CINCINNATI – For about 25 minutes of play, Western Carolina looked like they belonged. The FCS Catamounts trailed FBS Cincinnati by just four points late in the second quarter – as close as the game would get.
WCU quarterback Lex Thomas capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, pulling the Catamounts within four points at 14-10 late in the second quarter. For a moment, the biggest challenge of the season for Western Carolina looked competitive.
Cincinnati answered immediately and never looked back.
The Bearcats scored twice more before halftime, then poured on 34 unanswered points after the break in a 62-10 victory Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. Western Carolina (1-2) was held scoreless in the second half.
Western Carolina struck first with a 33-yard field goal drilled by Bryan McCollum on the opening possession to make the score 3-0. Cincinnati marched down the field for a 75-yard touchdown drive, topped off by a 5-yard pass from quarterback JC French IV to receiver JV Gibson, and took a 7-3 lead into the second quarter.
The Bearcats found the end zone again on their first possession of the second quarter, as French connected with tight end Lyviel Waters on a 2-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to push the lead to 14-3.
Thomas then engineered the Catamounts’ best drive of the night, pushing the offense down the field, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run. McCollum’s extra point made the score 14-10 with 6:23 remaining in the first half, the closest the contest was all night.
Cincinnati wasted no time on its next two possessions. Running back Cole Tabb broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run. French IV proceeded to hit Gibson for a 50-yard pass the following offensive drive to set up a 3-yard scoring run by running back Zion Johnson just before the break. The Bearcats took a 28-10 lead into intermission.
The second half belonged entirely to Cincinnati. Their ground game took over, and it didn’t just take one running back to do it. Gi’Bran Payne scored on runs of 40 and 17 yards in the third quarter, Zylan Perry added a 40-yard touchdown of his own, and even backup quarterbacks Liam O’Brien and Samaj Jones got into the act. O’Brien scored with an 11-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, and Jones closed it out with a 4-yard touchdown in the closing minutes – the fourth different Bearcat to reach the end zone in the half alone. 6 total players for Cincinnati punched in a rushing touchdown throughout the game.
For the Catamounts, Thomas completed 23 of 32 passes for 165 yards with 18 rushing yards and the team’s only touchdown. Isaac Lee saw action in the fourth quarter and threw an interception. Freshman Patrick Harding made his collegiate debut in the final minutes of the game.
Wide receiver Jai Boyd led the team with six receptions and 32 yards. Tight end Jake Young had five catches for a team-high 49 yards. Receivers Santana Carlos (26 yards), AJ Colombo (17), Kale Woodburn (5), running backs Derrick Davis Jr. (7) and Josh Perry (11) each recorded two receptions.
Western Carolina rushed for a total of 74 yards, with Marlin Cochran leading the team with 25 yards on three carries, and Perry compiling 24 on seven attempts.
Defensively for the Catamounts, cornerback Andre Jackson Jr. and safety Alant’e Reese each recorded seven tackles. Cornerback Ken Moore Jr. and safety Ja’Torian Mack totaled six apiece. Defensive lineman Nassor Ashenafi had five stops and a tackle for loss. Eight Western Carolina defenders combined for tackles for loss, but Cincinnati’s FBS-level offensive line was too much for defensive coordinator Nick Reveiz and staff to handle.
French completed 21 of 24 passes for 245 yards to go along with two touchdowns. Nine different Bearcats carried the ball. Payne finished with 102 yards and two scores on 12 carries, while Perry added 76 yards and a touchdown.
Western Carolina (1-2) returns to FCS play for the rest of the season.
The Catamounts host Presbyterian (1-1) on Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN+
