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Catamounts hold on to take homecoming win over Elon
Western Carolina kept its hopes of a Southern Conference football championship alive Saturday with a 31-26 homecoming win over Elon.
The Catamounts (3-2, 4-3) are tied for fourth in the league but are just a game behind first place Appalachian State.
Mike Malone’s 90-yard kickoff return helped Western Carolina take a commanding lead Saturday, and the Catamounts held on for a 31-26 homecoming victory over Elon. – WCU photo by Mark Haskett
A crowd of 10,137 at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field saw Western build a 31-10 lead early in the second half then hold off a Phoenix rally.
Darius Fudge had 99 rushing yards in 14 carries for the Cats. Lamont Reid added 63 yards in nine attempts.
Justin Clark completed 10 of 18 passes for 108 yards. Michael Hines’ five receptions totaled 35 yards.
Mike Malone had two long kickoff returns. One went for a touchdown, and the other set up a field goal.
Elon was led by Reggie Hall with 21 carries for 91 yards and Kye Hamilton, who completed 15 of 32 passes for 156 yards. Michael Mayers had five catches for 78 yards.
WCU’s James Conklin and Chad Nkang of the Phoenix both were in on 12 tackles.
Malone brought the opening kickoff back 80 yards to the Elon 20. The Cats had a first down inside the 10 before settling for Jonathan Parsons’ field goal and a 3-0 lead with 1:55 to go in the first quarter.
On the first play following a punt, Fudge broke through for a 66-yard TD run. Parsons, who was four of four on extra points, made it 10-0 with 11:13 to play in the opening period.
Western again forced a punt, but Elon got the ball right back when Nicholas Campbell recovered Clark’s fumble at the WCU 43.
Following another punt, the Cats drove 80 yards in 10 plays. The highlight was a 33-yard pass from Clark to Nicholas Wishart. Clark hit John Bush with a 19-yard scoring pass on the next play for a 17-0 advantage with 2:14 remaining in the opening stanza.
Elon’s first score was set up when Francis Brown fumbled a punt giving the Phoenix the ball at their 46. Hall’s 22-yard run led to a 36-yard field goal by Andrew Wilcox cutting the gap to 17-3 with 12:49 to go in the half.
Western turned the ball over on downs at the Elon 38 on its next possession. Hamilton completed a 17-yard pass to Bo Williamson before hitting Mayers on a 32-yard scoring strike bringing the Phoenix within 17-10 at the 8:27 mark.
Malone took the ensuing kickoff back 90 yards as WCU regained control for a 24-10 lead 12 seconds later.
Fudge fumbled late in the half with Sidney Fitz-Coy recovering at the WCU 49, but the Phoenix could not take advantage of the turnover.
Brown’s 28-yard punt return early in the second half led to Bush’s 1-yard TD run building the lead to 31-10 with 9:55 to go in the third period.
Elon’s comeback began with a 42-yard field goal by Wilcox making it 31-13 with 9:25 left in the game.
Tim Mayse had his punt blocked on WCU’s next possession, and Chris Bland returned the ball 10 yards for a score narrowing the gap to 31-20 at the 7:33 mark.
Bush’s fumble on the first play after an onside kick set the Phoenix up at the WCU 49. However, Carlton Bailey picked off Hamilton’s pass at the 12 on the next play.
Elon climbed within 31-26 on Hamilton’s 12-yard pass to Casey Hall with 2:39 on the clock. A conversion pass failed.
Western again recovered an onside kick, but Mayse’s short punt gave the Phoenix an opportunity at its 40 with 28 seconds to play. Hamilton completed a 15-yard pass to Mayers to the WCU 45, but four straight passes fell incomplete ending the game.
Elon WCU
16 First Downs 11
43-149 Rushes-Yds. 35-169
15-33-1 Passing 10-20-0
156 Passing Yds. 108
9-40.2 Punts-Avg. 6-33.3
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 5-4
6-59 Penalties-Yds. 6-46
Elon 0 10 0 16 26
WCU 17 7 7 0 31
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