Catamount Football Concludes First Preseason Scrimmage

Press Release

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football lined up for its first of two scheduled preseason scrimmages on Saturday morning as the Catamounts worked out for just over two hours on the new turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The squad navigated through nearly an hour-long position and unit practice before scrimmaging through 19 total drives for right at 100 combined plays on a seasonably warm session, the team’s eighth of fall camp.

Opening with five consecutive successful stops to start the intrasquad scrimmage, the Catamount defense finished with 11 total wins, including three takeaways on interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. The offensive unit scored points on eight drives with six touchdowns – four through the air and two on the ground – while also capping a pair of scoring drives with field goals from 32 and 46 yards out, respectively.

“It was good. We were able to play a lot of people, which is the big key with a new team, a lot of new players between freshmen and transfers,” said head coach Kerwin Bell following Saturday’s two-hour workout. “After this scrimmage, I feel good about a lot of our football players knowing how to go play and our base concepts. Now, what we’ve got to do this week is go be a better football team next Saturday as far as our execution.”

Among the many rotations across the field in Saturday’s scrimmage, six different quarterbacks split reps with three – returner Isaac Lee, transfer Lex Thomas, and freshman Patrick Harding – wearing the protected red jerseys, while the three remaining signal callers – returner Ian Grissom and true freshmen Jake Morrow and Caleb Tucker – wore purple jerseys amidst live reps.

Both battling for the opening-night starting nod, Thomas (7-of-11) and Lee (7-of-13) both completed seven passes on Saturday with Thomas throwing for 102 yards and Lee 81 with a touchdown. Ian Grissom completed three of his four passes for 114 yards and a pair of scores going to freshman WR Corey Swint (35 yards) and WR Jemarius Reaves to cap the scrimmage on a 66-yard catch-and-run on the final drive of the day. Freshman QB Caleb Tucker connected with classmate Mouhamadou Mane on a 16-yard score.

All told, WCU’s 23 combined receptions were spread to 16 different receivers, including running backs and tight ends, with none having more than three catches. RB Josh Perry (3 for 31 yds) and WR Matthew Keener (3 for 44 yds) led the way with three catches apiece. Reaves led with 66 receiving yards, followed by RB Anthony Benjamin (2 for 50 yds) and WR Michael Rossin (2 for 46 yds)

Nine different running backs split reps on Saturday, with none carrying the ball more than six times. Marlin Cochran muscled in from eight yards out on one of his team-high six carries, finishing with 23 yards, while freshman Jadarius Dobie ran five times for 28 yards, including a 21-yard scamper for a TD. Freshman Joshua Balloon also ran six times for a team-best 66 yards on the ground, adding a catch for 70 total yards. Transfer tailback Derrick Davis Jr. scored on a four-yard reception, while also rushing three times.

Second-year legacy linebacker Hank Bodine paced the defensive unit, credited with seven total tackles and a pick-six on an interception. Linebacker mate Ryan McKinnis and true freshman defensive back Jermiyah Douglas both finished with six tackles, followed by defensive backs Ken Moore Jr., Nassor Ashenafi, linebacker Braden Barger, and converted defensive end Jordan Martin-Durham each with five apiece.

Martin-Durham and Fernando Jeanty were both credited with two of the team’s 15 total tackles for loss apiece, which included eight sacks spread between eight players.

In addition to Bodine’s pick-six, linebacker Marco Patierno and safety Na’koma Simpson-Nealy also added takeaways on interceptions for the defense. The unit also had six pass break-ups, including two by Marseille Taylor, and one apiece for Moore Jr., Ashenafi, Caleb Young Jr., and Devin Brown.

During the scrimmage, Bryan McCollum and Mark Fitzgerald split the reps on PATs, with McCollum hitting a 32-yard field goal and Fitzgerald splitting the uprights on a 46-yarder. McCollum and freshman Luke Waters took reps during the pre-scrimmage special teams drills, while Fitzgerald and Thomas Guerrero both split punts during the period. Marcus Striggles dropped deep on punt returns, with Dobie and Richard Hollis back on kickoffs during the special teams work.

Saturday’s Scrimmage Drive Summary:

No. 1 – Defensive Stop: Interception by Na’koma Simpson-Nealy, deflected off the receiver

No. 2 – Defensive Stop: Sack by Julian Quintero on a 3rd-and-Long

• Drive stalled despite Isaac Lee converting a fourth-down run

No. 3 – Defensive Stop: Three & Out

No. 4 – Defensive Stop: Ended on a sack by Dylan Harris

No. 5 – Defensive Stop: Ended on a sack by Da’Shawn Davis

No. 6 – TOUCHDOWN – Isaac Lee to Derrick Davis Jr., 4-yard TD pass

• 18-yard catch by TE Davis Waddell kept the best drive of the day moving

No. 7 – TOUCHDOWN – Jadarius Dobie, 21-yard TD rush

• Among the quickest scoring drives, spurred by a long reception by Michael Rossin

No. 8 – Defensive Stop: Cain Jefferson and Blue Monroe combine on 3rd down run play

No. 9 – FIELD GOAL – Bryan McCollum, 32-yard field goal

No. 10 – TOUCHDOWN – Marlin Cochran, 10-yard TD rush

No. 11 – Defensive Stop – Minimal offensive yardage gain

No. 12 – Defensive Stop – A couple of consecutive sacks halted the drive

No. 13 – Defensive Score – Hank Bodine with an interception returned for a TD

No. 14 – Defensive Stop – Turnover, interception by Marco Patierno

No. 15 – TOUCHDOWN – Ian Grissom with a 35-yard TD pass to Corey Swint on first drive

No. 16 – Defensive Stop – Minimal offensive yardage gain

No. 17 – TOUCHDOWN – Caleb Tucker with a 19-yard TD pass to Mouhamadou Mane

• Drive spurred by a long run by Joshua Balloon

No. 18 – FIELD GOAL – Mark Fitzgerald, 46-yard field goal

No. 19 – TOUCHDOWN – Ian Grissom with a 66-yard TD pass to Jemarius Reaves

• Longest explosive play of the day capped the scrimmage

As it relates to the progress eight practices into the preseason camp, Bell is happy with the effort he continually gets from the squad, and he stressed the importance of next week in the squad’s development.

“We’re where I want to be (right now). We’re working hard, getting better every day. But I want to be able to turn on that film next Saturday and say that we’re a better football team,” Bell added. “This (upcoming) week is always crucial in camp, that second week after having that first live scrimmage to see how much better we can get, and we’ll work for that.”

Saturday’s festivities were capped by the 12th annual “The Cats” Cookout, orchestrated by Drew Barefoot and aided by several members of the Catamount Club Board of Directors.

Pausing for team photo day on Sunday with a helmet-only practice in the evening, the Catamounts return to work in full force on Monday, Aug. 10, with the first of two fully padded practices, adding a day in uppers and one in helmets only before Thursdays off day. WCU holds its second preseason scrimmage next Saturday evening, simulating the season opener with a 7 p.m. practice, under the lights in Cullowhee.

WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that all spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety.  Practice times are subject to change.

Also, please note that construction on the Western Skybox and surrounding areas, as well as preparatory activities at the stadium for the season, are ongoing and scheduled to continue through early August. Some areas, such as the parking lots and entrances, remain closed to the public.

Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks, courtesy of The Everson.

Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team. Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show, produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities. The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3.

Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform. Fans are encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.