Catamounts devour Lions

Shaun Warren had 21 carries for 203 yards and 4 touchdowns

Western Carolina improved to 1-1 on the season with a defeat of Mars Hill on Saturday night, 52-31.

Shaun Warren carried 21 times for 203 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Catamounts to the victory.

The game did not start out as well as the Catamounts might have liked however, when Jonas Randolph rushed for two, first quarter touchdowns to give the Lions an early 14-7 lead.

The second quarter was dominated by Western Carolina as Brandon Pechloff would find success through the air with touchdown throws to Jacoby Mitchell and Deja Alexander.  The Catamounts would take a commanding 45-17 lead heading into the locker room.

Warren continued his first half success and ran for a 20-yard touchdown run to put the Catamounts up 52-17 at the beginning of the third quarter.

The score would remain the same until late in the fourth quarter when Mars Hill blocked a Western Carolina punt and returned it for a touchdown.  Mars Hill would also tack on a late rushing touchdown to make the final 52-31.

The Catamounts would gain 653 total yards, 355 rushing, in the win.

Western Carolina now leads the all-time series against Mars Hill, 13-5-1, and has won 13-straight in the series that dates back to 1931.

Western Carolina has won all nine meetings against the Lions that have been played in Cullowhee, N.C. at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field since 1982 and is 27-10 in home openers since moving into E.J. Whitmire Stadium in 1974.

Western Carolina has a bye next week, but will continue its season on September 24 when they travel to Georgia Southern to take on the Eagles.