Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football holds its second preseason intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday (Aug. 15) night, mirroring the game time of its 2026 season-opener against Eastern Kentucky with a 7 p.m. practice under the new lights on the new turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
 
Since Bell took the job in Cullowhee, the second scrimmage has traditionally been billed as "Student Night," as he encourages all the returning and new WCU students to attend. Saturday's session is slated to be the 14th for the Catamounts in their fall camp, and the final workout before classes start in Cullowhee on Monday.
 
"We had a good second full week (of camp), today (Friday) sort of wraps that up and Saturday, we'll prep for our first game," said Catamount head football coach Kerwin Bell after Friday morning's workout. "Right now, we want to see our football team getting better, and I think that they are. I feel that we're a lot better than we were a week ago. Now, we've got to go show that on the film (Saturday) night in our scrimmage."
 
Bell stressed that several players could be held from Saturday's scrimmage for precautionary reasons and to continue to heal, which opens the door for new and younger players to see increased reps as the opening week two-deep and dress list continues to be fleshed out.
 
"I want to see us execute at a higher level offensively, defensively, and on special teams," said Bell when asked about expectations and what his squad can gain from Saturday's scrimmage. "It'll be good to prep (for the opener). Pregame meal at 3 p.m. and then scrimmage at 7 p.m. It will be just like it'll be in two weeks, so it'll be great prep for us. And the new lights. We've been out here a couple of times already during camp, but it will be great to get them out here in live action under the lights."
 
In its first scrimmage a week earlier, the Catamount defense edged the offense with 11 stops, including a pair of interceptions, one by Na'koma Simpson-Nealy off a deflection and a pick-six by LB Hank Bodine. The offense hit paydirt eight times with six touchdowns and a pair of field goals.
 
Four of WCU's six quarterbacks tossed TD passes, including Isaac Lee to RB Derrick Davis Jr., Jake Morrow to WR Corey Swint, Caleb Tucker to WR Mouhamadou Mane, and a scrimmage-ending scoring strike from Ian Grissom to Jemarious Reaves.
 
WCU also recorded a pair of rushing touchdowns on a 21-yard score by Jadarius Dobie and a 10-yard romp by Marlin Cochran.
 
WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that all spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety.
 
With the ongoing construction to the Western Skybox and surrounding grounds, as well as preparatory activities at the stadium for the season, all fans are asked to sit on the EAST SIDE opposite the Western Skybox on Saturday, as the West Side of the stadium will be CLOSED to the public. Additionally, fans are reminded that parking volume on campus has increased closing in on the start of the semester. The Field House lot continues to house some construction equipment, as well as a staging area for the ongoing campus move-in traffic. Fans are encouraged to utilize the Creek Lot and the Baseball Parking Deck for entry, utilizing the East Side Stadium entrances on Saturday.
 
Additionally, a reminder that concessions will not be available for Saturday's final preseason scrimmage.
 
Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks, courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
 
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show, produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
 
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform. Fans are encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.
 
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Sat., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 7 pm – 9 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 16 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 17 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Mon., Aug. 17 – Catamount Coaches Show – Fall Sports Preview (at Catamount Jaxe, 6 p.m.)
Tues., Aug. 18 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
- Practice times are subject to change.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Mon., Aug. 17 – Catamount Coaches Show – Fall Sports Preview (at Catamount Jaxe, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah National, Cherokee)