CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina football concludes its two-game homestand on Saturday afternoon as it hosts Samford in the Southern Conference opener for both teams. With both the Catamounts and the Bulldogs entering the contest with identical 0-3 records, one team will secure its first victory of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
The game coincides with Western Carolina University’s “Family Weekend,” which is expected to draw a large crowd of students’ families and friends to campus. Ticket sales have been strong, and several pre-paid parking lots are already at capacity.
The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Pete Yanity and former Catamount defensive back John Brannon III providing commentary. Fans can also tune into the Catamount Sports Network, with pre-game coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. The broadcast will be available on network affiliates in Sylva, Franklin, Asheville, and Marion, as well as online at CatamountSports.com. Live stats and in-game social media updates will be available on the university’s official athletics website and social media channels.
Western Carolina enters the game on a two-game winning streak against Samford. Two seasons ago in Cullowhee, the Catamounts dominated the nationally-ranked Bulldogs in a 30-7 victory. Last year, they secured a historic 47-42 road win in Birmingham, snapping a 10-game losing streak at Samford that dated back to 1969. Despite recent success, WCU trails the all-time series 5-17.
Both teams are seeking to reverse their early-season fortunes. Western Carolina’s losses include a season-opener where they surrendered a 28-point lead to Gardner-Webb, a road defeat at Wake Forest where the offense was held to just 238 total yards, and a narrow loss to Elon last week.
Samford has struggled offensively, scoring just 23 points through three games while committing 12 turnovers. The Bulldogs’ losses came against West Georgia (34-3), fellow SoCon member The Citadel, and a 42-7 defeat at Baylor.
The game features a notable coaching connection, as both head coaches have ties to NCAA Division II powerhouse Valdosta State. Samford’s Chris Hatcher played quarterback and later coached at VSU, leading the Blazers to a national championship in 2004. WCU’s Kerwin Bell also coached at Valdosta State, guiding them to a national title in 2018.
Following Saturday’s game, Western Carolina will begin a two-game road trip, starting with a non-conference matchup against Campbell in Buies Creek next weekend.
