2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

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.

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
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 7 Furman $^ 71  103 
No. 14 Chattanooga ^ 62  85 
No. 17 Mercer ^ 62  94 
No. 23 Western Carolina 53  74 
Samford 44  65 
VMI 44  56 
East Tennessee State 26  38 
Wofford 26  29 
The Citadel 08  011 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 21:00 p.m.at Arkansas*SECN+/ESPN+L 13–5644,397
September 92:30 p.m.No. 8 SamfordESPN+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. 17ESPN+W 49–1412,317
October 74:00 p.m.at No. 24 ChattanoogaNo. 11ESPN+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.Mercer No. 10
  • Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
  • Cullowhee, NC
ESPN+L 38–4512,154
November 43:00 p.m.at WoffordNo. 16ESPN+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. 14ESPN+L 24–275,297
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1][2]

Game summaries

at Arkansas

Pregame lineOver/under
ARK –38.561.5
Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) at Arkansas Razorbacks (0–0) – Game summary
Period1234Total
Catamounts307313
Razorbacks211471456

at War Memorial StadiumLittle 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) and 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
StatisticsWestern CarolinaArkansas
First downs1821
Plays–yards70–29161–379
Rushes–yards30–6436–105
Passing yards227274
Passing: comp–att–int25–40–420–25–0
Turnovers50
Time of possession30:4329:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassingCole Gonzales9/14, 118 yards, 1 INT
RushingBranson Adams4 carries, 38 yards
ReceivingCensere Lee3 receptions, 41 yards
ArkansasPassingKJ Jefferson18/23, 246 yards, 3 TD
RushingRaheim Sanders15 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJaedon Wilson3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD

No. 8 Samford

Pregame lineOver/under
SAM –6.064.5
Game Two – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–1) vs No. 8 Samford Bulldogs (1–0)
Period1234Total
Samford70007
Western Carolina7133730

at E.J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, 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)
StatisticsSAMWCU
First downs1534
Plays–yards57–36184–546
Rushes–yards23–4649–284
Passing yards315262
Passing: comp–att–int21–34–029–35–0
Time of possession18:5141:09
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
No. 8 SamfordPassingMichael Hiers21/34, 315 yards, TD
RushingJay Stanton7 carries, 26 yards
ReceivingTy King3 receptions, 96 yards
Western CarolinaPassingCole Gonzales29/35, 262 yards, 2 TD
RushingDesmond Reid27 carries, 170 yards, TD
ReceivingAJ Colombo5 receptions, 79 yards, TD

at Eastern Kentucky

Game Three – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0–0)
Period12Total
Western Carolina0
Eastern Kentucky0

at Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, Kentucky

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWCUEKU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Charleston Southern

Game Four – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0–0)
Period12Total
Charleston Southern0
Western Carolina0

at E.J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsCHSOWCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Charleston SouthernPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at The Citadel

Game Five – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs The Citadel Bulldogs (0–0)
Period12Total
Western Carolina0
The Citadel0

at Johnson Hagood StadiumCharleston, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWCUCIT
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Chattanooga

Game Six – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Chattanooga Mocs (0–0)
Period12Total
Western Carolina0
Chattanooga0

at Finley StadiumChattanooga, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWCUUTC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
ChattanoogaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Furman

Game Seven – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Furman Paladins (0–0)
Period12Total
Furman0
Western Carolina0

at E.J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsFURWCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FurmanPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Mercer

Game Eight – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Mercer Bears (0–0)
Period12Total
Mercer0
Western Carolina0

at E.J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsMERWCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Wofford

Game Nine – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs Wofford Terriers (0–0)
Period12Total
Western Carolina0
Wofford0

at Gibbs StadiumSpartanburg, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWCUWOF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
WoffordPassing
Rushing
Receiving

East Tennessee State

Game Ten – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0–0)
Period12Total
East Tennessee State0
Western Carolina0

at E.J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsETSUWCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East Tennessee StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at VMI

Game Eleven – Western Carolina Catamounts (0–0) vs VMI Keydets (0–0)
Period12Total
Western Carolina0
VMI0

at Alumni Memorial FieldLexington, Virginia

  • Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
  • Game time: TBA EST
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWCUVMI
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Roster

2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR0AJ ColomboSo
RB1Desmond ReidSo
WR2Corey WashingtonFr
WR3Calvin Jones  So
WR4De'Andre Tamarez  Fr
RB5Jalynn WilliamsSr
WR6Terrence HorneSr
WR7David White Jr.Sr
QB8Taron DickensFr
QB9Cole GonzalesSo
WR10Censere LeeSo
TE11Ajay BelangerSr
QB12Brody Palhegyi  So
QB13Charlie DeanJr
WR14Santana FlemingFr
WR15Jai BoydFr
WR16James TyreFr
QB17Bennett JudyFr
WR18Malik Knight  Fr
WR19Zion BookerFr
RB20Corey Reddick Jr.  Fr
RB22Branson AdamsSo
RB25Marlin CochranFr
RB28Markel TownsendFr
RB34Quenten Zanders  Sr
TE39Brayden BlackmonJr
RB41Camury Reid  Fr
OL51Aaron Sanez  Fr
OL52Antwann Fann  Jr
OL53Zach WatsonFr
OL60Therion Cannon  So
OL61Hudson Jones  Fr
OL62Peyton Davis  So
OL63Marselle FeltonFr
OL64Tyler BaileyFr
OL65Blake EllsworthFr
OL66Derek SimmonsJr
OL67Steven HambyFr
OL69Ashton TravisJr
OL70Christian CoulterSr
OL71Cade McClellan  Fr
OL72Blake Whitmore  Jr
OL73Xavier GrahamJr
OL74Tyler Smith  Sr
OL75Caleb CarterJr
OL76Nathan Linkous  So
OL78Evan Carney  Fr
OL79Aidan Alston  Jr
WR80Rashad DavisFr
WR81Ca'Lique Cunningham  Fr
WR82Nate Abraham  Fr
WR83Ryan Sims  Fr
WR84Eric RasheedFr
TE85David HulbertFr
TE86Clayton Bardall  Sr
TE87Jake Young  Fr
WR88Patrick Boyd Jr.Fr
RBBrandon BenjaminSo
RBLevi Berryhill  So
RBJaiden BondSo
TETy HandleyFr
WRCaden RobinsonFr
WRCade SnotherlyJr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL0Bryce WilsonSr
S1Mateo Sudipo  Jr
CB2Rod GattisonSr
CB3Samaurie DukesSo
CB4CJ Williams  Jr
LB5Hayward McQueen Jr.So
DL6Curtis Fann Jr.  Jr
LB7Ed Jones IVJr
LB8Va LealaimatafaoSr
DE9Micah Nelson  Jr
DL10Tahjae MullixSo
DL11Caleb Fisher  So
CB12Ken Moore Jr.  Fr
CB13Darian Anderson Jr.  Fr
S14Nick LouisSr
LB15Antoine Williams  Jr
CB16Jordy Lowery  Fr
DE17Malik Richardson  Jr
LB18Antarron Turner  Fr
LB19Jayelin DavisSr
S21Andreas KeatonJr
DB24Zayveon WellsFr
DB26Bo SimpsonFr
LB27Skylin Thomas  Jr
DB29Devuntray HamptonGS
DE30Kenyon PartridgeFr
LB31Tyler MathenyGS
DB32Trevaughn MartinezFr
S33Lee CampbellSo
LB35Christian Murphy  Fr
S36Ja'Morri Downing  Fr
S37Marquis Lymon  Fr
S38Jhamari Pierre-Louis  Fr
S40Cory Hennings  So
S42Jayion McMillan  Fr
DB43Walter Gibson  Jr
LB44Caleb ScottJr
DL45Justin Wallace  Fr
LB47Blue Monroe  Fr
LB50Jeno Junius Jr.Fr
DL55Richard Garrett  Fr
LB58Giovanni RicciardiJr
LB59Anthony Joseph  Fr
DL90Marlon AlexanderGS
DL91Jaquarius GuinnJr
DL92Brandon Smiley  Fr
DL93Chris MorganJr
DE96Isaac McLellan  Fr
DL97Caleb Bradford  So
DL99Ronald Wilson  Jr
DLJackson HensleyFr
CBJoshua McMullen  Fr
CBDon Robinson III  Fr
DBCam SmithFr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K46Paxton RobertsonJr
LS48Colby Cross  Jr
K49Corbin Shirley  Fr
K89Richard McCollum  Sr
P95Stephen BrantleyFr
LSMabry BumgarnerFr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Kade BellOffensive 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
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 28, 2024

Statistics

Team

Western CarolinaOpp
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 CarolinaOpp
  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
#NAMEPOSRATCMP-ATT-INTYDSAVG/GCMP%TDLONG
QB0.00-0-00 yrds0.0%0 TDs0
TOTALS0.00-0-00 yrds0.00.0%0 TDs0

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