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Patrick Boyd Jr. rushed for a team-high 59 yards and a touchdown in the win over VMI.
Mark Haskett

Football Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - vs. VMI

Postgame Notes
(– / RV) Western Carolina 58, VMI 28
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024
Att: 13,022
 
With the Win:
  • Western Carolina improved to 26-5 all-time in the series with VMI including a 15-1 mark in games played in Cullowhee … WCU also avenged last year's 27-24 road loss in the 2023 regular-season finale;
  • WCU locked in at least a .500 finish to the regular-season with six wins to date through the 12 game schedule;
  • The Catamounts finished with a 4-1 record in home games this season, finishing 4-0 in SoCon play at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field as the school celebrated 50 years at the stadium;
  • WCU's victory coupled with SoCon losses by both ETSU and Chattanooga left the Catamounts alone in second place in the standings, half a game behind Mercer with one game remaining for both in league play … UTC finished its season at 5-3 as the Mocs step out of league play next weekend … WCU has the chance to finish tied with Mercer at 6-2 with a win at Samford and a Furman win over Mercer;
Post-Game Notes:
  • Western Carolina scored a season-best 58 points in Saturday's victory over VMI marking the team's second 50-point outburst this season – WCU also put up 52 points in the road win at Furman earlier this season;
  • WCU's 41-point first half marked the most points scored in a half since scoring 35 against Furman in the second half on Oct. 19, 2024 … WCU's 35-point second quarter represents the team's best since scoring 28 in the third quarter in a home win against Presbyterian on Sept. 17, 2022;
  • WCU's offense eclipsed the 500-yard mark for the fourth time this season – and the fourth time in the last five games … WCU hit the 300-yard passing mark for the fifth time while rushing for 216 yards – the second-most this season, just two yards shy of the season-high 218 yards against Wofford … the Catamounts matched a season-best 92 plays on offense;
  • The Catamount defense came up with a season-high five takeaways including three interceptions, a fumble, and recovered what amounted to an onside kick on special teams … WCU had three-or-more interceptions for the third-straight game – and have 10;
  • Two Catamounts scored their first career touchdowns on offense – and one defender by returning an interception for a touchdown … Converted wide receiver, RB Patrick Boyd Jr. recorded his first career touchdown by breaking a 28-yard scoring romp in the fourth quarter with QB Jefferson Boaz powering in for a one-yard touchdown rush … Ken Moore Jr. returned a second-quarter interception 34 yards for a touchdown;
  • The interception return for a score by Ken Moore Jr., was the first by a Catamount this season – and the first since Ed Jones IV returned an interception 48 yards for a score at nationally-ranked Chattanooga on Oct. 7, 2023;
  • TE Jake Young caught a career-high six passes for a career-best 74 receiving yards in the win over VMI … Also posting career-high catches were Malik Knight (4) while Jai Boyd (3) matched his career-best;
  • RB Jalynn Williams ran for a pair of touchdowns giving him nine scores in the six games in which he has seen action … He is just one rushing TD shy of making it onto WCU's single-season rushing TD chart – would be tied with three others in 12th with 10 ground scores (Tyrie Adams, 2018; Detrez Newsome, 2016; and David Mayfield, 1986);
  • Christian Lowery matched his career-best with three made field goals against the Keydets, connecting on three against both Campbell and VMI … Lowery scored double-digit points for a second-time this season with a career-high 15 points – 3-for-3 on field goals and 6-for-6 on PATs;
Miscellaneous Notes:
  • Western Carolina's team captains were DL #8 Jaquarius Guinn; DL #19 Chris Morgan; OL #72 Blake Whitmore; and OL #73 Xavier Graham … OL #74 Jordan Daniels carried out the North Carolina state flag and DE #11 Caleb Fisher carried the American flag in the pregame team entry;
  • VMI won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half … WCU received the opening kickoff with VMI defending the south end zone … VMI received the second half kickoff;
  • Saturday's attendance of 13,022 represented the largest attendance this season and the 15th largest crowd in E.J. Whitmire Stadium history as the year-long celebration of 50 years of Whitmire Stadium closed. 
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Players Mentioned

Jai Boyd

#15 Jai Boyd

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Xavier Graham

#73 Xavier Graham

OL
6' 2"
Senior
Ken Moore Jr.

#0 Ken Moore Jr.

CB
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Blake Whitmore

#72 Blake Whitmore

OL
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Jake Young

#87 Jake Young

TE
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Patrick Boyd Jr.

#10 Patrick Boyd Jr.

WR
5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
Caleb Fisher

#11 Caleb Fisher

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Jaquarius Guinn

#8 Jaquarius Guinn

DL
6' 2"
Senior
Ed Jones IV

#7 Ed Jones IV

S
6' 1"
Senior
Malik Knight

#7 Malik Knight

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Chris Morgan

#19 Chris Morgan

DL
6' 0"
Senior
Jalynn Williams

#5 Jalynn Williams

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Jai Boyd

#15 Jai Boyd

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
WR
Xavier Graham

#73 Xavier Graham

6' 2"
Senior
OL
Ken Moore Jr.

#0 Ken Moore Jr.

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
CB
Blake Whitmore

#72 Blake Whitmore

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Jake Young

#87 Jake Young

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
TE
Patrick Boyd Jr.

#10 Patrick Boyd Jr.

5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
WR
Caleb Fisher

#11 Caleb Fisher

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
DL
Jaquarius Guinn

#8 Jaquarius Guinn

6' 2"
Senior
DL
Ed Jones IV

#7 Ed Jones IV

6' 1"
Senior
S
Malik Knight

#7 Malik Knight

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Chris Morgan

#19 Chris Morgan

6' 0"
Senior
DL
Jalynn Williams

#5 Jalynn Williams

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
RB