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Running back Derrick Davis Jr. looks for a rushing lane against Cincinnati
Mark Haskett

Football Daniel Hooker, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations

Postgame Notes - at Cincinnati (9/12/26)

Postgame Notes
Cincinnati 62, Western Carolina 10
Nippert Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio | Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Att: 34,827 
  
With the loss:
  • The Catamounts fell to 1-2 on the season, including a 0-2 mark on the road coming on the heels of winning five straight away from Cullowhee to conclude 2025;
  • WCU drops to 0-65 all-time against teams from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision;
  • Additionally, the Catamounts fell to 0-3 all-time against current Big 12 opponents, now 0-2 against Cincinnati and 0-1 against Kansas (1993).
  
Post-Game Notes:
  • Cincinnati's 62 points are the most conceded to an FBS opponent since #4 Oklahoma scored 76 against the Catamounts in 2021;
  • The Catamounts only managed 10 points for a second-straight year against its NCAA FBS opponent, falling at Wake Forest 42-10 last season;
  • Both teams exceeded their previous offensive scoring totals from Cincinnati's 7-3 win back in 2005, the only other time the two have played on the gridiron ... the Bearcats posted 62 points and 690 yards of offense, eclipsing their previous high marks of seven points and 273 yards against the Catamounts … WCU scored 10 points, but their 241 yards of offense fell short of the 284 amassed in 2005;
  • Western Carolina scored on its opening possession for the first time this season, driving 60 yards in 12 plays with Bryan McCollum kicking a 33-yard field goal ... the early field goal also marked WCU's first opening drive score against an FBS opponent since Carlos Davis connected with Terrence Horne for a 49-yard score at Georgia Tech in 2022;
  • WCU's 3-0 lead over Cincinnati was the first for the Catamounts over an FBS opponent since holding a 21-17 advantage over NC State in the fourth quarter of week one 2024;
  • Cincinnati's opening drive TD was the first opening drive TD conceded to an FBS opponent by the Catamounts since Arkansas in 2023;
  • Lex Thomas and the Catamounts orchestrated an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive in the second quarter ... the drive took 6:12 off the clock and was the longest of the season so far, with the Catamounts converting a critical 3rd and 7 at midfield to keep the drive alive;
  • Both teams recorded season highs in penalties and penalty yardage, with Cincinnati committing 11 for 105 yards and WCU committing 5 for 45 yards;
  • Second-year QB Isaac Lee made his second appearance of the season for the Catamounts, completing his first pass since connecting on one of his four attempts against VMI last season;
  • Additionally, freshmen Patrick Harding and Joshua Balloon Jr. made their first collegiate appearances on WCU's final drive of the night. 
  • The Bearcats closed the night on a 41-point scoring run, stretching their advantage after the Catamounts made it 14-10 with 6:23 in the second quarter on a rushing touchdown by Lex Thomas;
  • The WCU defense went without a turnover against Cincinnati, snapping a four-game turnover streak dating back to last season's matchup with Mercer. 
  • Cincinnati's 418 rushing yards were the most by the Bearcats since recording 419 in a 42-0 win against Xavier in 1970
 
Miscellaneous Notes:
  • Western Carolina's team captains for Saturday's game: Fifth-year WR #0 AJ Colombo, fifth-year DE #18 Trystan Anderson, fifth-year TE #44 Isaac McLellan and fifth-year OL #56 Aaron McIver;
  • #30 Jaden Meeks carried the United States flag during the pregame runout and #47 carried out the North Carolina flag, a tradition begun in the game following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024;
  • Cincinnati won the toss and elected to defer; the Catamounts kicked off to start the game, defending the North end zone
 
 
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Players Mentioned

AJ Colombo

#0 AJ Colombo

WR
5' 8"
Fifth Year
Isaac Lee

#11 Isaac Lee

QB
6' 4"
Junior
Bryan McCollum

#60 Bryan McCollum

K
5' 8"
Sophomore
Isaac McLellan

#44 Isaac McLellan

TE
6' 2"
Fifth Year
Jaden Meeks

#30 Jaden Meeks

DL
6' 2"
Junior
Aaron McIver

#56 Aaron McIver

OL
6' 2"
Fifth Year
Lex Thomas

#2 Lex Thomas

QB
5' 11"
Junior
Patrick Harding

#17 Patrick Harding

QB
6' 3"
Freshman
Trystan Anderson

#18 Trystan Anderson

DL
6' 4"
Fifth Year
Joshua Balloon Jr.

#21 Joshua Balloon Jr.

RB
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

AJ Colombo

#0 AJ Colombo

5' 8"
Fifth Year
WR
Isaac Lee

#11 Isaac Lee

6' 4"
Junior
QB
Bryan McCollum

#60 Bryan McCollum

5' 8"
Sophomore
K
Isaac McLellan

#44 Isaac McLellan

6' 2"
Fifth Year
TE
Jaden Meeks

#30 Jaden Meeks

6' 2"
Junior
DL
Aaron McIver

#56 Aaron McIver

6' 2"
Fifth Year
OL
Lex Thomas

#2 Lex Thomas

5' 11"
Junior
QB
Patrick Harding

#17 Patrick Harding

6' 3"
Freshman
QB
Trystan Anderson

#18 Trystan Anderson

6' 4"
Fifth Year
DL
Joshua Balloon Jr.

#21 Joshua Balloon Jr.

5' 9"
Freshman
RB