The WCU Football team took on the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Buccaneers in the Blue Ridge Border Battle and on Senior Day. There was a special guest in attendance for the game, Cal Raleigh. Raleigh is a Cullowhee native. He led Major League Baseball in home runs this year and led the Seattle Mariners to the American League Championship Series. Raleigh was an honorary captain and did the coin flip on the field.
The Cats came into the game hoping to have a shot at the FCS playoffs. Unfortunately, the team lost 35-52. ETSU came out ready to fight, putting up 10 points in the first quarter. The Catamounts responded with 21 unanswered points of their own to put the Catamounts up 21-10. By the end of the half, WCU led 28-24.
The Buccaneers outscored the Catamounts in the third quarter to take a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter. The Catamounts were held scoreless in the fourth quarter and ETSU scored two more touchdowns, extending their lead to 52-35.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the student section started a chant that quickly spread throughout the whole home side of the stadium. The chant was, “fire Odom.” Jerry Odom is the Defensive Coordinator for the Cats. This season, the defense has been a weak spot for the Catamounts.
“We did not play our best,” Said Head Coach Kerwin Bell during the Catamount Coaches Weekly show, “we had opportunities, but we did not give ourselves the chance when we were down there twice inside the 5-yard line back-to-back times that would have kept us in it.”
Even in the loss, the offense was strong. Taron Dickens had his sixth career game with over 400 yards passing. He finished the game with 426 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Running back Markel Townsend had 30 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. Michael “M.J.” Rossin led the way receiving with 89 yards and a touchdown. James Tyre had 71 yards receiving.
Defensively, Cam’Ron Dabney had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and Jordan Thompson also had a fumble recovery.
With this loss, the Catamounts’ playoff hopes have ended. The team still has one game left against the Virginia Military Institute in Virginia on Saturday, November 22, at 12 P.M. on ESPN+ and on the radio with the Catamounts Sports Network
