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Western Carolina will travel to Chattanooga on Saturday
Western Carolina’s football team will travel to Chattanooga Saturday for a 6 p.m. Southern Conference game.
The Catamounts (1-5, 0-2) will be looking to snap a 10-game league losing streak and end an 11-game road winless drought, which dates back to Oct. 22, 2005, when they won at Chattanooga.
“They’ve got some great talent on the team and have played very well at times this season,” Coach Kent Briggs said of the Moccasins (1-4, 1-1). “I thought the way they played at Georgia Southern and Arkansas was impressive. They are a lot like us. They haven’t been consistent. I think they’re searching for some consistency and will be another challenge for us. Hopefully, it will be a tough one for them, too.”
The Mocs beat Georgia Southern 45-38 in overtime. GSU handed the Cats a 50-21 loss.
“They have several good running backs and talented receivers,” Briggs said. “Their quarterback makes things happen by getting out on the perimeter. Coach (Rodney) Allison has always been committed to the run, and I think their offensive line has been key to their success. They have really improved in that area. Chattanooga will be very challenging for our defense.”
“It is a big game for us and a big game for them, too,” Allison said. “It is a chance for us to move to 2-1 in the conference and stay in second place at least for one more week. I know they’ve struggled a bit and haven’t won a conference game, but we will have to play well. Last time they came here they blocked a couple of punts and got the win. Coach Briggs will have his team ready to play. I think it’ll be a knock down, drag out Southern Conference football game, and we’ll have to play our best to get a win.”
WCU came up just short last week in a 38-36 loss to Elon.
“I think it was our best offensive performance this season,” Briggs said. “We changed quarterbacks, and (Adam Hearns) made some things happen for us. Going down the stretch, I wish we had been more consistent. We had our opportunities, but we are excited about the improvements we made, especially offensively. Our defense did some good things in the second half that really gave us a chance to win that football game. I felt like we made improvements in the special teams as well.”
Hearns was named conference freshman of the week after compiling 383 yards of total offense in his first start.
“I’m very excited for him and our football team that he has come on like he has,” Briggs said. “It is a matter of him continuing to mature, and I’m looking for his career to keep on improving. Just as I was pleased with the play of Adam, I was pleased earlier with the play of Todd Spitzer. He is still in a position to continue to help us win games in a variety of ways through his leadership.”
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