# 2024 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

The 2024 Western Carolina Catamounts football team represented Western Carolina University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Catamounts were coached by fourth-year head coach Kerwin Bell and played at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 24 (FBS) NC State* | No. 20 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ACCN | L 21–38 | 56,919 |
| September 7 | 1:00 p.m. | Campbell* | No. 17 | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC | ESPN+ | L 16–24 | 12,506 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 22 Elon* | | Rhodes StadiumElon, NC | FloSports/WMYV | W 24–17 | 5,104 |
| September 21 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 9 Montana* | No. 24 | Washington–Grizzly StadiumMissoula, MT | ESPN+ | L 35–46 | 25,720 |
| October 5 | 2:30 p.m. | Wofford | | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC | ESPN+ | W 21–17 | Behind closed doors |
| October 12 | 2:30 p.m. | The Citadel | | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC | ESPN+ | W 30–16 | 6,278 |
| October 19 | 2:00 p.m. | at Furman | | Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC | ESPN+ | W 52–20 | 9,897 |
| October 26 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Mercer | No. 24 | Fiver Star StadiumMacon, GA | ESPN+ | L 34–44 | 7,389 |
| November 2 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 18 Chattanooga | | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC | ESPN+ | W 38–34 | 11,198 |
| November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at East Tennessee State | No. 22 | William B. Greene Jr. StadiumJohnson City, TN | ESPN+ | L 21–24 | 12,109 |
| November 16 | 1:00 p.m. | VMI | | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC | ESPN+ | W 58–28 | 13,022 |
| November 23 | 3:00 p.m. | at Samford | | Pete Hanna StadiumHomewood, AL | ESPN+ | W 47–42 | 4,723 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### at No. 24 (FBS) NC State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 20 Catamounts | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| No. 24 (FBS) Wolfpack | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 38 |
at Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC
* Date: August 29, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ACCN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), and Dawn Boyle (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | WCU | NCST |
| First downs | 16 | 28 |
| Total yards | 58–364 | 73–521 |
| Rushing yards | 18–123 | 33–203 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 318 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–40–0 | 26–40–1 |
| Time of possession | 24:30 | 35:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Carolina | Passing | Cole Gonzales | 22/35, 211 yards, 2 TD |
| Western Carolina | Rushing | Cole Gonzales | 6 carries, 75 yards |
| Western Carolina | Receiving | AJ Colombo | 9 receptions, 97 yards, TD |
| NC State | Passing | Grayson McCall | 26/40, 318 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Jordan Waters | 20 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Kevin Concepcion | 9 receptions, 121 yards, 3 TD |

### Campbell

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Camels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 17 Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC
* Date: September 7, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Campbell | Passing |
| Campbell | Rushing |
| Campbell | Receiving |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |

### at No. 22 Elon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 22 Phoenix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Rhodes Stadium, Elon, NC
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 PM
* TV: FloSports
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| Elon | Passing |
| Elon | Rushing |
| Elon | Receiving |

### at No. 9 Montana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Catamounts | 14 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 35 |
| No. 9 Grizzlies | 0 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 46 |
at Washington–Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, MT
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 PM
* Game attendance: 25,720
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| Montana | Passing |
| Montana | Rushing |
| Montana | Receiving |

### Wofford

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Terriers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,278
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Wofford | Passing |
| Wofford | Rushing |
| Wofford | Receiving |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |

### The Citadel

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| The Citadel | Passing |
| The Citadel | Rushing |
| The Citadel | Receiving |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |

### at Furman

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paladins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Paladin Stadium, Greenville, SC
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 PM
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| Furman | Passing |
| Furman | Rushing |
| Furman | Receiving |

### at No. 14 Mercer

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 14 Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Five Star Stadium, Macon, GA
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 PM
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| Mercer | Passing |
| Mercer | Rushing |
| Mercer | Receiving |

### No. 18 Chattanooga

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Mocs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Chattanooga | Passing |
| Chattanooga | Rushing |
| Chattanooga | Receiving |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |

### at East Tennessee State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Catmounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at William B. Greene Jr Stadium, Johnson City, TN
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 PM
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| East Tennessee State | Passing |
| East Tennessee State | Rushing |
| East Tennessee State | Receiving |

### VMI

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Keydets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| VMI | Passing |
| VMI | Rushing |
| VMI | Receiving |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |

### at Samford

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Catamounts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Pete Hanna Stadium • Homewood, AL
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Western Carolina | Passing |
| Western Carolina | Rushing |
| Western Carolina | Receiving |
| Samford | Passing |
| Samford | Rushing |
| Samford | Receiving |

## Statistics
### Team

* Scoring
* Points per Game
* Points per Turnovers
* First Downs
* Rushing
* Passing
* Penalty
* Rushing yards
* Avg per play
* Avg per game
* Rushing touchdowns
* Passing yards
* Att-Comp-Int
* Avg per pass
* Avg per catch
* Avg per game
* Passing touchdowns
* Total Offense
* Plays
* Avg per play
* Avg per game
* Fumbles-Lost
* Penalties-Yards
* Avg per game
| | Western Carolina | Opp |
| Punt-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Avg per punt net | | |
| Punt Return-Yards | | |
| Avg per punt return | | |
| Kickoffs-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Avg per kick net | | |
| Kickoff Return-Yards | | |
| Avg per kickoff return | | |
| Interceptions-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Time of possession / game | | |
| 3rd Down Conversions (Pct%) | (0%) | (0%) |
| 4th Down Conversions (Pct%) | (0%) | (0%) |
| Touchdowns Scored | | |
| Field Goals-Attempts | | |
| PAT-Attempts | | |
| 2 point conversion-attempts | | |
| Sack by Yards | | |
| Misc Yards | | |
| Safeties | | |
| Onside kicks | | |
| Red zone scores | (0%) | (0%) |
| Red zone touchdowns | (0%) | (0%) |
| Attendance | | |
| Date/Avg per date | | |
| Neutral Site | | |

### Individual leaders

Passing statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RAT | CMP-ATT-INT | YDS | AVG/G | CMP% | TD | LONG |
| | | QB | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0 yrds | | 0.0% | 0 TDs | 0 |
| | TOTALS | | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0 TDs | 0 |
Rushing statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | ATT | GAIN | AVG | TD | LONG | AVG/G |
| | | RB | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
Receiving statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | CTH | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | AVG/G |
| | | WR | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |

#### Defense

Defense statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | SOLO | AST | TOT | TFL-YDS | SACK-YDS | INT-YDS-TD | BU | QBH | RCV-YDS | FF | BLK | SAF |
| | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | TOTAL | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds- 0 TDs | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - |
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown

#### Special teams

Kicking/off statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | XPM-XPA (XP%) | FGM-FGA (FG%) | 1–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50+ | PTS | LNG | KICKS | YDS | AVG | TB | OB |
| | | PK | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | 0 pts | 0 | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | - |
| | TOTALS | | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | - |
Punting statistics :
| NAME | POS | PUNTS | YDS | AVG | LONG | TB | FC | I–20 | 50+ | BLK |
| | P | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Team | -- | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kick return statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RTNS | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TD's | 0 |
Punt return statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RTNS | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TD's | 0 |