catamounts were held to just 84 rushing yards, the second-fewest this season after rushing for just 64 yards in the road loss at SEC-foe Arkansas;
  • Sophomore RB Desmond Reid was limited to a handful of snaps on WCU's opening drive on Saturday, exiting the game in the first quarter after re-aggravating an injury suffered in the road win at nationally-ranked Chattanooga … He rushed twice for 10 yards and caught one pass for 39 yards which represented the longest play from scrimmage for the Catamounts;
  • Reid failed to find the end zone in his limited action, snapping his streak of scoring rushing touchdowns at seven-straight games dating back to the 2022 season … Reid remains in a three-way tie for SIXTH in the program's single-season record book, currently with 12 scores – still just FOUR shy of matching the program's single-season record held by Darrell Lipford (16, 1977);
  • Sophomore RB Branson Adams rushed a career-high 13 times on Saturday while matching his career-best of 61 yards for a third time in his career … In a statistical anomaly, Adams has rushed for 61 yards in three-straight games – at The Citadel, at Chattanooga, and against Furman … He also matched his career-best with three receptions out of the backfield;
  • Sophomore QB Cole Gonzales connected on two passing scores on Saturday for his fifth game of the 2023 season connecting on multiple passing touchdowns ... He's had 10 games with multiple passing touchdowns in his WCU career including seven against SoCon foes;
  • With two TD passes on Saturday, Gonzales has 16 passing scores this season to move into a tie for seventh in the school's single-season record book … Gonzales matched Carlos Davis (2022), Tyrie Adams (2018), Mike Pusey (1979), and Don Dalton (1969);
  • Gonzales moved into a tie for SEVENTH in WCU's career record books with his two TD passes on Saturday, giving him 27 over his first two seasons … He is currently tied with former Q Brian Gaither (2000-03);
  • Gonzales has thrown for 1,801 yards this season moving to within 199 yards of 2,000 yards passing;
  • Senior WR David White Jr. recorded a career-high six receptions on Saturday including a 17-yard touchdown catch from Cole Gonzales … For White, it was his eighth career receiving score over the past two seasons at WCU;
  • White Jr. and sophomore Censere Lee both finished with six receptions for 73 yards against Furman;
  • Sophomore AJ Colombo recorded his fifth career receiving score, moving to within one of tying classmate Censere Lee for the team lead this season;
  • Western Carolina's offensive line surrendered three sacks against Furman … Prior to Saturday, WCU had only surrendered three sacks combined through the first six games on the year … It was WCU's first game allowing a sack since Charleston Southern on Sept. 23;
  • Senior LB Va Lealaimatafao recorded a career-high 17 tackles including 10 solo stops in the loss to Furman ... His 17 total hits represented the most by a Catamount defender since Ty Harris also posted 17 stops against Samford back in Nov. 2019;
  • Redshirt senior PK Richard McCollum scored five points in Saturday's loss, connecting on both PATs and a 43-yard field goal … Currently with 262 career points scored, McCollum remains FOURTH-place in program history for career scoring … McCollum is just 16 points shy of third-place (Detrez Newsome, 278 points, 2014-17) and 40 points shy of the program's all-time leader Kirk Roach (302 points, 1984-87);
  • McCollum's season-long 43-yard field goal gives him now has 41 made field goals for his WCU career (41-of-48, 85.4%) as he maintains possession of THIRD all-time in program history … McCollum trails second-place Dean Biasucci (57-of-70, 1980-83) and all-time leader Kirk Roach (71-of-101, 1984-87).
Miscellaneous Notes:
  • WCU's captains for Saturday's game were LB #8 Va Lealaimatafao … TE #11 Ajay Belanger … DB #14 Nick Louis … and TE #86 Clayton Bardall;
  • Joined by representatives from the Veterans Services of the Carolinas carrying flags that represented the branches of America's military, PK #89 Richard McCollum was selected to carry the American flag during the team's pregame entrance;
  • Furman won the opening coin toss and elected to defer … WCU received the opening kickoff.
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Players Mentioned

Carlos Davis

#5 Carlos Davis

QB
6' 3"
Junior
Branson Adams

#22 Branson Adams

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Clayton Bardall

#86 Clayton Bardall

TE
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Ajay Belanger

#11 Ajay Belanger

TE
6' 3"
Senior
AJ Colombo

#0 AJ Colombo

WR
5' 8"
Sophomore
Cole Gonzales

#9 Cole Gonzales

QB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Va Lealaimatafao

#8 Va Lealaimatafao

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Censere Lee

#10 Censere Lee

WR
5' 11"
Sophomore
Nick Louis

#14 Nick Louis

S
6' 2"
Senior
Richard McCollum

#89 Richard McCollum

K
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Desmond Reid

#1 Desmond Reid

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
David White Jr.

#7 David White Jr.

WR
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Carlos Davis

#5 Carlos Davis

6' 3"
Junior
QB
Branson Adams

#22 Branson Adams

5' 9"
Sophomore
RB
Clayton Bardall

#86 Clayton Bardall

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
TE
Ajay Belanger

#11 Ajay Belanger

6' 3"
Senior
TE
AJ Colombo

#0 AJ Colombo

5' 8"
Sophomore
WR
Cole Gonzales

#9 Cole Gonzales

6' 0"
Sophomore
QB
Va Lealaimatafao

#8 Va Lealaimatafao

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Censere Lee

#10 Censere Lee

5' 11"
Sophomore
WR
Nick Louis

#14 Nick Louis

6' 2"
Senior
S
Richard McCollum

#89 Richard McCollum

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
K
Desmond Reid

#1 Desmond Reid

5' 8"
Sophomore
RB
David White Jr.

#7 David White Jr.

6' 4"
Senior
WR