CULLOWHEE, N.C. – A total of 40 players were credited with at least one tackle and the Catamount defense earned stops on 18 of 25 drives on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon scrimmage at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
 
"Like I told them, it's been a long time and very seldom on my teams has the defense won like they did today," said head coach Kerwin Bell. "Usually the defense might get off to a good start but offense usually finds a way. I just loved their attitude, they outplayed the offense. They wanted it more, they were more physical and we tackled extremely well. I'm glad with the improvement on that side of the ball." 
 
Bell added, "I thought the defense won today by far, and if we can continue to grow in that area that's what's going to help us win some big ballgames."
 
The tone for the scrimmage was set on the first drive as the defense forced a three-and-out and had stops on three of the first four series including a drive-stopping tackle in space by Bo Simpson on the fourth drive. All told, the defense forced a total of three three-and-outs with four official turnovers (three interceptions, one strip sack fumble) with another would-be interception blown dead as a result of a sack. The defense recorded eight straight stops to close the scrimmage including all seven drives following a halftime break.
 
Cam Smith had a team-best six tackles as 28 players recorded two or more tackles. Eight players were credited with one sack with Antoine Williams also causing a fumble on his sack. Lee Campbell, Marquis Lymon, and Darian Anderson Jr. each recorded one interception. Jordy Lowery broke up a team-best two passes as eight passes were batted down.
 
A total of five quarterbacks took snaps under center with Charlie Dean leading the way with nine drives. Dean finished 16-for-27 for 239 yards through the air. He recorded a pair of passing touchdowns from 11 and 30 yards out and added another score on the ground on a one-yard rush.  Cole Gonzales led the offense for five drives, going 8-for-13 with a 16-yard touchdown and a pair of interceptions. He also recorded a 24-yard rush. Brody Palhegyi saw action on three drives, going 5-for-7 for 43 yards. Taron Dickens was in charge for three drives, completing four of eight passes for 36 yards. Bennett Judy finished 2-for-4 with nine yards seeing action on two drives.
 
AJ Colombo was credited with a team-best four catches. The Waxhaw, N.C. native tallied 79 yards including an 11-yard touchdown catch from Dean. Censere Lee caught three passes for 71 yards and one touchdown, a 16-yard reception that also came from Gonzales. Corey Washington had a pair of catches for 41 yards highlighted by a 38-yard touchdown reception from Dean.
 
On the ground, Branson Adams had a team-best 15 carries for 74 yards. Markel Townsend ran the ball nine times for 39 yards and had a three-yard touchdown run.
 
Special teams highlights included a 43-yard field goal by Richard McCollum on the second drive as well as a 27-yard field goal during a two-minute drill segment. In a pre-practice drill, punter Stephen Brantley booted a 60-yard punt that landed in the endzone for a touchback as well as a pair of punts that traveled over 40 yards.
 
With Saturday marking the completion of preseason camp and the 2023-24 school year starting on Monday, Bell believes that adapting to the heat will be crucial as the team prepares to begin the 2023 season at Arkansas on Sept. 2.
 
"I think offensively we need to get better in the hot weather," stated Bell. "We've been practicing in the mornings. The sun was really beating down on our big guys up front and we didn't handle it very well. We've been talking about that. We've got to get mentally tougher and physically tougher against the heat and this was a good day. The next two days will be in the afternoon with the sun out and that's going to really help us to adapt and get ready for the first game against Arkansas."

WCU head football coach Kerwin Bell and the other fall sports head coaches will take part in a special Catamount Athletics 2023 Fall Sports Preview presented by Stanberry Insurance on Monday, Aug. 21, beginning at 6 p.m. through the WCU Athletics Facebook page. Each coach will preview their respective upcoming 2023 season including Bell who will outline progress from preseason camp including the second of two scrimmages that was held on Saturday.
 
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).