Cullowhee, N.C. – Simulating its 2026 opening night in #CatamountCountry with a Saturday evening workout, Western Carolina football completed 20 situational drives under the new lights and on the new turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field in its second preseason intrasquad scrimmage.
 
Opening with four-straight stops to start the scrimmage, the Catamount defense finished with 12 total stops, including four takeaways with an interception and three fumbles. WCU's offense found its groove midway through the workout, totaling eight scores, including six touchdowns and two Bryan McCollum field goals.
 
"We've come a long way from last week, and that's what we wanted to see," said Catamount head football coach Kerwin Bell after Saturday evening's 14th practice session of preseason camp. "I thought (we were better) with our execution, just the way we played, how hard we played. Didn't see a whole lot of busts. Our defense is creating turnovers – a little bit of a negative on our offensive end, giving the ball away – we've got to take better care of the football, that's the one disappointment from tonight."
 
Bell was very complimentary of the defensive unit and their ball-hawking approach in Saturday's scrimmage against the Catamount offense.
 
"The defense is creating those turnovers. They're flying around, hitting hard, so I'm excited about those guys," Bell added.
 
Defensively, 33 different players were credited with tackles, including 13 defenders with four or more stops. Freshman Jermiyah Douglas finished with a scrimmage-best seven tackles, including one of eight sacks by the unit. Athletic defensive end Dylan Harris was credited with six tackles, with a sack, while classmate Alant'e Reese added a forced fumble to his five tackles, with Jahleel Anderson pouncing on the loose football as the fourth turnover of the scrimmage. One of Julian Quintero's five tackles was a sack among Saturday's leaders.
 
Nine defenders finished with four tackles apiece, including DB Nassor Ashenafi, who added a pair of pass break-ups; Hank Bodine, Josh Collins (TFL), Quency Grant III, Bryce Hart (sack), Ja'Torian Mack (fumble recovery), Jordan Martin-Durham (hurry), Blue Monroe (TFL), and Caleb Young Jr.
 
Coming off the three-yard line in the situational scrimmage, transfer defensive back Andre Jackson Jr. intercepted a pass over the middle and returned it for a score. Mack recovered a fumble forced by Christian Robbins on the fourth drive of the day for the first of three takeaways on the ground. Canden McGill forced the second fumble on a tackle where freshman Jayden Joselin was credited with the recovery.
 
Defensive lineman Brandon Joseph posted a team-best three quarterback hurries to accompany his three tackles, with Terrell Poyser tallying two PBUs. Also adding sacks were Trystan Anderson, Braeden Barger, Cain Jefferson, Julian Quintero, and Caleb Turner-Allen.
 
Like in the previous scrimmage, six quarterbacks split reps in the offensive backfield as a large chunk of the roster saw action. The same trio – Isaac Lee, Lex Thomas, and Patrick Harding – wore the protected red jerseys, while the second three – Jake Morrow, Caleb Tucker, and Ian Grissom – were live to contact during their second-half drives.
 
Lee finished 7-of-11 passing for 129 yards and a 58-yard touchdown pass to Jemarious Reaves. Freshman Patrick Harding (8-for-13) matched Lex Thomas (8-for-14) with eight completions, with Harding connecting with Trey Walker on an eight-yard TD strike as part of 100 yards through the air. Thomas threw for 89 yards, orchestrating the first two drives of the scrimmage.
 
Freshman Caleb Tucker (3-for-4) passed for 28 yards and a touchdown, while classmate Jake Morrow (3-for-4) threw for 31 yards in his time. For the second-straight week, Ian Grissom closed the scrimmage with a TD pass, completing both pass attempts for 45 yards and a score to WR Corey Swint.
 
Nine running backs split the carries, with none totaling more than six rushes in Saturday's scrimmage. Not counting the quarterback carries, Derrick Davis Jr. rushed a team-high six times, finishing with 30 yards, while Josh Perry ran five times for 51 total yards and added a 26-yard reception out of the backfield. Freshman Jadarius Dobie scored on two of his five rushes to account for both offensive scores on the ground.
 
Seeing his most extensive preseason action to date, returning preseason All-SoCon wide receiver AJ Colombo caught a scrimmage-high six passes for 42 yards. Reaves had a scrimmage-best 82 receiving yards on four receptions with two scores, with freshman tight end Roman Jones catching four passes for 32 yards. Aside from those three, only Cole Craddock (2-for-17 yds), Marcus Striggles (2-for-18 yds), and Santana Carlos (2-for-42 yds) posted multiple receptions.
 
All told, 17 different players caught passes on Saturday, including 13 wide receivers, two running backs, and a pair of tight ends. Reaves had the long reception of 58 yards, followed by Matthew Keener with a 37-yard catch and Carlos with a 36-yarder.


Saturday's Scrimmage Drive Summary:
No. 1 – Defensive Stop
No. 2 – Defensive Stop; 4th down PBU by Nassor Ashenafi
No. 3 – Defensive Stop; Offense coming off the goal line
No. 4 – FUMBLE; Forced by Christian Robbins, recovered by Ja'Torian Mack
No. 5 – TOUCHDOWN; 3-yard rush by Jadarius Dobie
No. 6 -  INTERCEPTION; Andre Jackson Jr., returned for a TD
No. 7 – Defensive Stop; Strong offensive drive that stalled on a 4th down stop
No. 8 – Defensive Stop; 3-and-out, offense coming off its own 3-yard line
No. 9 – TOUCHDOWN; Patrick Harding, 8-yard scoring strike to Trey Walker
No. 10 – Defensive Stop; Offense moved off the goal line, but stopped from scoring
No. 11 – FUMBLE; Forced by Canden McGill, recovered by Jayden Joselin
No. 12 – FIELD GOAL; Started in the redzone, Bryan McCollum with 23-yard FG
No. 13 – TOUCHDOWN; 6-yard score by RB Jadarius Dobie
No. 14 – TOUCHDOWN; Big play, Isaac Lee 58-yard TD pass to Jemarious Reaves
No. 15 – FIELD GOAL; Bryan McCollum, 24-yard FG
No. 16 – TOUCHDOWN; Jake Morrow 4-yard TD pass to Jemarious Reaves
No. 17 – Defensive Stop
No. 18 – Defensive Stop
No. 19 – FUMBLE; Forced by Alant'e Reese, recovered by Jahleel Anderson
No. 20 – TOUCHDOWN; Ian Grissom 21-yard TD pass to Corey Swint
 
The Catamount football team now turns its attention to the start of the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 17, and the start of the season on Saturday, Aug. 29. Bell stated that the team will take time away from practice on Sunday to digest the scrimmage in film study before concentrating on the start of classes on Monday. Then on Tuesday, the focus shifts to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
 
"We'll come back here on Tuesday, putting in the game plan for Eastern Kentucky. We're going to put it in two weeks prior and then make another run through it next week, so we're going to be prepared mentally to go out and play our best game of the year," said Bell.
 
He also stressed to the team that he needs his squad to be the most physical team on the field each time out.
 
Bell concluded, "I like what I saw here tonight, we had some hard hits out there. We need to continue to develop that kind of physicality in all our phases, offense, defense, and special teams."
 
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.

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.
 
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
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 (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 (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)