Western Carolina University lost a heartbreaker to the Wofford Terriers on WCU’s Hall of Fame Day.
Wofford is ranked 12th in the nation in the FCS Coaches Poll and 13th in the Sports Network Poll. Western Carolina dropped to a record of 1-7 overall and 0-4 in SoCon play. Wofford extended their win total to 5-2 and stayed undefeated in SoCon play with a record of 4-0.
With the loss WCU is on a three-game losing streak for the season. WCU continued its SoCon losing streak, which is now at 26 games. This was also WCU’s eighth straight loss to Wofford, a streak that has held up since 2005.
WCU scored in the first quarter with a one-yard run by Troy Mitchell. The 65-yard drive included a vital fourth down conversion to reach the end zone and put WCU up 7-0.
In the second quarter, the Terriers responded with a two-yard touchdown rush by Will Gay to tie the game at seven.
Later in the second quarter, WCU responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass by Mitchell to Karnorris Benson to put the Catamounts up 14-7.
A key Wofford fumble recovered by the Catamounts led to a WCU 25-yard field goal to put WCU up 17-7. The score would hold until halftime.
WCU’s 17-7 lead is the largest WCU has held at half against Wofford since 2005 when WCU lead 10-0. In 2005, WCU went on to win 24-0.
Michael Weimer of Wofford ran an 83-yard touchdown on the first official play of the second half to bring the score to 17-14.
In the fourth quarter, Octavious Harden for Wofford ran a 16-yard touchdown to give Wofford its first lead of the game and the score of 21-17.
Wofford held the Catamounts scoreless in the second half and scored 14 straight points to win the game. WCU finished its last offensive drive on the 5-yard line of the red zone with an incomplete pass by Eddie Sullivan directed toward Willie Police as time expired. WCU’s last two offensive drives of the game ended in the red zone.
WCU missed a chance to upset a nationally ranked FCS team. WCU has had an all-time record of 11-72-3 against nationally ranked FCS teams. Eight of these past wins have come at home, and WCU’s last win over a nationally ranked team came in 2006 when WCU upset 19th ranked Eastern Kentucky 20-17. The last time WCU beat a SoCon nationally ranked team came in 2005 when WCU upset second ranked Furman.
WCU’s Mitchell finished with 206 yards passing and 53 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Darius Ramsey finished with 103 rushing yards. Benson finished with 116 yards receiving and one touchdown.
WCU finished the game with a positive three-turnover margin. John McBeth had his first career interception for the Catamounts, which he returned for 41 yards.
On Oct. 26, the Catamounts will host the Elon Phoenix for Homecoming. Elon has a record of 1-2 in SoCon play. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m.
