Cullowhee, N.C. – Working through a total of 22 situational series on a hot, sun-splashed Saturday afternoon on the turf at Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Western Carolina football saw 12 series result in offensive points while the defense combined for 10 stops as the Catamounts concluded their second preseason scrimmage as a part of its 2024 fall camp.
 
Saturday's scrimmage saw a variety of starting field positions ranging from coming off its own five-yard line to goalline scenarios. The teams rotated a variety of players as WCU's coaching staff continued to evaluate the roster ahead of the Aug. 29 season-opener at NC State.
 
The Catamount offense recorded 11 touchdowns and added a 39-yard Paxton Robertson field goal, while the defense recorded 10 stops including four, three-and-outs. WCU's quarterbacks tossed a combined 10 touchdown passes with local product RB Joshua Collins posting the lone score on the ground with a three-yard rush in the short-yardage scenario.
 
The defense also tallied a pair of interceptions as linebacker Christian Murphy snared a deflection by Antoine Williams for a drive-halting pick, and Samaurie Dukes – who returned to practice this week – thwarted a would-be two-point play with an interception at the goal line.
 
WCU's offense posted a scrimmage-best string of four consecutive scores that included a pair of 95-yard scoring marches and a one-play, 40-yard TD strike. The defense had its best run of three straight stops that included a three-and-out and halting a drive just outside the offensive red zone.
 
Four quarterbacks split reps on Saturday, three facing live scrimmage action without the protected red jersey. Projected starter Cole Gonzales completed 11-of-18 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, while redshirt freshman Taron Dickens was an efficient and impressive 8-for-9 for a scrimmage-best 201 yards and four touchdown passes.
 
Junior transfer QB Jefferson Boaz completed 4-of-9 passes for 45 yards and a pair of scores, while redshirt freshman Bennett Judy was 5-for-14 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Boaz added 25 rushing yards.
 
WCU's offense finished Saturday's scrimmage with 643 total yards including 493 through the air with 13 players recording catches and 150 rushing yards spread between eight ball carriers. Seven different Catamounts caught touchdown passes with three – veteran WR Calvin Jones, freshman WR Isaiah Johnson, and TE Jake Young – each hauling in two scores apiece. Young (4-35 yds) and WR James Tyre (4-48 yds) both caught a team-best four passes with Johnson catching three for a team-high 108 yards with his two scores. Calique Cunningham and Matthew Keener were both credited with two receptions for 42 and 24 yards, respectively.
 
Also among Saturday's aerial highlights were three catches for 45 yards by WR Santana Fleming and WR Malik Knight who caught two passes for 63 yards and a TD. Also recording scores were Collins, newcomer WR Jemarious Reaves, and TE David Hulbert.
 
On the ground, RB Branson Adams rushed for 60 yards on six carries with Collins posting a scrimmage-high 12 rushes, scoring in the goal line scenarios from three yards out. Marlin Cochran rushed four times for 13 yards with freshly-added transfer back Jalen Ibrahim seeing action in a protected red jersey as he gets up to practice form. WR Isaiah Johnson also added a 15-yard rush on an end-around jet sweep. WCU's quarterbacks additionally tacked on 45 total rushing yards with the three QBs facing live tackling.
 
On the other side of the ball, a combined 28 different defenders were credited with tackles on Saturday including 18 with two or more stops. The Catamount defense recorded eight tackles for loss with four players combining for three quarterback sacks and recorded five quarterback hurries. In addition to the two interceptions, the secondary posted four pass breakups.
 
Senior linebacker Antoine Williams was credited with a team-high five tackles with both Jhamari Pierre-Louis and Samaurie Dukes posting four stops. Justin Wallace recorded a pair of tackles for loss among his three combined stops, matched by freshmen Jaden Meeks and Jordan Cardentey with three tackles apiece. Meeks recorded two behind the line of scrimmage with Cardentey also charting a TFL. Christian Murphy added a pair of tackles with one for loss to accompany his deflection interception, adding a hurry.
 
Defensive back Ken Moore Jr. and LB Hayward McQueen Jr. were both credited with three tackles on defense.
 
On special teams, three kickers split reps on field goals and PATs with transfer Christian Lowery connecting on his three point-after attempts. Robertson added two PATs to accompany his 39-yard field goal while Catamount kicking legacy Corbin Shirley converting two point after tries. Punters Stephen Brantley and Maddox Cowart alternated as holders on special teams, corralling the snaps from both Colby Cross and Walter Gibson.
 
Returning Saturday evening to watch the afternoon scrimmage, the Catamounts break from the practice field the next two days, opening its seasonal practice schedule on Tuesday. Practices on campus will be held most afternoons beginning at 4:30 p.m., with Monday typically set as the squad's designated off day.
 
Each of WCU's preseason football practices is open to the public. It is respectfully requested that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety. Practice times are subject to change.
 
WCU opens the 2024 season in a pre-Labor Day meeting in the state capital against No. 24/22 NC State scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with the Pepsi Pregame Show airing at 6 p.m. and televised on the ACC Network.
 
Both season and single-game tickets for the five home dates in #CatamountCountry remain on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Fans can also purchase tickets and game day parking in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
 
2024 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Sun., Aug. 18 – No Practice – Welcome Back / Team Building
Mon., Aug. 19 – First Day of Fall Classes at WCU
Tues., Aug. 20 – In-season practice schedule – 4:30 p.m.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).

Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Sun., Aug. 18 – Catamount Women's Soccer Home-Opener – vs. UNC Asheville (7 pm)
Mon., Aug. 19 – First day of classes for the fall semester – Cullowhee
Fri., Aug. 23 – Catamount Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey, 6 pm)
Mon., Aug. 26 – Premiere of Catamount Football Weekly from Rodgers Bros., 6 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 29 – 2024 Catamount Football season-opener at NC State (Raleigh, 7 pm)
Fri., Sept. 6 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Sequoyah National Golf Club (Cherokee, N.C.)
Sat., Sept. 7 – 2024 Catamount Football home-opener, vs. Campbell (1 pm, updated)