Western Carolina’s regular season finale delivered high drama Saturday afternoon, as the Catamounts held off a furious Samford rally to win 47-42 on the road.
Coach Kerwin Bell’s team secured a second-place finish in the Southern Conference with the victory (6-2 SoCon, 7-5 overall). Now, WCU must endure a tense wait for Sunday’s FCS playoff selection show, airing at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU, to see if its season will continue.
While they remain a long shot, the Catamounts are clinging to slim postseason hopes. National FCS analyst Sam Herder of Hero Sports currently projects WCU as one of the final bubble teams out. The official bracket will feature 24 teams.
The Catamounts built a commanding 37-14 halftime lead, fueled by a 92-yard pick-six from Jordy Lowery and a 73-yard blocked field goal return by CJ Williams in the final minute of the second quarter. Despite the cushion, Samford (4-7, 3-5 SoCon) stormed back with a 21-point third quarter, highlighted by Quincy Crittendon’s three rushing touchdowns and Micah Kelly’s 85-yard scoring run.
WCU’s fourth-quarter resilience proved decisive, as Jalynn Williams’ one-yard touchdown run and Christian Lowery’s 23-yard field goal provided just enough separation to hold off Samford’s late surge.
Samford outgained WCU on the ground, 365-74, with Crittendon racking up 209 rushing yards and four touchdowns. However, the Catamounts dominated the air. Quarterback Taron Dickens threw for 408 yards and three scores, including a 29-yard strike to De’Andre Tamarez in the opening quarter.
Western Carolina Top Performers:
- Taron Dickens (QB): 36/46, 408 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
- Jordy Lowery (DB): 2 INTs, 92 INT return yards, 1 TD.
- AJ Colombo (WR): 9 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD.
- Malik Knight (WR): 4 receptions, 79 yards.
- CJ Williams (Special Teams): 73-yard blocked field goal return TD.
Scoring Summary | WCU 47, Samford 42
- 1Q (9:43): De’Andre Tamarez 29-yard TD reception from Taron Dickens (WCU 7-0).
- 1Q (5:44): Isaiah Johnson 6-yard TD reception from Dickens (WCU 14-0).
- 2Q (13:50): Quincy Crittendon 48-yard TD run (WCU 14-7).
- 2Q (8:49): Christian Lowery 37-yard FG (WCU 17-7).
- 2Q (4:20): Crittendon 31-yard TD run (WCU 17-14).
- 2Q (2:22): AJ Colombo 14-yard TD reception from Dickens (WCU 23-14).
- 2Q (0:21): Jordy Lowery 92-yard INT return TD (WCU 30-14).
- 2Q (0:00): CJ Williams 73-yard blocked FG return TD (WCU 37-14).
- 3Q (13:55): E. Jai Mason 6-yard TD reception from Crittendon (WCU 37-21).
- 3Q (13:04): Crittendon 19-yard TD run (WCU 37-28).
- 3Q (3:24): Micah Kelly 85-yard TD run (WCU 37-35).
- 4Q (13:45): Jalynn Williams 1-yard TD run (WCU 44-35).
- 4Q (5:07): Christian Lowery 23-yard FG (WCU 47-35).
- 4Q (0:33): Crittendon 1-yard TD run (WCU 47-42).
This story was compiled and written with the assistance of ChatGPT. All content at NC Football News is edited and reviewed by real humans.
