2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

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2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 23
Record7–4 (5–3 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKade Bell (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorChaz Scales (3rd season)
Home stadiumBob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 7 Furman $^   7 – 1     10 – 3  
No. 14 Chattanooga ^   6 – 2     8 – 5  
No. 17 Mercer ^   6 – 2     9 – 4  
No. 23 Western Carolina   5 – 3     7 – 4  
Samford   4 – 4     6 – 5  
VMI   4 – 4     5 – 6  
East Tennessee State   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Wofford   2 – 6     2 – 9  
The Citadel   0 – 8     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team represented Western Carolina University as a member of the Southern Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Catamounts were led by third-year head coach Kerwin Bell and played home games at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 21:00 p.m.at Arkansas*
SECN+/ESPN+L 13–5644,397
September 92:30 p.m.No. 8 Samford
ESPN+W 30–712,410
September 166:00 p.m.at Eastern Kentucky*
ESPN+W 27–2413,596
September 232:30 p.m.Charleston Southern*No. 23
  • Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
  • Cullowhee, NC
ESPN+W 77–2113,357
September 302:00 p.m.at The CitadelNo. 17
ESPN+W 49–1412,317
October 74:00 p.m.at No. 24 ChattanoogaNo. 11
ESPN+W 52–508,978
October 212:30 p.m.No. 4 FurmanNo. 8
  • Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
  • Cullowhee, NC
ESPN+L 17–2910,736
October 282:30 p.m.MercerdaggerNo. 10
  • Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
  • Cullowhee, NC
ESPN+L 38–4512,154
November 43:00 p.m.at WoffordNo. 16
ESPN+W 28–254,996
November 111:00 p.m.East Tennessee StateNo. 17
  • Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
  • Cullowhee, NC
ESPN+W 58–711,019
November 1812:00 p.m.at VMINo. 14
ESPN+L 24–275,297
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1][2]

Game summaries

at Arkansas

See also: 2023 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
Pregame line Over/under
ARK –38.5 61.5
Game One – Western Carolina Catamounts at Arkansas Razorbacks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Catamounts 3 0 7313
Razorbacks 21 14 71456

at War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, Arkansas

  • Date: September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,397
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Eric Frede (play-by-play) & Jordan Reid (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • 13:03 ARK – Jaedon Wilson 65-yard pass from KJ Jefferson (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 7–0, Drive: 2 plays, 79 yards, 0:36
  • 8:40 ARK – Raheim Sanders 3-yard run (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 14–0, Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:26
  • 3:03 ARK – Isaac TeSlaa 31-yard pass from KJ Jefferson (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 21–0, Drive: 1 play, 31 yards, 0:07
  • 0:15 WCU – Richard McCollum 34-yard field goal – Arkansas 21–3, Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 2:41
Second quarter
  • 2:56 ARK – KJ Jefferson 17-yard run (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 28–3, Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards, 2:18
  • 0:00 ARK – Raheim Sanders 1-yard run (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 35–3, Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 2:44
Third quarter
  • 10:59 WCU – Desmond Reid 2-yard run (Richard McCollum kick) – Arkansas 35–10, Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:12
  • 6:13 ARK – Andrew Armstrong 16-yard pass from KJ Jefferson – Arkansas 42–10, Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:39
Fourth quarter
  • 7:55 ARK – Davion Dozier 14-yard pass from Jacolby Criswell (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 49–10, Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 3:51
  • 4:19 ARK – Brad Spence 85-yard interception return (Cam Little kick) – Arkansas 56–10, Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:36
  • 0:00 WCU – Richard McCollum 33-yard field goal – Arkansas 56–13, Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 4:19
Statistics Western Carolina Arkansas
First downs 18 21
Plays–yards 70–291 61–379
Rushes–yards 30–64 36–105
Passing yards 227 274
Passing: comp–att–int 25–40–4 20–25–0
Turnovers 5 0
Time of possession 30:43 29:17
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing Cole Gonzales 9/14, 118 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Branson Adams 4 carries, 38 yards
Receiving Censere Lee 3 receptions, 41 yards
Arkansas Passing KJ Jefferson 18/23, 246 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Raheim Sanders 15 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jaedon Wilson 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD

No. 8 Samford

See also: 2023 Samford Bulldogs football team
Pregame line Over/under
SAM –6.0 64.5
Game Two – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–1) vs No. 8 Samford Bulldogs (1–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Samford 7 0 007
Western Carolina 7 13 3730

at E.J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SE 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 12,410
  • Referee: Michael Farmer
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
  • (7:03) SAM – Michael Vice 8-yard pass from Michael Hiers, Wilson Beaverstock kick (Drive: 7 plays, 97 yards, 2:00; Samford 7–0)
  • (3:21) WCU – AJ Colombo 21-yard pass from Cole Gonzales, Richard McCollum kick (Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 3:32; Tied 7–7)
Second quarter
  • (13:42) WCU – Censere Lee 6-yard pass from Cole Gonzales, Richard McCollum kick (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 3:58; Western Carolina 14–7)
  • (1:38) WCU – Richard McCollum 23-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 69 yards, 6:43; Western Carolina 17–7)
  • (0:00) WCU – Richard McCollum 41-yard field goal (Drive: 2 plays, 20 yards, 0:11; Western Carolina 20–7)
Third quarter
  • (4:29) WCU – Richard McCollum 18-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 84 yards, 5:50; Western Carolina 23–7)
Fourth quarter
  • (8:02) WCU – Desmond Reid 2-yard run, Richard McCollum kick (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 6:14; Western Carolina 30–7)
Statistics SAM WCU
First downs 15 34
Plays–yards 57–361 84–546
Rushes–yards 23–46 49–284
Passing yards 315 262
Passing: comp–att–int 21–34–0 29–35–0
Time of possession 18:51 41:09
Team Category Player Statistics
No. 8 Samford Passing Michael Hiers 21/34, 315 yards, TD
Rushing Jay Stanton 7 carries, 26 yards
Receiving Ty King 3 receptions, 96 yards
Western Carolina Passing Cole Gonzales 29/35, 262 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Desmond Reid 27 carries, 170 yards, TD
Receiving AJ Colombo 5 receptions, 79 yards, TD

at Eastern Kentucky

See also: 2023 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team
Game Three – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Western Carolina 0
Eastern Kentucky 0

at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, Kentucky

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WCU EKU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Charleston Southern

See also: 2023 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
Game Four – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Charleston Southern 0
Western Carolina 0

at E.J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics CHSO WCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Charleston Southern Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at The Citadel

See also: 2023 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
Game Five – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs The Citadel Bulldogs (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Western Carolina 0
The Citadel 0

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WCU CIT
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Chattanooga

See also: 2023 Chattanooga Mocs football team
Game Six – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Chattanooga Mocs (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Western Carolina 0
Chattanooga 0

at Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WCU UTC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chattanooga Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Furman

See also: 2023 Furman Paladins football team
Game Seven – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Furman Paladins (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Furman 0
Western Carolina 0

at E.J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics FUR WCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Furman Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Mercer

See also: 2023 Mercer Bears football team
Game Eight – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Mercer Bears (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Mercer 0
Western Carolina 0

at E.J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics MER WCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Mercer Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Wofford

See also: 2023 Wofford Terriers football team
Game Nine – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Wofford Terriers (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Western Carolina 0
Wofford 0

at Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WCU WOF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Wofford Passing
Rushing
Receiving

East Tennessee State

See also: 2023 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team
Game Ten – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
East Tennessee State 0
Western Carolina 0

at E.J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics ETSU WCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
East Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at VMI

See also: 2023 VMI Keydets football team
Game Eleven – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs VMI Keydets (0–0)
Period 1 2 Total
Western Carolina 0
VMI 0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia

  • Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WCU VMI
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving
VMI Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Roster

2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 AJ Colombo So
RB 1 Desmond Reid So
WR 2 Corey Washington Fr
WR 3 Calvin Jones  So
WR 4 De'Andre Tamarez  Fr
RB 5 Jalynn Williams Sr
WR 6 Terrence Horne Sr
WR 7 David White Jr. Sr
QB 8 Taron Dickens Fr
QB 9 Cole Gonzales So
WR 10 Censere Lee So
TE 11 Ajay Belanger Sr
QB 12 Brody Palhegyi  So
QB 13 Charlie Dean Jr
WR 14 Santana Fleming Fr
WR 15 Jai Boyd Fr
WR 16 James Tyre Fr
QB 17 Bennett Judy Fr
WR 18 Malik Knight  Fr
WR 19 Zion Booker Fr
RB 20 Corey Reddick Jr.  Fr
RB 22 Branson Adams So
RB 25 Marlin Cochran Fr
RB 28 Markel Townsend Fr
RB 34 Quenten Zanders  Sr
TE 39 Brayden Blackmon Jr
RB 41 Camury Reid  Fr
OL 51 Aaron Sanez  Fr
OL 52 Antwann Fann  Jr
OL 53 Zach Watson Fr
OL 60 Therion Cannon  So
OL 61 Hudson Jones  Fr
OL 62 Peyton Davis  So
OL 63 Marselle Felton Fr
OL 64 Tyler Bailey Fr
OL 65 Blake Ellsworth Fr
OL 66 Derek Simmons Jr
OL 67 Steven Hamby Fr
OL 69 Ashton Travis Jr
OL 70 Christian Coulter Sr
OL 71 Cade McClellan  Fr
OL 72 Blake Whitmore  Jr
OL 73 Xavier Graham Jr
OL 74 Tyler Smith  Sr
OL 75 Caleb Carter Jr
OL 76 Nathan Linkous  So
OL 78 Evan Carney  Fr
OL 79 Aidan Alston  Jr
WR 80 Rashad Davis Fr
WR 81 Ca'Lique Cunningham  Fr
WR 82 Nate Abraham  Fr
WR 83 Ryan Sims  Fr
WR 84 Eric Rasheed Fr
TE 85 David Hulbert Fr
TE 86 Clayton Bardall  Sr
TE 87 Jake Young  Fr
WR 88 Patrick Boyd Jr. Fr
RB Brandon Benjamin So
RB Levi Berryhill  So
RB Jaiden Bond So
TE Ty Handley Fr
WR Caden Robinson Fr
WR Cade Snotherly Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 0 Bryce Wilson Sr
S 1 Mateo Sudipo  Jr
CB 2 Rod Gattison Sr
CB 3 Samaurie Dukes So
CB 4 CJ Williams  Jr
LB 5 Hayward McQueen Jr. So
DL 6 Curtis Fann Jr.  Jr
LB 7 Ed Jones IV Jr
LB 8 Va Lealaimatafao Sr
DE 9 Micah Nelson  Jr
DL 10 Tahjae Mullix So
DL 11 Caleb Fisher  So
CB 12 Ken Moore Jr.  Fr
CB 13 Darian Anderson Jr.  Fr
S 14 Nick Louis Sr
LB 15 Antoine Williams  Jr
CB 16 Jordy Lowery  Fr
DE 17 Malik Richardson  Jr
LB 18 Antarron Turner  Fr
LB 19 Jayelin Davis Sr
S 21 Andreas Keaton Jr
DB 24 Zayveon Wells Fr
DB 26 Bo Simpson Fr
LB 27 Skylin Thomas  Jr
DB 29 Devuntray Hampton GS
DE 30 Kenyon Partridge Fr
LB 31 Tyler Matheny GS
DB 32 Trevaughn Martinez Fr
S 33 Lee Campbell So
LB 35 Christian Murphy  Fr
S 36 Ja'Morri Downing  Fr
S 37 Marquis Lymon  Fr
S 38 Jhamari Pierre-Louis  Fr
S 40 Cory Hennings  So
S 42 Jayion McMillan  Fr
DB 43 Walter Gibson  Jr
LB 44 Caleb Scott Jr
DL 45 Justin Wallace  Fr
LB 47 Blue Monroe  Fr
LB 50 Jeno Junius Jr. Fr
DL 55 Richard Garrett  Fr
LB 58 Giovanni Ricciardi Jr
LB 59 Anthony Joseph  Fr
DL 90 Marlon Alexander GS
DL 91 Jaquarius Guinn Jr
DL 92 Brandon Smiley  Fr
DL 93 Chris Morgan Jr
DE 96 Isaac McLellan  Fr
DL 97 Caleb Bradford  So
DL 99 Ronald Wilson  Jr
DL Jackson Hensley Fr
CB Joshua McMullen  Fr
CB Don Robinson III  Fr
DB Cam Smith Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 46 Paxton Robertson Jr
LS 48 Colby Cross  Jr
K 49 Corbin Shirley  Fr
K 89 Richard McCollum  Sr
P
 95 Stephen Brantley Fr
LS Mabry Bumgarner Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Kade Bell – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
  • Chazmon Scales – Defensive coordinator/safeties
  • Chris Norris – Special teams coordinator
  • Rudi Small – Running backs
  • JJ Laster – Wide receivers
  • Rylan Wells – Tight ends/fullbacks
  • Jeremy Darveau – Offensive line
  • Brian Cochran – Defensive line
  • Cody Edwards – Linebackers
  • Larry Murphy – Cornerbacks
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 28, 2024

Statistics

Team

Western Carolina Opp
Scoring
  Points per Game
  Points per Turnovers
First Downs
  Rushing
  Passing
  Penalty
Rushing yards
  Avg per play
  Avg per game
  Rushing touchdowns
Passing yards
  Att-Comp-Int
  Avg per pass
  Avg per catch
  Avg per game
  Passing touchdowns
Total Offense
  Plays
  Avg per play
  Avg per game
Fumbles-Lost
Penalties-Yards
  Avg per game
Western Carolina Opp
  Punt-Yards
   Avg per play
   Avg per punt net
  Punt Return-Yards
   Avg per punt return
  Kickoffs-Yards
   Avg per play
   Avg per kick net
  Kickoff Return-Yards
   Avg per kickoff return
  Interceptions-Yards
   Avg per play
Time of possession / game
3rd Down Conversions (Pct%) (0%) (0%)
4th Down Conversions (Pct%) (0%) (0%)
Touchdowns Scored
Field Goals-Attempts
  PAT-Attempts
   2 point conversion-attempts
Sack by Yards
Misc Yards
Safeties
Onside kicks
Red zone scores (0%) (0%)
  Red zone touchdowns (0%) (0%)
Attendance
  Date/Avg per date
  Neutral Site

Individual leaders

Passing statistics
# NAME POS RAT CMP-ATT-INT YDS AVG/G CMP% TD LONG
QB 0.0 0-0-0 0 yrds 0.0% 0 TDs 0
TOTALS 0.0 0-0-0 0 yrds 0.0 0.0% 0 TDs 0

Defense

Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown

Special teams

References

  1. ^ "2023 Catamount Football Schedule". catamountsports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
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