Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football remains at home on Saturday afternoon, capping a two-game homestand by opening Southern Conference play as the Samford Bulldogs come up the mountain. Something's got to give as both teams seek their first seasonal victory, as the two squads enter winless through three games. Kickoff from E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field is 2:30 p.m.
Western Carolina University celebrates its "Family Weekend, with family and friends of current students visiting campus over the weekend. Ticket sales have been steady for Saturday's game, with a number of the pre-paid parking lots already sold out of availability. Purchase tickets in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
Saturday's game will be
broadcast on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required) with WSPA-TV Sports Director – and voice of the SoCon "Ingles Game of the Week" – Pete Yanity again on the call with former Catamount defensive back John Brannon III alongside as the analyst.
Fans can also listen to Saturday's game on the Catamount Sports Network with coverage beginning with the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 1:30 p.m., with WCU Hall of Famer Gary Ayers, Jeff Bryson, and Daniel Hooker on the call. Four network affiliates across the mountains are set to carry the CSN broadcasts this season, including longtime affiliates 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC in Sylva; 104.9 FM and 1050 AM in Franklin; WISE Sports Radio 1310 AM in Asheville; and 103.9 FM WBRM, BIGFOOT Country in Marion, N.C., and the I-40 corridor.
Fans can also find
live stat links and listen to the Catamount Sports Network anywhere in the world by visiting
CatamountSports.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter / X, using the handles @Catamounts and @CatamountsFB.
Western Carolina seeks to extend its series-long winning streak, looking to make it three in a row against Samford. Last year's 47-42 shootout victory marked a historic road win, snapping a 10-game series road skid and a 55-year drought for the Purple & Gold in Birmingham. Two seasons ago, the Catamounts out weathered the nationally-ranked Bulldogs, dominating a weather-delay-filled afternoon for the commanding 30-7 win in Cullowhee.
Saturday's Storylines:
- Both Western Carolina and Samford are 0-3 on the year, though the paths have been slightly different:
- WCU let sizeable leads of 35-7 and 42-14 in the opener against Gardner-Webb slip away in dropping its opener;
- In the road loss at Wake Forest, only two words are needed – Demond Claiborne … the Deacs' impressive running back made a triumphant return after missing most of their season opener… he ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns as explosive plays ruled the day for the homestanding Black & Gold, while Wake's defense limited WCU to the second-lowest offensive production since Bell and staff took over in 2021, held to just 238 yards of total offense;
- Last week against Elon, WCU rallied with consecutive scores after the half to take its first lead through three quarters – but, Elon QB Landen Clark scored his second TD on the ground that provided the final tally;
- Samford, meanwhile, has struggled to put up points in the run-and-shoot, air raid offense of head coach Chris Hatcher … Turnovers have plagued the Bulldogs early in the season with 12 total giveaways (six fumbles, six interceptions), and the squad has just 23 total points scored through three games (7.7 ppg)
- The Bulldogs were bullied by West Georgia in the opener, 34-3, with a trio of lost fumbles;
- In their SoCon opener, the "Battle of the Bulldogs" between Samford and The Citadel, five costly turnovers and three empty red zone trips doomed the Alabama 'Dogs;
- Samford most recently dropped its guarantee game at Baylor, 42-7, being outgained on offense 468 to 195.
- Samford is WCU's first out-of-state opponent this year … WCU opened with three-straight in-state opponents, hosting Gardner-Webb and Elon, and visiting Wake Forest … the Catamounts won't leave the Old North State until the Oct. 4 road trip at Wofford, visiting Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C., next weekend;
- Western Carolina also looks for its third-straight SoCon-opening victory, with the last two coming against the "fords" – the aforementioned 30-7 victory over Samford in Cullowhee in 2023 and last year's 21-17 victory against Wofford in a game played in Cullowhee without spectators.
Western Carolina vs. Samford – Series History:
- The Catamounts and Bulldogs meet for the 23rd time on the gridiron in a series that dates back to 1969 – but lay dormant for over 20 years until 1991 … the two teams met sporadically through the '90s before the Bulldogs joined the Southern Conference in 2008;
- Western Carolina trails in the all-time series, 5-17, though the Catamounts are riding a two-game series win streak … WCU halted a five-game series slide in 2023 with the convincing 30-7 win over the nationally-ranked Bulldogs in Cullowhee before scoring a historic road win last year, out-gunning the 'Dogs 47-42 to halt a 10 game series road losing skid with the first win in Birmingham since 1969;
- Western Carolina has just three wins in the 10 previous series meetings in Cullowhee, sporting a 3-7 series home record.
Other Notable Western Carolina – Samford Meetings:
- WCU claimed a thrilling 38-34 win over then No. 17 Samford in Cullowhee back in 2017 ... RB Detrez Newsome scored the go-ahead TD with 93 seconds remaining in the game – but it wasn't until Keion Crossen deflected a Devlin Hodges pass in the endzone on the game's final play that WCU could celebrate the upset victory – its first over a nationally-ranked FCS team since 2006, ending a 27-game slide against ranked foes;
- WCU's 56-36 victory over Samford back in 2015 marked the first win for the Catamounts in the series since the first-ever meeting between the two schools, 47-13, back in 1969 in Birmingham ... WCU's 2015 win halted an 11-game slide and ended a 46-year drought in the series.
Common Ties to Valdosta State:
- Both Western Carolina head coach Kerwin Bell and Samford head coach Chris Hatcher spent time on the sidelines at Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II powerhouse in Valdosta, Ga. … Hatcher was a quarterback at Valdosta State before returning as the head coach … Bell was likewise a QB during his career at Florida;
- Hatcher, who played at VSU from 1991-94, began his coaching career as the QBs coach for the Blazers in 1995 before returning as the head coach from 2000-06 … In seven seasons, Hatcher was 76-12, made six playoff appearances, won four Gulf South Conference championships, and guided the Blazers to the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship, earning AFCA National Coach of the Year honors;
- Hatcher is a combined 9-4 against Western Carolina all-time, including a 3-0 mark during his tenure at Georgia Southern, and a 6-4 mark at Samford;
- Bell was at Valdosta State from 2016-18, compiling a 27-7 record over those three seasons, winning both the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018.
Up Next for Catamount Football:
Western Carolina hits the road for back-to-back road games, closing the nonconference portion of its regular-season schedule by visiting Campbell in Buies Creek next Saturday, Sept. 27. The two in-state foes rekindled a series that sat dormant for 85 years, dating back to 1939 in the record books – though this iteration of Campbell football began back in 2008. Kickoff at Barker-Lane Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Last season, Campbell upset the ranked Catamounts 24-16, earning the program's first victory over an NCAA FCS-ranked opponent. The Camels capitalized on five WCU turnovers and a strong defensive effort that limited the high-octane Catamounts to just 287 yards of offense.
Game 4: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 • 2:30 p.m
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field – 13,970)
Records: Western Carolina (0-3, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Samford (0-3, 0-1 SoCon)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Video Stream: ESPN+ (
subscription required) -
Click HERE
PxP: Pete Yanity; Analyst: John Brannon III
Live Stats Link
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
PxP: Gary Ayers; Analyst: Daniel Hooker; Producer: Jeff Bryson
CSN Affiliates:
Sylva – 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC
Franklin – 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC
Asheville – 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio
Marion - 103.9 FM BIGFOOT Country WBRM
Online:
CatamountSports.com
Click HERE to Listen to CSN
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports) and Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB).
