It’s a big Saturday across the college football world, and while this Southern Conference clash won’t draw U.S. Presidents or anything like that, the oldest rivalry in ETSU football history means plenty. It’s also the SoCon opener for both teams, and crucial for both the standings and trying to build a resume as a possible at-large selection for the FCS playoffs.
A sellout is anticipated, after one of the smallest — and quietest crowds – Buc onlookers could recall in last week’s 35-27 win against West Georgia.
Keep it locked here throughout the game for our live report, with the most recent updates always going at the top.
What did I miss?
Here’s a rundown from our coverage heading into the game:
- A look at the leadership of ETSU DL Brenden LeBlanc, and why coach Will Healy calls him the “Alpha” of the locker room.
- Our profile on Western Carolina defensive coordinator Nick Reveiz, a former linebacker at Tennessee.
- The weekly FCS Briefing by Thomas Stokes
- ETSU QB Jake McNamara has ended his playing career due to concussion issues and will continue to serve as a student coach for the Bucs on the sideline.
- The ETSU defense has had issues with explosive plays through four games.
Two minute warning
We’re finally at the last media timeout, and ETSU is on its way to a comfortable 58-24 win. That’s the most the Bucs have scored against Western Carolina in what is the 56th meeting between the two teams. We’ll have a full recap with comments from the post game, plus follow-up notes Sunday, and John Moorehouse’s weekly column, plus ETSU talk on the next episode of the I & Tri Sports Podcast.
Thanks for reading.
Touchdown ETSU
Jaiden Daniels becomes the fifth different Buc to get to the end zone today, and four of them have been running backs. Daniels scores from 1 yard out and the PAT makes it a 58-24 game with 4:10 remaining.
Davis looked sharp, completing both passes he attempted, for 26 yards to Tyler Griffin and 23 yards to Khristian Means.
Health update, and Jadyn Davis sighting
LB Dre Delinois, Jack Samuel Iroh, and OL Isaiah Hall all have gone into the medical tent at different times today and all three have been back on the field.
Jadyn Davis is now at QB for the Bucs along with a mix of starters and backups.
Touchdown Western Carolina
The Catamounts are making this game look closer than it’s actually been. A third rushing TD of the day for QB Lex Thomas, and the PAT makes it a 51-24 game with 6:33 left.
That was a 15-play, 82-yard drive that took 4:50 off the clock.
Touchdown, ETSU
A third touchdown of the day for Jason Albritton, this one from 3 yards, and the PAT makes it a 51-17 game in favor of the Bucs with 11:29 to go in the game.
End third quarter: ETSU 44, Western Carolina 14
Western moving the ball a bit more effectively but the gaps in points and yardage remain vast. The Bucs have 63 plays for 423 yards compared to 44 for 210 for the Catamounts. TJ Peyton drawing ever closer to 100 yards rushing, with 90 on 13 carries.
Western just hit a field goal, so now it’s 44-17 with 14:07 to go.
Oggs shaken up
Another ETSU player slow to get up, this time defensive back Jivon Oggs. This, after the Bucs punted for the first time all day and Western starts moving the ball again. A 20-yard pass to Santana Carlos and the Catamounts are almost into the red zone.
Touchdown Western Carolina
Three minutes left in the third and the Catamounts add to their point total, as QB Lex Thomas runs it on on the weak side from 5 yards. A 12-play, 65-yard drive for Western, and the PAT makes it 44-14 ETSU.
The Bucs still dominate the stat sheets, with 436 yards on 40 plays to 177 on 60 plays for Western Carolina.
Touchdown ETSU
The Bucs strike past, covering 34 yards in four plays and taking just 1:09 to do it. TJ Peyton ran it in from 1 yard out, and carried it on three of the four plays. The big play was a 20-yard pass to the doorstep of the goal line, from Mason Mims to Brandon Winton.
Here we go again?
The Bucs force a turnover on downs. Western advanced it to its own 34 and went for it on fourth down, because when you’re down 30 in the third quarter, why not? The defense has looked like a different group in this game: more pressure, better fundamentals, minimal blown coverages, and strong tackling in the open field.
Seven drives, seven scores
The Bucs have scored every time they got the ball. Their opening drive of the second half ends with a 43-yard field goal from Ewan Johnson, and now it’s a 37-7 game with 11:22 to go in the third period.
We’ve seen more variance and creativity from the ETSU offense. Maybe that’s because SoCon play has started and the Bucs just want to create more for opposing coordinators to have to scheme against. Case in point: Jason Albritton takes the direct snap out of the Wildcat and runs 20 yards on a third and short.
Bucs OL Isaiah Hall left the field what looked like serious discomfort before the field goal and went into the medical tent.
Halftime stats
The Bucs are dominating this one statistically in almost every facet. ETSU has 343 yards of offense on 48 plays, and has had the ball for 19:20. Western Carolina has 120 yards on 24 plays, with 10:15 time of possession.
The Bucs have 17 first downs. Western has seven.
The Bucs are 6-of-9 on third downs and converted their only first down. Western is 1-for-6 on third downs and 0-for-1 on fourth down.
TJ Peyton leads the ground game with 83 rushing yards. D’Marius Rucker has 68 with the touchdown. Jason Albritton has run for 18 yards with a pair of scores. Mason Mims remains efficient, completing 16 of 22 passes for 134 yards with a TD.
Second half starts soon.
Touchdown ETSU
Mason Mims finds the “giraffe” Charlie Browder wide open and unguarded in the right side of the end zone for a TD grab from 12yards. A four-play, 73-yard drive that took 32 seconds. Earlier on the drive, D’Marius Rucker, who scored a touchdown earlier, just ripped off a career-long 60-yard run to put the Bucs back in the red zone for the fifth time in six possessions. ETSU has scored on each of its six offensive possessions this half. It’s 34-7 Bucs with 32 seconds before halftime.
Touchdown Western Carolina
Signs of life from the Catamount offense after what has been a dominant performance on both sides of the ball by ETSU. Lex Thomas scrambles, finds a seam, and takes off for a 37-yard touchdown run. The PAT makes it 27-7, in ETSU’s favor, with 1:11 remaining.
A couple of explosive plays on that six-play, 75-yard drive, including the TD. ETSU had not allowed any explosives to that point today.
Bucs redshirt freshman Jack Samuel Iroh has to be helped off the field and isn’t putting any weight on his right leg. Dre Delinois, however, was back out there for ETSU.
Career long for Johnson
A personal foul stalls the Bucs’ ensuing drive, but it doesn’t keep ETSU from adding to its point total. Ewan Johnson boots a 49-yard field goal, a personal best, to make it a 27-0 game with 1:54 to go until the half.
Another quick turnaround
Western Carolina goes three and out yet again, puns, and ETSU has the ball back at its own 39 with 4:09 left in the half.
Touchdown, ETSU
What a run there for Jason Albritton from 3 yards. Western defenders made contact almost right away, and Albritton stayed up, kept going, legs churning, with Kingsport native and Bucs left tackle Sam Browder pushing Albritton from behind until he got into the end zone. The PAT is good, and the Bucs lead 24-0 with 6:05 to go in the half.
It’s all ETSU here, and with Albritton’s parents in the house here at William B. Greene, I’m sure they’re enjoying the visit.
Suderian Harrison, quarterback?
During Harrison’s time at Virginia, Harrison attempted a couple of passes, completing one in 2024 to help the Cavaliers beat Pitt. We just saw a taste of that here, as Harrison threw it back to Mason Mims for a 20-yard gain. Mims followed that up with completions of 19 yards to Tyler Griffin and 8 yards to Khristian Means, and it’s third-and-1 for the Bucs at the Western Carolina 6-yard-line in an injury timeout with 6:44 to go in the half.
Lost on downs
Another self-inflicted gaffe by the Catamounts. On fourth-and-short, Lex Thomas rolls out, had room to either run it or make a throw, but he slips and falls with a defender approaching rapidly. ETSU regains possession at its own 47 with 8:01 remaining in the half.
Into the medical tent
Possible injury for the Bucs. Linebacker Dre Delinois,the team’s leading tackler and one of the most prolific FCS tacklers nationwide, got shaken up on that last play and has entered the ETSU blue medical intent. Meanwhile, had a first down at midfield, with Lex Thomas overthrowing the receiver on a deep ball, and then a holding call on the play sending the Catamounts backward.
ETSU scores again
A 33-yard field goal by Ewan Johnson, and he makes it look effortless. The Bucs lead 17-0 with 10:36 to go in the half.
Eight plays for 57 yards, with 3:42 off the clock on that one. The Bucs have scored on each of their first three possessions. Another strong drive until a tackle for loss on Albritton on the toss on third and short. Highlights on the drive include:
- The first explosive play of the day for either team, a 24-yard run by TJ Peyton
- An 8-yard scramble by Mason Mims on what looked to be a busted play, as he turned to hand off with no one else in the backfield, then took off, put on the brakes to make a guy miss, and run out of bounds near the marker
- Mims completed his lone pass of the drive, on the first play, a 19-yarder to Trey Weary
Three drives, three punts
Western Carolina goes three and out again, and a fantastic individual defensive play by Mike Jenkins on third down, hitting the intended receiver right as the ball arrived to break up the play.
ETSU gets the ball back and starts from its own 27 with 14:18 showing in the second period.
First quarter stats
That’s the best individual quarter of football ETSU has played so far this season. The Bucs have run 26 plays for 116 yards of offense, compared to seven plays for 17 yards by the Catamounts. ETSU also has dominated time of possession, 10:48-4:12, and converted five of six third downs and its only fourth down try.
Mason Mims has 67 passing yards, completing 10 of 13 throws to four different targets.
Touchdown, ETSU
The Bucs double their lead as Jason Albritton smashes up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown with two seconds showing in the first quarter. The Ewan Johnson PAT makes it a 14-0 game.
ETSU had a 10-play, 48-yard drive that time, spanning 3:58 on the game clock.
Laying out
Luck is bouncing the Bucs’ way. Mason Mims rolls out on third down, throw a pass that gets tipped, and D’Marius Rucker reads the ball and makes a diving catch for the first down. Meanwhile, two drops so far by the Buc receivers. Brandon Winton has one on the first drive and Suderian Harrison just dropped another, although contact had something to do with it.
Declawed?
That Catamount offense has been dealing with self-inflicted wounds and punted after another three and out. Charles Woodard with the sack on second down after a bad snap by the Catamounts, and Western essentially settles for a punt for the second straight possession. The Cats already started backed up, as on the kickoff, Qua Birdsong got tangled up with Western’s Jordan Martin-Durham, who threw Birdsong to the turf and drew a personal foul.
Touchdown ETSU
The Bucs take the early lead, cashing in their first offensive possession of the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by D’Marius Rucker. A 16-play, 63-yard drive that took 6:50 off of the game clock. Sharp work by Mason Mims on the drive, completing 7 of 9 passes for 40 yards. Two of the catches went to Charlie Browder, including an out pattern for 11 yards where he was forced out of bounds to set up first-and-goal from the 2.
It’s 7-0 ETSU, with 5:35 to go in the quarter.
Moving the chains
ETSU is driving. A fourth-and-4 from the WCU 47, and ETSU goes for it. Mason Mims finds Suderian Harrison on the inside slant and makes the catch even with a defender right there, covering about as close as you can without getting a flag.
Tough catch by Tyler Griffin on the RPO delivery from Mims to move the sticks, and give the Bucs a first down close to midfield.
Nothing doing
It’s three and out for the Catamounts on the opening drive of the game. Western QB Lex Thomas scrambled for a big gain on third down but the play got called back for a holding penalty. Bucs DB Javon Oggs with a nice tackle in space on the halfback toss on second-and-10.
It’s ETSU’s ball at the 37 coming out of the media timeout, with 12:25 to go in the first quarter.
Under way
Western Carolina wins the toss, takes the ball, and will start from the 25 after Ewen Johnson’s kickoff goes for a deep touchback.
Counting down
About 15 minutes to go until kickoff and the ETSU band is preparing to take the field.
Game captains for the Bucs today are Kingsport native Charlie Browder, Ewan Johnson, Mason Mims, and Brenden LeBlanc. The Bucs are wearing gold jerseys with white helmets and white pants, which still looks like an Emory & Henry fit to me, but nonetheless.