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The Catamount defense celebrates a stop
2024 WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CHARLIE BULLA

Football Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - vs. Campbell

Postgame Notes
Campbell 24, #17 Western Carolina 16
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
Att: 12,506
 
With the Loss:
  • Western Carolina has dropped its first two games of the 2024 season – and has three-straight losses dating back to last season when coupled with the road defeat at VMI to end 2023;
  • WCU has dropped its last three games as a nationally-ranked team, falling to 28-25-1 since 1983 … the Catamounts are now 12-14-1 on the road as a ranked team and slipped to 16-11-0 at home as a NCAA FCS ranked team;
  • WCU saw its two-game win streak in its home opener snapped … the Catamounts are now 2-2 in the first home game under Kerwin Bell over the past four years;
Post-Game Notes:
  • The announced attendance of 12,506 represents the 18th largest crowd in E.J. Whitmire Stadium history – eclipsing the 12,445 that were on hand in 1991 against Furman and just behind the 12,635 in the Furman meeting in 1985 … WCU opened its season-long celebration of 50 years at Whitmire Stadium with Saturday's game;
  • Western Carolina was held without an offensive touchdown against NCAA FCS competition for just the third time under head coach Kerwin Bell … WCU was limited to four Richard McCollum field goals in the 35-12 road loss at #21 Samford in 2022 … That same season, WCU only managed two Richard McCollum field goals in a lopsided loss at Mercer, 49-6;
  • WCU's 16 points were the third-fewest scored by the Catamounts under Kerwin Bell against like competition over the past four seasons … WCU was held to just six points at Mercer in 2022 and the 12 points at Samford in 2022;
  • The potent Catamount offense was held in check against Campbell, held to just 287 yards of total offense in the one-score loss … WCU's 287 yards are the third-fewest against NCAA FCS competition under Kerwin Bell … the Catamounts were held to 249 yards in the 2022 road loss at Mercer and were held to 277 yards in a 45-17 road defeat at Chattanooga in 2021;
  • Catamount junior QB Cole Gonzales was intercepted four times in the home loss to Campbell, the most in a single game in his WCU career … the four picks came on just 35 pass attempts … Last season, Gonzales only tossed eight interceptions in 310 seasonal pass attempts;
  • With 172 passing yards on Saturday, Cole Gonzales moved into WCU's career Top 10 with 4,522 career yards, surpassing Willie Perkins (4,449 yards from 1982-86) … Gonzales sets his sights on eighth-place Ronnie Mixon (5,099 yards from 1979-82);
  • Gonzales is now also eighth in WCU history for total offense with 4,965 yards, eclipsing Ronnie Mixon (4,845 yards, 1979-82) … He is just 177 yards away from seventh-place Don Dalton (5,142 yards from 1966-69);
  • RB #6 Corey Reddick gave the Catamounts a lift off the bench in the run game, rushing seven times for 52 yards … His seven rushes were the second-most of his career – he had nine carries against Presbyterian back in 2022;
  • Transfer kicker #96 Christian Lowery accounted for 10 of WCU's 16 points … He connected on a single-game career-best three field goals including boots of 25 yards, 31 yards, and a career-long 47 yards;
  • Punter #95 Stephen Brantley tallied a season-long 49-yard punt against Campbell, averaging 47.3 yards per kick with three punts;
  • DB #3 Samaurie Dukes recorded a career-high 12 tackles including 10 solo stops in Saturday's matchup with Campbell … DB #1 Mateo Sudipo returned to form and likewise posted his career-best with 10 total stops with six unassisted tackles;
  • Including the first two sacks of his WCU career – the first coming on the first play from scrimmage – LB #18 Antarron Turner recorded a career-high eight tackles including two for loss on the sacks – the first of his collegiate career … LB #47 Blue Monroe matched Turner with a career-best two tackles for loss;
  • The Catamounts recorded a total of 7.0 tackles for loss … Coupled with the nine TFLs in the season-opener at NC State, the Catamounts have 16.0 tackles for loss this season – second in the SoCon and tied for eighth in the NCAA FCS;
  • Western Carolina's defense came up with two interceptions against Campbell – DB #4 CJ Williams tallied his second career INT and DB #16 Jordy Lowery recorded his first career interception, returning the pick 24 yards … WCU's two interception game is the first of the season – and the sixth multi-pick game over the past four seasons under head coach Kerwin Bell.
 
Miscellaneous Notes:
  • WCU's captains for Saturday's game were senior LB #15 Antoine Williams, DL #19 Chris Morgan, #73 Xavier Graham … K #46 Paxton Robertson carried the American flag out during the pregame entrance;
  • WCU wore its white jerseys over white pants marking the second of four-consecutive weeks that the Catamounts will wear the white jersey … It was the 10th time under Kerwin Bell that WCU wore the white/white look, dropping its second-straight to see its record go to 6-4;
  • Western Carolina welcomed home over 200 former football student-athletes, honored at halftime by the decade in which they played at WCU … the son and grandson of the late E.J. Whitmire for whom the stadium was named took part in the pregame ceremony with the pregame coin toss;
  • WCU won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half … Campbell received the opening kickoff.
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Players Mentioned

Richard McCollum

#89 Richard McCollum

K
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Xavier Graham

#73 Xavier Graham

OL
6' 2"
Senior
Paxton Robertson

#46 Paxton Robertson

K
6' 0"
Senior
Mateo Sudipo

#1 Mateo Sudipo

S
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Antarron Turner

#18 Antarron Turner

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
CJ Williams

#4 CJ Williams

CB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Stephen Brantley

#95 Stephen Brantley

P
6' 2"
Sophomore
Samaurie Dukes

#3 Samaurie Dukes

CB
5' 10"
Junior
Cole Gonzales

#9 Cole Gonzales

QB
6' 0"
Junior
Jordy Lowery

#16 Jordy Lowery

CB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Blue Monroe

#47 Blue Monroe

LB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Chris Morgan

#19 Chris Morgan

DL
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Richard McCollum

#89 Richard McCollum

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
K
Xavier Graham

#73 Xavier Graham

6' 2"
Senior
OL
Paxton Robertson

#46 Paxton Robertson

6' 0"
Senior
K
Mateo Sudipo

#1 Mateo Sudipo

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
S
Antarron Turner

#18 Antarron Turner

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
LB
CJ Williams

#4 CJ Williams

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
CB
Stephen Brantley

#95 Stephen Brantley

6' 2"
Sophomore
P
Samaurie Dukes

#3 Samaurie Dukes

5' 10"
Junior
CB
Cole Gonzales

#9 Cole Gonzales

6' 0"
Junior
QB
Jordy Lowery

#16 Jordy Lowery

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
CB
Blue Monroe

#47 Blue Monroe

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
LB
Chris Morgan

#19 Chris Morgan

6' 0"
Senior
DL