Cullowhee, N.C. – Returning quarterbacks Taron Dickens and Bennett Judy both tossed scoring strikes and Branon Adams plunged in from four yards out as Western Carolina's White Team downed the Purple Squad 21-14 on Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts held their annual Spring Game on a sun-splashed afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
 
Dickens completed 7-of-12 passes for a scrimmage-best 151 yards including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Johnson on the opening possession to lead the White Team. Judy was 9-for-16 for 75 yards with a second-half 10-yard touchdown pass to TE David Hulbert that gave their squad their largest lead at 21-7.
 
The Purple Team scored on a 48-yard touchdown romp by converted tailback Patrick Boyd Jr., and true freshman quarterback Jordan Martin-Durham threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman WR Austin Cunningham. The Purple Squad had the football on the game's final possession looking for the equalizing score when DB Zayveon Wells produced an interception on the scrimmage's final play.
 
Saturday's Spring Game featured 20 total drives between the two squads, five of which ended in touchdowns for the respective offensive units. There were eight punts, two turnovers on downs, four interceptions, and one drive that ended at the half.
 
"I thought that our guys competed, which is what I wanted to see. We were pretty organized; we played a lot of guys with the two teams split up. I just wanted to see them execute, which I feel we did for the most part today," said WCU head football coach Kerwin Bell following Saturday's two-hour workout. "It came down to the last play, 21-14 – so it was a very competitive game. I thought that our kids had fun coming out here."
 
Bell added, "We've worked hard the last three weeks. I like where our team is, but we've got to continue to get better. We're a long way from where we can be potential-wise. We've got the potential, now we've got to make sure that we get there as a football team over these next few months."
 
Eight different receivers caught passes for the White Team with WR Jemarious Reaves and RB Anthony Benjamin leading the way with four catches apiece. WR Jai Boyd caught three passes for a scrimmage-best 107 yards. The remaining five receptions were spread among five players with WR Davontis Clements, WR Isaiah Johnson, WR James Tyre, TE David Hulbert, and RB Corey Reddick Jr. each catching one pass.
 
For the Purple Team, six receivers hauled in passes with RB Patrick Boyd Jr., leading the way with three catches for 32 yards. WR De'Andre Tamarez caught a pair of passes, with tight ends Bode Burns (32 yards) and Brayden Blackmon (20 yards) and receivers Malik Knight and Austin Cunningham catching once apiece. Cunningham caught a 30-yard pass in the final frame.
 
On the ground, three running backs toted the football for the White Team as Anthony Benjamin rushed nine times for 31 yards, followed by Branson Adams (6-for-30 yards, TD) and Corey Reddick Jr. (5-for-53 yards). Both quarterbacks on the White Team wore the protected red jerseys in Saturday's scrimmage. Returning transfer RB Camury Reid and freshman QB Jordan Martin-Durham both rushed 10 times with Reid accounting for 66 yards and Martin-Durham finishing with 48 yards. Patrick Boyd Jr. rushed six times for 56 yards and a score, followed by Tamarez with one rush for 14 yards.
 
The opening three possessions each found the purple turf on Saturday afternoon as both offenses found their legs early. Taron Dickens guided the White Team to a score, capped by a nine-yard scoring strike to Isaiah Johnson for the 7-0 lead. Patrick Boyd Jr., and the Purple Team responded as the converted wide receiver broke free up the middle and raced 48 yards for the equalizing score.
 
Spurred by a big pass play to Jai Boyd, Dickens guided the go-ahead scoring drive with Branson Adams scoring from four yards out for the 14-7 edge, capping the scoring for the first half as the defenses took over. The White Squad turned the ball over on downs and punted twice, and had a fourth drive ended by halftime. The Purple Team punted twice and tossed an interception by Christian Murphy to thwart drives.
 
The Purple Team was forced to punt the first three times its offense touched the ball in the second half, twice on 3-and-out situations. The first two second-half drives for the White Team ended with turnovers with interceptions by Julian Quintero and a deflected pass that was corralled by Shelby, N.C., product Canden McGill.
 
Bennett Judy guided a 45-yard scoring drive as the White Squad grabbed a 21-7 lead, capping the drive with a short toss to David Hulbert who muscled his way into the endzone. Jordan Martin-Durham drove the Purple team back down the field with both his arm and legs, capping the drive with a scrambling TD pass that found Austin Cunningham in the endzone bringing it back to a one-score game, 21-14.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Purple Team forced a punt to give the trailing team an opportunity for the game-tying score. However, executing the two-minute drill, the drive for freshman QB Durham-Martin stalled and a fourth-down heave was intercepted by Zayveon Wells to end the game.
 
A combined 15 players for the White Team defense were credited with tackles with Jhamari Pierre Louis leading the way with seven stops. Richard Garrett posted five tackles including two for loss with a sack, and Ken Moore Jr. had five stops and a pass breakup. Wells had four tackles and an interception, with LB Jordan Thompson credited with four tackles and a quarterback hurry and Cain Jefferson matching with four stops including two TFLs with a sack.
 
Sixteen defenders from the Purple Squad posted tackles with Na'Koma Simpson-Nealy recording seven stops and linebacker Hayward McQueen Jr. finishing with six including a tackle for loss. LB Beady Waddell V heard his name announced six times with one for loss, while Canden McGill had five tackles with a pass breakup and an interception. Ja'morri Downing recorded five tackles, matching converted linebacker Joshua Collins. Julian Quintero had three stops to accompany an interception with Edwin Moore Jr., Kenyon Partridge, and Justin Wallace each recording sacks.
 
On special teams, Corbin Shirley successfully connected on three PATs for the White Team and Christian Lowery scored twice on two PATs for the Purple squad. Stephen Brantley punted three times, averaging right at 50 yards with a long of 54 yards, while redshirt freshman Maddox Cowart punted five times with a long of 45 yards, averaging 38.6 yards per boot.
 

"Today was competitive, but we've seen that all spring," Bell added following the scrimmage. "I feel like we've got the most balanced football team that I've had since I got here – and that's offensively, defensively, and on special teams. And you need that to win a championship. All spring, the offense wins some, the defense wins some and I thought that we saw that again today in the game."
 
Western Carolina has two additional practice sessions coming next week to conclude its NCAA-regulated 15 days of spring practice. Bell moved a pair of mid-week sessions to next Tuesday (April 8) and Thursday (April 10) in uppers – helmets and shoulder pads – and helmets only, respectively.
 
Season tickets for the six-game home 2025 schedule are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office and start at just $96 for adults and $66 for youth 12 and under. A Catamount Family Four Pack that includes two adult reserved season tickets, and two youth reserved season tickets is just $250 – that is less than $11 per ticket. The renewal deadline for returning season ticket holders is fast approaching on April 30, 2025.
 
Fans can purchase tickets through the Catamount Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or by phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
 
The unofficial opening of the 2025 SoCon football schedule begins with SoCon Media Day on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. Details regarding the event will be released on a future date.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
 
Remaining WCU Football Practice Schedule:
Practice 14: Tuesday, April 8 – 4:15 – 6:30 pm (uppers)
Practice 15: Thursday, April 10 – 4:15 – 6:30 pm (helmet only)
April 30, 2025 – WCU Football Season Ticket Renewal Deadline