CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina (4-3, 3-2 Southern Conference) used some big plays to race out to a 31-10 lead, but needed a pass breakup in the endzone on the final play of the game to hold on for a 31-26 Homecoming victory over Elon (3-6, 0-5 SoCon) Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
Western's Mike Malone, the Southern Conference 100 and 200-meter track champion, took the opening kickoff 80 yards, setting up a 25-yard Jonathan Parsons field goal. Elon was forced to punt on its first possession. On the Catamounts first play from scrimmage after the Phoenix punt, Darius Fudge broke one tackle and out-ran Elon's defense for a 66-yard touchdown, giving Western an early 10-0 lead.
With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, the Cats stretched their advantage to 17 as Justin Clark floated a pass to the right corner of the endzone, hitting fullback John Bush on stride for a 19-yard score. Overall, Clark completed 5-of-7 passes during the drive, including a 33-yarder to Nicholas Wishart prior to the TD.
From that point, Elon began to move the ball. After getting the ball on a muffed punt return, the Phoenix started the second quarter with a seven-play, 35-yard drive, which was capped by a 36-yard Andrew Wilcox field goal. Elon took advantage of another change of possession, when Western failed to get a first down on a fourth-and-two. Elon's sophomore quarterback Kye Hamilton used a 17-yard completion to setup a 32-yard touchdown pass to Michael Mayers down the left sideline, making the score 17-10.
Malone snatched the momentum from the Phoenix, returning the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a Catamount touchdown. The kick return for a TD was Malone's first and the 15th time in WCU history Western had returned a kick at least 90 yards for a TD. Neither team scored over the final 8:15 and Western took a 24-10 lead at the break.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Elon was forced to punt, giving the Cats the ball on the Elon 29. After a pass interference and a few short runs by Lamont Reid, Western was staring at a third-and-goal on the one. Bush plowed his way across the goal line and Western was up 31-10.
As the fourth quarter began, Elon started its push towards an upset. The Phoenix, backed up to their own one after a 52-yard Tim Mayse punt, put together an impressive 14-play, 74-yard drive. While Western's defense stiffened, to force a field goal. Wilcox came on to drill a career-long 42-yarder, making the score 31-13.
On Western's ensuing possession, which ended in a punt, Elon's Daronce Daniels broke through the line to block a Catamount punt, the first punt WCU has had blocked this season. Chris Bland scooped the ball up on the 10 and found his way to the endzone to make cut Western's lead to 11 (31-20).
With 4:58 left in the game, Hamilton attempted a pass on eight of the nine-play drive, completing six. The last completion was a jump ball in the left corner of the endzone between a pair of Elon players, which Casey Hall came down with for a 12-yard touchdown. Western's Francis Brown broke up the Phoenix' two-point attempt on a Hamilton pass to keep the score 31-26.
Elon attempted an on-side kick, which was recovered by the Phoenix. However, a penalty forced Elon to kickoff once again. The Phoenix blooped the kick and Western took over near midfield with 2:38 left. Elon did not have any timeouts and Western was able to run clock down inside 30 seconds. A poor WCU punt gave the Phoenix the ball on their own 40 and some hope with 28 seconds left. Hamilton completed one pass, a 15-yarder to Mayers on the first play. After spiking the ball and two incompletions, the game came down to one final play. Hamilton's "Hail Mary" was knocked down in the endzone by Western's Mitchell Dukes to preserve the WCU win.
Offensively for the Catamounts, Fudge just missed 100 yards for the second consecutive game. After getting 95 in a win at Chattanooga last week, the junior tallied 99 yards on 14 attempts versus the Phoenix. Clark completed 10-of-18 passes foe 108 yards. Michael Hines was his top target, hauling in four passes for 35 yards. On defense, James Conklin led the way, collecting a career-high 12 tackles, followed by Felipe Foster (8) and Rico Reese (7). Reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week Carlton Bailed added six stops and an interception.
Elon was led offensively by Reggie Hall's 91 rushing yards. Hamilton finished the day completing 15-of-32 passes for 156 yards and two scores. Mayers was the Phoenix' leading receiver, catching five passes for 78 yards. The nation's leading tackler, Chad Nkang, paced Elon's defense with 12 stops, including three for losses.
Western Carolina will return to action next Saturday, hosting Wofford at 2 pm. Prior to the game, Western will have Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on the Ramsey Center concourse, starting at 10:00 am. Meanwhile, Elon will observe its open date next weekend before visiting The Citadel on Nov. 12.
– ELON – Game Box Score
