Samaurie Dukes (3) celebrates one of his two interceptions in Saturday's win over ETSU.

Mark Haskett

Football 11/11/2023 10:30:00 PM

Postgame Notes - vs. ETSU (Blue Ridge Border Battle)

Postgame Notes
#21/17 Western Carolina 58, ETSU 7
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023
Att: 11,019

With the Win:

Western Carolina won its second-straight game in the "Blue Ridge Border Battle" against ETSU, retaining the traveling trophy, "the Rock" for the second year in a row, coming on the heels of ETSU winning back-to-back trophy games … WCU extended its slim lead in the competitive head-to-head series to 27-25-1;
Gave the Catamounts a seventh seasonal victory, raising the record to 7-3 overall on the season, the best second-year under head coach Kerwin Bell … the seven wins eclipse last year's six-win season and are the most for a WCU football team since winning seven in 2017
WCU head coach Kerwin Bell earned his 110th career victory, moving to 17-15 all-time in Cullowhee;

Post-Game Notes:

Western Carolina scored a series-high 58 points in Saturday's victory, eclipsing the previous mark of 56 set by ETSU in Cullowhee back in 2021 … the 51-point margin of victory is also the largest for either team in series history, usurping the previous benchmark of 39 by WCU in 2017 (49-10);
The Catamounts amassed a season-best 687 yards of total offense in the win over ETSU … It was the second time this season that WCU has recorded 600+ yards of total offense – both coming against Buccaneers as the Catamounts had 683 yards of offense against Charleston Southern earlier this season … WCU has recorded 500-or-more yards of total offense a combined 18 times under the Bell offense – that now includes SEVEN games over 600 yards including a school-record 766 yards vs. Presbyterian (2022);
WCU's 687 yards of offense included a season-best – and program-record – 513 passing yards, surpassing the previous benchmark of 474 that was established against Emory & Henry back in 1969 before being matched against Wofford in 2000;
Under Kerwin & Kade Bell, the Catamounts have scored 30-or-more points in 19 of the 32 games and have recorded 40-or-more points 11 times ... Over the past three seasons, WCU has amassed 1,096 total points in 32 games (356 in 11 games in 2021; 351 in 11 games in 2022; 389 in 10 games in 2023), averaging 34.25 points per game;
Western Carolina's offense has 5,105 yards of total offense through 10 regular-season games … the Catamounts are just 234 yards shy of the single-season record of 5,339 yards set a year ago in the 2022 season;
WCU fifth-year senior offensive lineman Tyler Smith continued his impressive streak of consecutive starts, extending his stretch to 53-straight starts among his 57 career games played;
Four Catamounts made their career debuts in the home win over ETSU – freshman QB Bennett Judy, freshman LB Jeno Junius Jr., freshman WR Eric Rasheed, and redshirt freshman PK Corbin Shirley each saw their first career action … Both Rasheed and Shirley are WCU football legacies as their fathers – Eric (WR, 1981-84) and Phil (K, 1991-94);
RB Branson Adams had a career day, producing his first career 100-yard rushing performance, rushing 17 times for a career-best 110 yards with a touchdown … He also caught seven passes for 73 yards and a score, finishing with a career-best 183 all-purpose yards;
Sophomore QB Cole Gonzales tallied his third, 300-yard passing game of the season with 363 yards on 25-of-38 attempts and matched his career-high for a third time with five touchdown passes, equaling his previous highs set against Charleston Southern and Mercer this season ... It's the second time in three games that Gonzales has thrown five TD passes;
Gonzales added to his school-record single-season total for touchdown passes, now with 28 this season – a number that LEADS the NCAA FCS … With his five TD passes, Gonzales additionally moved into a tie for 10th-place in SoCon single-season history (Todd Doman, Marshall – 28 in 1994; Scott Riddle, Elon – 28 in 2010) and is just eight TD passes shy of the SoCon's single-season record of 36 accomplished twice – by Samford's Devlin Hodges (2016) and Michael Hiers (2022);
Gonzales has thrown a touchdown pass in NINE-consecutive games including nine of the 10 games this season with eight multiple-TD passing games … He's also thrown a scoring pass in 13-straight NCAA FCS games dating back to last season including 12 multi-TD games during that stretch;
Gonzales continues to climb on WCU's career record books with his five TD passes vs. ETSU giving him 39 over his first two seasons, tying him for fourth place with Don Dalton (39, 1966-69) … Gonzales is just FOUR shy of third-place Mike Pusey (43, 1977-79), 11 shy of second-place Troy Mitchell (40, 2012-15), and just 25 shy of WCU's single-season record-holder Tyrie Adams (64, 2016-19);
Gonzales has thrown for 2,781 yards this season through 10 games to rank THIRD in WCU's single-season record book – he is just 212 passing yards shy of record-holder Jeff Gilbert (2,993 yards in 1983) … With 4,117 career passing yards through the ETSU game, Gonzales moved into 11th on WCU's career passing chart, by-passing Todd Cottrell (11th with 3,933 yards – 1987-89) … Gonzales is just 91 yards shy of entering WCU's career Top 10 as a sophomore, zeroing in on former QB Jimmy Williams (4,208 yards, 1964-66);
Sophomore WR Censere Lee caught a TD pass for a second-straight game giving him EIGHT on the season which moves him into a tie for eighth in WCU's single-season record books … Lee matches Owen Cosenke (8, 2018), Michael Banks (8, 2000), and Kerry Hayes (8, 1992);
With 787 receiving yards this season, Censere Lee is just 213 yards shy of 1,000 – and is just 172 yards shy of 10th place on WCU's all-time single-season receiving yards chart … His 45 receptions are 15 shy of 12th-place in the season record book;
On Senior Day, FOUR seniors found their way into the endzone with five registering points (see below) … senior WR David White caught pair of TD passes of 40 and five yards, senior TE Ajay Belanger hauled in a 31-yard touchdown, while; redshirt senior Clayton Bardall caught a 27-yard scoring strike from QB Brody Palhegyi;

Sophomore DB Samaurie Dukes recorded a career-best two interceptions against ETSU giving him three for his career … Redshirt freshman DB Darian Anderson Jr., recorded his first career interception coming on a deflection at the line of scrimmage;
WCU's defense created four turnovers in the win over ETSU – three interceptions and a fumble that was forced by senior Marlon Alexander and recovered by graduate transfer De'Vuntray Hampton … the four takeaways were the most for WCU this season – and the most by a Catamount defense since forcing four (3 interceptions, 1 fumble) in the road win at VMI in 2021;
WCU had 29 defenders record statistics in the winning effort against ETSU;
Western Carolina's defense blanked ETSU over three and a half quarters, limiting the Buccaneers to an opponent-season-low of 215 yards of total offense … WCU held a second opponent under 100 yards rushing with just 83 yards … Over the past two seasons under DC Chazmon Scales, WCU's defense has held opponents to 100-or-fewer rushing yards SIX times – including a low of 46 yards vs. Samford earlier this year ... Three of the fi ve came in SoCon play (VMI–76 yds in 2022; Wofford–80 yds in 2022; Samford–46 yds in 2023; ETSU – 83 yds in 2023);
Western Carolina redshirt senior PK Richard McCollum scored 16 points in Saturday's win over ETSU, connecting on three field goals of 32, 41, and 24 yards, while adding seven PATs in WCU's 58-7 victory in the "Blue Ridge Border Battle" ... It's the second time this season McCollum has kicked three successful field goals in a game this year, matching what he did earlier this season in the win over Samford;
Currently with 294 career points scored, McCollum moved into SECOND-PLACE in program history for career scoring, by-passing former RB Detrez Newsome (4th, 278 points, 2014-17) and PK Dean Biasucci (3rd, 280, 1980-83) ... McCollum will enter the 2023 regular-season finale at VMI just EIGHT points shy of the program's all-time leading scorer, three-time All-America and four-time All-SoCon selection Kirk Roach (302 points, 1984-87);
McCollum's three field goals against ETSU give him 47 made field goals for his WCU career (47-of-54, 87.0%) 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 senior WR #7 David White, redshirt senior OL #74 Tyler Smith, redshirt senior TE #86 Clayton Bardall, and graduate student DL #90 Marlon Alexander … Senior RB #34 Quenten Zanders carried the American flag during the team's entrance on Saturday;
WCU wore its purple jerseys over its purple pants on Saturday marking the second-time this season since the Catamounts added purple pants back to the mix this year … WCU improved to 2-0 in the purple/purple look;
Before the game, Western Carolina recognized 20 football player seniors: #0 Bryce Wilson, #2 Rod Gattison, #5 Jalynn Williams, #6 Terrence Horne, #7 David White Jr., #8 Va Lealaimatafao, #11 Ajay Belanger, #14 Nick Louis, #19 Jayelin Davis, #27 Skylin Thomas, #29 De'Vuntray Hampton, #31 Tyler Matheny, #34 Quenten Zanders, #52 Antwann Fann, #70 Christian Coulter, #74 Tyler Smith, #86 Clayton Bardall, #89 Richard McCollum, #90 Richard McCollum, and #99 Ronald Wilson … During the game, Catamount Cheerleading seniors Marissa Clontz and Becca Kilpatrick and WCU Dance Team members Alex Henry and Madison Tadlock were recognized … Following their halftime performance, senior members of the "Pride of the Mountains" marching band were honored;
ETSU won the opening coin toss and elected to defer … Western Carolina received the opening kickoff with ETSU getting the football to start the second half.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Branson Adams: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#90 Marlon Alexander: DL; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

#13 Darian Anderson Jr.: CB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#86 Clayton Bardall: TE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#11 Ajay Belanger: TE; 6' 3"; Senior

#70 Christian Coulter: OL; 6' 5"; Senior

#19 Jayelin Davis: DE; 6' 0"; Senior

#3 Samaurie Dukes: CB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#52 Antwann Fann: OL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Rod Gattison: CB; 6' 0"; Senior

#9 Cole Gonzales: QB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#6 Terrence Horne: WR; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#22 Branson Adams
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#90 Marlon Alexander
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: DL

#13 Darian Anderson Jr.
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: CB

#86 Clayton Bardall
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: TE

#11 Ajay Belanger
: 6' 3"; Senior
: TE

#70 Christian Coulter
: 6' 5"; Senior
: OL

#19 Jayelin Davis
: 6' 0"; Senior
: DE

#3 Samaurie Dukes
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: CB

#52 Antwann Fann
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: OL

#2 Rod Gattison
: 6' 0"; Senior
: CB

#9 Cole Gonzales
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: QB

#6 Terrence Horne
: 5' 8"; Senior
: WR

Western Carolina University

Schedule

Postgame Notes - vs. ETSU (Blue Ridge Border Battle)

Players Mentioned

#22 Branson Adams

#90 Marlon Alexander

#13 Darian Anderson Jr.

#86 Clayton Bardall

#11 Ajay Belanger

#70 Christian Coulter

#19 Jayelin Davis

#3 Samaurie Dukes

#52 Antwann Fann

#2 Rod Gattison

#9 Cole Gonzales

#6 Terrence Horne

Players Mentioned

#22 Branson Adams

#90 Marlon Alexander

#13 Darian Anderson Jr.

#86 Clayton Bardall

#11 Ajay Belanger

#70 Christian Coulter

#19 Jayelin Davis

#3 Samaurie Dukes

#52 Antwann Fann

#2 Rod Gattison

#9 Cole Gonzales

#6 Terrence Horne