Andre Jackson Jr. (4) had five tackles to accompany a forced and recovered fumble for the Catamount defense on Saturday against No. 8/9 Tennessee Tech.

Mark Haskett

Football 10/3/2026 11:50:00 PM Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - vs. Tennessee Tech (Oct. 3, 2026)

Postgame Notes
Western Carolina 44, No. 8/9 Tennessee Tech 20
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Cullowhee, N.C. | Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Att: 9,145

With the win:

Western Carolina evened both its regular season record (3-3) and Southern Conference mark at 1-1 … It also evened the all-time series record between WCU and Tennessee Tech at 7-7-1 through the first 15 meetings, while improving to 4-3-1 all-time against the Golden Eagles in Cullowhee;
WCU remained undefeated at home with victories over Eastern Kentucky (45-21), Presbyterian (58-14), and Tennessee Tech (44-20) … WCU has scored 44-or-more points in each home game this season;
Represented WCU's first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since downing No. 25 Chattanooga in November 2024 – and defeated its highest-ranked opponent since upsetting then No. 8 Samford back in 2023 … It was WCU's second win over a team ranked eighth all-time (2-7);
WCU improved to 18-90-3 against nationally-ranked NCAA FCS opponents all-time, with 13 of those wins coming in Cullowhee (13-39-0) … the Catamounts have won SIX of their last 10 games against NCAA FCS ranked opposition … WCU is 6-8 against ranked teams under head coach Kerwin Bell since 2021;
WCU improved to 2-0 when wearing its black uniforms, with wins over Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech;
WCU head coach Kerwin Bell earned his 127th career victory, including his 34th in Cullowhee over the past six seasons.

Post-Game Notes:

Western Carolina's offense eclipsed the 500-yard mark for a THIRD time this season, finishing with 534 total yards … the Catamounts rushed for the second-most yards in a game this season, amassing 298 yards on the ground, second only to the 325 rushing yards against Presbyterian;
WCU held the football for a season-high 39:14 in the win over Tennessee Tech – five minutes more than it did in the previous best of 34:18 against Presbyterian … the Catamounts put together three double-digit play scoring drives;
Josh Perry rushed for a career-high 157 yards on a career-best 25 carries with two second-half touchdowns in WCU's upset victory over No. 8/9 Tennessee Tech … He scored on a 35-yard touchdown run up the middle on WCU's first drive of the second half and later a 13-yard run that extended WCU's lead to 17 for a second time in the winning effort … He added three receptions for 26 yards and totaled 181 all-purpose yards;
It was Perry's second 100-yard rushing performance of the season – two coming over his last three outings … He has five rushing TDs on the season;
Jordan Martin-Durham, who converted from quarterback to defensive end – or bandit – this season, scored a career-high TWO rushing touchdowns in WCU's jumbo goal line package against Tennessee Tech … Martin-Durham had one rushing score a year ago, coming against ETSU … He recorded career highs with four rushes for seven yards and the two one-yard rushing TDs;
Quarterback Lex Thomas rushed for a career-high 94 yards, just missing his first career 100-yard rushing game, coming on a career-best 19 carries;
Nine different receivers caught passes for the Catamounts, with five recording multiple receptions, led by AJ Colombo with six for a team-best 60 yards … Colombo has five-or-more catches in five of the six games and LEADS the SoCon with 32 catches this season ... Jai Boyd hauled in a 49-yard touchdown reception for WCU's lone passing score;
Freshman WR Corey Swint made his first career reception, nearly turning it into his first career touchdown with a 45-yard catch-and-run;
Western Carolina's defense held Tennessee Tech to an opponent-low 53 rushing yards coming on just 15 total carries;
The Catamount defense and special teams created a season-best five turnovers – an interception and four fumbles, including one coming on a muffed punt … the +4 turnover margin was WCU's best since a +3 margin in the road loss at Campbell … WCU converted five takeaways into 17 points in remaining unbeaten at home this season;
Na'Koma Simpson-Nealy came up with his second career interception, with fumble recoveries by Andre Jackson Jr., Jayden Cornelius, and Jermiyah Douglas … Cornelius added a career-high three pass breakups in the victory, giving him five over the past two games;
PK Bryan McCollum posted a second double-digit scoring effort on Saturday, converting all five PAT attempts and hitting three field goals for 14 total points … McCollum's three field goals came from 25, 39, and 29 yards;

Miscellaneous Notes:

Western Carolina's team captains for Saturday's game: WR #0 AJ Colombo; DL #18 Trystan Anderson; OL #51 Aaron Sanez; and DL #90 Da'Shawn Davis;
DL #99 Adrian Stone carried the United States flag during the pregame runout and DL #14 Vanier Baptiste carried out the North Carolina flag, a tradition begun in the game following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024;
With former Catamount and NFL veteran Louis Cooper on the coin toss, WCU won the opening flip and deferred to the second half; Tennessee Tech received the opening kickoff;
Western Carolina welcomed home and recognized on the field its football alumni during Saturday's win over Tennessee Tech.