Box Score Game Book (pdf)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Wofford College defeated Western Carolina 35-26 at Whitmire Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Terriers took an early 21-0 lead, but the Catamounts came back and scored three straight touchdowns for a 28-26 Wofford advantage. The Terriers added a late touchdown to seal the win.
The Terriers improve to 2-5 on the season and 1-3 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina is 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Michael Scott with 92 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Mitch Allen was 4-of-5 passing and ran for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Catamounts were led by Dion Wilson with 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Zack Jaynes was 16-of-31 with two interceptions.
“The bottom line is that it is a win,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “You just don’t realize how hard it is when you have been on a journey like we have been. We are a young football team and making mistakes, but at the same time we are fighting hard. I thought that our kids came to play. Some of the mistakes we are making are costly. What we have to do is to continue to work. We have gotten better the past two weeks and hopefully we will continue to get better and see if we can win number two.”
Wofford took the opening drive 80-yards, which included a 43-yard run by Austin Palmer. Mitch Allen ended the drive with a 23-yard run up the middle for a 7-0 lead at 12:15. On the first drive of the day for the Catamounts, Zack Jaynes was intercepted by Gary Blount at the Western Carolina 45-yard line. The Terriers were able to convert the turnover into points when Michael Scott ran two yards to the goal line, fumbled and the ball was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by Ben Wilmoth. Wofford took a 14-0 lead with 7:02 in the first quarter.
On the next drive by the Catamounts, the Terrier defense forced a three-and-out. With the ball back, Arsenio Parks used a 35-yard run to get deep into Western Carolina territory. Wofford ended the drive with a 12-yard run by Stev Davitte to take a 21-0 lead with 1:26 left in the first quarter.
The Catamounts opened their next drive at the Wofford 45-yard line after a 41-yard kickoff return by George Richardson. After being stopped on two tries from the one-yard line, Michael Johnson scored to make it a 21-7 game at 13:43 in the second.
With the ball back, Wofford converted a fourth-and-three on a Mitch Allen run. The Terriers got the ball to the 19-yard line, but turned it over on downs. Western Carolina picked up two first downs on their next possession, but a 46-yard field goal attempt by Blake Bostic into the wind was short.
Wofford added to the lead with a 71-yard, eight-play drive that included a 25-yard run and a 17-yard touchdown run by Mike Scott. The Terriers had a 28-7 lead with 2:04 remaining in the first half.
Western Carolina used a 50-yard pass reception by Dion Wilson, plus a personal foul penalty to move the ball to the eight-yard line. The Catamounts scored on a one-yard run by Dion Wilson with 27 seconds left in the half. The Terriers ran one play before the half ended.
To open the second half, the Catamounts gained two first downs before being forced to punt. Wofford turned the ball over on a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, giving Western Carolina the ball back at the 24-yard line. Michael Johnson scored on a 13-yard touchdown run, but the point after was wide, making it a 28-20 game at 9:48 in the third quarter.
The Terriers picked up one first down before punting for the first time in the game. Western Carolina gained two first downs before a fourth-and-one which was converted with a pass. After two more first downs, Dion Wilson went in from one-yard out. After a missed two-point attempt, the score was 28-26 at 14:54 in the fourth quarter.
With the ball back, the Terriers used a 33-yard reverse by Justice Joslin to gain a first down. On fourth-and-two, the pass was incomplete giving the ball back to Western Carolina with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter. After two first downs, the Catamounts punted to Justice Joslin who returned the ball 42 yards to the Western Carolina 42-yard line.
Mike Rucker picked up a 20-yard rushing first down for the Terriers and Mike Scott added another first down on the ground. Mike Rucker capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to make it a 35-26 game with 4:52 left on the clock. On the Catamounts next drive, Zack Jaynes was intercepted by Mychael Johnson with 2:53 left in the game. Wofford turned the ball over on downs with ninety seconds left, but the Catamounts drive ended on downs with 31 seconds left. Wofford took a knee once to end the game.
The Terriers had 426 total yards, including 374 on the ground. Western Carolina had 334 total yards. Western Carolina had a time of possession advantage. Wofford was 5-of-11 on third downs and 2-of-5 on fourth down. Western Carolina was 8-of-16 on third down and one-of-two on fourth down.
Wofford will host Elon next Saturday at 1:30 pm at Gibbs Stadium.
Wofford vs. Western Carolina Post-Game Notes
The interception by Gary Blount in the first quarter was the first by the Terrier defense since the Charleston Southern game, a stretch of 19 quarters without an interception.
The 35-yard run by Arsenio Parks in the first quarter was the longest of his career and the 43-yard run by Austin Palmer was also a career long. Mike Scott added a 25-yard career long run in the second quarter.
Western Carolina’s touchdown in the second quarter was their first touchdown in the first half this season.
The 28 points scored by Wofford in the first half tied a season-high (28 vs. Charleston Southern).
In the third quarter, Wofford ran only six plays and Western Carolina held the ball for 12:10.
Game captains for Wofford were Justice Joslin and Drew Parks.
The win was the first SoCon win of the season for Wofford and ended a four-game losing streak which was the longest since 1999-2000.
Attendance was 10,017 at Whitmire Stadium, the largest home crowd of the year for Western Carolina.
