Cullowhee, N.C. – Amidst the hues of autumn, two additional colors will dominate the landscape on Saturday as Purple & Gold reigns supreme as Western Carolina welcomes home its alumni for the annual Homecoming game at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The best game day atmosphere in the Southern Conference roars back to life for the first time fully since the devastation of Hurricane Helene as the Catamounts host No. 25/17 Chattanooga on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
 
This week marks a "shakedown Saturday" as the SoCon's four one-loss teams square-off in two mid-afternoon meetings in both Macon, Ga., and Cullowhee. ETSU (3-1) visits Mercer (4-1) with a 3 p.m. kickoff at Five Star Stadium, while the Catamounts (3-1) host Chattanooga (4-1) with the Mocs looking to keep pace in the conference championship race. By day's end two teams in the SoCon will join the five other squads with at least two losses in conference play.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live audio coverage through the Catamount Sports Network. Airtime of the Pepsi Tailgate Show is 1:30 p.m. ahead of the 2:30 p.m. kickoff. On Saturday, fans across Western North Carolina can listen to the game locally on five affiliate frequencies: in Sylva on 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC, "The River" (WRGC.com) and 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC, "Franklin's First Voice" in Franklin (1050WFSC.com); and in Asheville on 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio (wisesportsradio.com). Live streaming audio is available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Fans can additionally follow Saturday's game with live stats accessible online by clicking HERE with timely in-game updates on TwitterX following @Catamounts and @CatamountsFB.
  For a second time since the hurricane ravaged the southeast including western North Carolina, Western Carolina Athletics will again host a "Fill the Truck" initiative, this week supporting the MANNA Foodbank of Asheville which saw its primary facility destroyed by flood waters. Catamount and Mocs fans alike are asked to donate as they see fit with supplies including canned fruits and vegetables, protein sources such as canned chicken and tuna (pouches preferred), and supplies such as plastic cups, cutlery, and paper plates. Donations can be made in front of the Camp Lab Gym on campus with collection bins also available at each gate to receive smaller items. The MANNA Foodbank serves over 220 partner agencies across 16 different counties in western North Carolina.
 
One of the nation's top offenses will meet one of the SoCon's most stingy defenses on Saturday when the Catamounts and Mocs collide. WCU leads the league – and ranks seventh nationally – with an average of 468.6 yards of total offense per game, bolstered by the SoCon-record 801 yards of offense at Furman. Among the nearly 470 yards are a NCAA FCS-best 329.9 passing yards per game
 
Western Carolina (4-4, 3-1 SoCon) looks to shake off a disappointing road loss at nationally-ranked Mercer last week in Macon. The Catamounts jumped in front 24-7 before the Bears rallied with 27 straight points to lead by 10, 34-24, late in the third quarter. WCU managed to claw to within three points twice on a Zion Booker touchdown catch and a season-long 44-yard field goal by Paxton Robertson, but the Mercer ground attack chewed up the remaining seconds with a 31-yard CJ Miller TD rush icing the game.
 
The Catamounts have held leads in each of their four losses this season including double-digit advantages three times – 10-0 against Campbell (L, 24-16), 17-0 at Montana (L, 46-35), and 24-7 at Mercer (L, 44-34) last week.
 
The preseason favorite to win the SoCon in 2024, Chattanooga comes to Cullowhee riding a five-game winning streak after opening the year with a trio of losses. The Mocs suffered a lop-sided affair at nationally-ranked Tennessee (L, 69-3) and a pair of one-possession defeats, falling by three at FBS-foe Georgia State and only mustering three points in a 10-3 loss to Mercer.
 
Much like WCU, the Mocs boast a strong aerial attack as Chattanooga ranks tied for 34th nationally with an average of 228 yards passing per game. Veteran journeyman QB Chase Artopeous has a trio of wide receivers all closing in on the 2,000 career-yard plateau. Junior Javin Whatley, who amassed a school-record 347 all-purpose yards including 231 receiving yards against WCU last season, has 1,959 receiving yards (-41) with Sam Phillips with 1,914 yards (-86) and transfer Chris Domercant with 1,897 yards between Stonehill (Mass.) College and UTC.
 
Didn't someone say something about defense…? Chattanooga ranks second in the league by limiting opponents to 195.2 passing yards per game – 38th nationally – with just eight TD passes surrendered to date. The Mocs have also been ball-hawks this season, second in the SoCon and the NCAA FCS with 14 interceptions, two of which have been carried back for points.
 
Western Carolina trails in the all-time series 19-30 as the two teams that joined the SoCon in the same year – 1976 – meet for the 50th time on Saturday. The Catamounts have earned 11 of their 19 victories at home against the Mocs, and carry a two-game series win streak into the weekend. The last two series meetings have been exciting, one-possession decisions decided by a combined five points.
 
WCU upset then No. 15 Chattanooga in the 2022 regular-season finale as the Catamounts marched 75 yards in 13 plays before TJ Jones plunged in from a yard out on a fourth-and-goal play inside the final minute. On the ensuing drive, Chattanooga used a 23-yard chunk pass play and a 10-yard rush to move into WCU territory – but the Catamount defense held on four straight pass plays after surrendering the mid-field stripe to secure the win.
 
Last year's epic offensive showcase matched the 1987 meeting (UTC, 13-11) for the smallest margin of victory at two points, 52-50. Much like the year prior, it was Chattanooga that scored the go-ahead score with 0:53 showing on the Finley Stadium clock. However, the Catamounts marched into field goal range on three completions with Richard McCollum splitting the uprights from 32 yards away for the walk-off win.
 
Up Next for Catamount Football:
Western Carolina hits the road next week for the gridiron grudge match with mountain-rival East Tennessee State in the "Blue Ridge Border Battle. The Catamounts have won the last two series meetings to retain possession of "The Rock," the traveling trophy in the mountain rivalry. WCU throttled ETSU 58-7 in Cullowhee last November and squeezed out a 20-17 victory in 2022 on a walk-off field goal.
 
Single-game tickets and game day parking passes for WCU's final regular-season home game – the Nov. 16 Hall of Fame / Senior Day match-up with VMI – are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics Ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, or online anytime at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. WCU will honor its Family Weekend, presented by Mast General Store, while also welcoming members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on EBCI Day.
 
Game 9: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024  •  2:30 p.m.
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)  
Records: #25/18 Chattanooga (5-3, 4-1 SoCon) at (RV) Western Carolina (4-4, 3-1 SoCon)
  
BROADCAST INFORMATION: 
Video Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required) / Watch ESPN
PxP: Pete Yanity
Analyst: Daniel Hooker
 
Live Stats Link 
  
Radio: Catamount Sports Network 
PxP: Gary Ayers
Analyst: Daniel Hooker (pregame) / Jeff Bryson
Producer / Host: Jeff Bryson
  
CSN Affiliates: 
Sylva – 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC – wrgc.com
Franklin – 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC – 1050wfsc.com
Asheville – 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio – wisesportsradio.com
Online: CatamountSports.com 
 
Click HERE to Listen to CSN