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Freshman Hank Bodine (42) with a special teams tackle against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Saturday against the ACC's Deacs.
Mark Haskett

Football Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - at Wake Forest (9/6/25)

Postgame Notes
Wake Forest 42, No. 25 Western Carolina 10
Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Winston-Salem, N.C. | Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
Att: 28,239
 
With the Loss:
  • Western Carolina fell to 0-64 all-time against teams at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level that includes a 0-35 record against teams currently in the ACC;
  • Western Carolina fell to 0-4 all-time against Wake Forest in the head-to-head series;
  • Western Carolina dropped its EIGHTH straight game when entering a game nationally ranked in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS);
  • The Catamounts were relegated to a 0-2 start to 2025, a second-straight year of dropping their first two games of the season, and a third time under head coach Kerwin Bell over the past five years.
 
Post-Game Notes:
  • Saturday's game was marred by lengthy weather delays and played under rainy conditions in Winston-Salem … the first delay came just three minutes into the contest after the Catamount defense stopped Wake Forest, eventually forcing a punt after a 2-hour, 18-minute stoppage … the second delay came at halftime for 42 minutes;
  • Western Carolina's offense was limited to 238 yards of total offense at Wake Forest, the second-lowest output by the Catamounts under head coach Kerwin Bell … the lowest was 178 against Oklahoma back in 2021 … WCU was held to just 34 combined rushing yards, the fewest yards gained on the ground during head coach Kerwin Bell's five-year tenure;
  • WCU has been held below the 300-yard offense mark in a game at least one time in each of Bell's five seasons in Cullowhee – but only once has WCU failed to hit the 300-yard mark twice in a single year, limited to 277 against Chattanooga in addition to the 178 against Oklahoma in his first season back in 2021;
  • Wake Forest rode explosive plays to the victory, scoring TDs on rushes of 41, 33, 27, and 85 yards, with a pair of passing scores of 51 and 27 yards;
  • Despite surrendering 42 points, Western Carolina held the Demon Deacons to 0-for-2 in the red zone, forcing a turnover on downs and a missed field goal attempt;
  • Redshirt sophomore quarterback #17 Bennett Judy set a career-high with 155 passing yards at Wake Forest, coming on a career-high 18 completions and 32 attempts … His previous benchmark was 151 against Gardner-Webb in the season opener;
  • Redshirt junior wide receiver #7 Malik Knight hauled in a career-best five passes against WFU;
  • Redshirt freshman tailback #28 Markel Townsend scored his first collegiate touchdown at Wake Forest on a scoring drive orchestrated by classmate Isaac Lee;
  • Transfer DB #21 Cam'Ron Dabney came up with his first career interception against the Deacs, giving the Catamounts two interceptions through their first two games … WCU had 21 picks a season ago;
  • Western Carolina freshman PK Marcus Trout made his collegiate debut and scored his first career point, subbing for the injured Christian Lowery and tacking on the PAT in the fourth quarter following WCU's lone touchdown.
 
Miscellaneous Notes:
  • Western Carolina's team captains for Saturday's game: Senior bandit #2 Micah Nelson; senior safety #3 Samaurie Dukes; senior wide receiver #8 Painter Richards-Baker; and senior offensive lineman #58 Brett Gray … Western Carolina won the toss and deferred to the second half, the Catamounts kicked off to start the game.


 
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Players Mentioned

Samaurie Dukes

#3 Samaurie Dukes

S
5' 11"
Senior
Brett Gray

#58 Brett Gray

OL
6' 4"
Senior
Bennett Judy

#17 Bennett Judy

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Malik Knight

#7 Malik Knight

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Isaac Lee

#11 Isaac Lee

QB
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Christian Lowery

#96 Christian Lowery

K
5' 11"
Senior
Micah Nelson

#2 Micah Nelson

DE
6' 3"
Fifth Year
Markel Townsend

#28 Markel Townsend

RB
5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
Cam

#21 Cam'Ron Dabney

CB
5' 11"
Fifth Year
Marcus Trout

#84 Marcus Trout

K
5' 11"
Freshman
Painter Richards-Baker

#8 Painter Richards-Baker

WR
6' 2"
Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Samaurie Dukes

#3 Samaurie Dukes

5' 11"
Senior
S
Brett Gray

#58 Brett Gray

6' 4"
Senior
OL
Bennett Judy

#17 Bennett Judy

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Malik Knight

#7 Malik Knight

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Isaac Lee

#11 Isaac Lee

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Christian Lowery

#96 Christian Lowery

5' 11"
Senior
K
Micah Nelson

#2 Micah Nelson

6' 3"
Fifth Year
DE
Markel Townsend

#28 Markel Townsend

5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
RB
Cam

#21 Cam'Ron Dabney

5' 11"
Fifth Year
CB
Marcus Trout

#84 Marcus Trout

5' 11"
Freshman
K
Painter Richards-Baker

#8 Painter Richards-Baker

6' 2"
Fifth Year
WR