CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina scored 13 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the #19 Eastern Kentucky University football team Saturday night at Whitmire Stadium, 20-17. The loss drops EKU’s (1-2) record to 1-3 all-time against Southern Conference competition under head coach Danny Hope.

The Colonels looked like they were going to run away with a win after piling up 315 offensive yards in the first half of action and holding the host Catamounts (2-0) without a first down. However, Western jumped out in front, 7-0, thanks to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown following Eastern Kentucky’s opening possession of the contest.

EKU immediately regrouped and took its next possession 79 yards to level the score at 7-all. On 4th-and-3 from the Catamount 33-yard line, junior quarterback Josh Greco found senior tight end Patrick Bugg streaking down the far sideline for a touchdown. Another big pass play featuring Greco and Bugg, this time a 39-yard hook-up, set up sophomore Taylor Long’s 36-yard field goal right before the end of the first quarter to give Eastern a 10-7 lead.

Four minutes into the second quarter, the Colonels struck again when Bugg slipped through the WCU secondary for an 18-yard touchdown reception. Two missed Eastern opportunities later in the quarter kept the score 17-7 going into the break. Greco tried to hit Bugg on another deep pattern, but was intercepted at the Western 11-yard line. Long then missed a 36-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds of the half.

The tide of the game immediately changed at the start of the second half. Facing a 3rd-and-12, Catamount quarterback Bennett Swygert found Eddie Cohen for a 29-yard completion to give WCU its first first down of the game. Six plays later, Western made a 30-yard field goal to cut the deficit to seven, 17-10. Greco’s second interception of the evening set up the tying score. Western Carolina needed just three plays to find the end zone as Swygert threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Jefferson with 6:35 left in the third quarter to even the score at 17-apiece.

Following a Colonel punt, the Catamounts quickly moved the ball down the field looking for the go-ahead score. Western Carolina crept inside the EKU five-yard line, but the Colonel defense stuffed the Catamounts on four consecutive rushes forcing a change of possession. The momentum swing didn’t last long for Eastern as Western’s defense came away with a third interception deep inside of Colonel territory. The Catamounts capitalized with a 25-yard field goal to finally take back the lead, 20-17, with 11:43 remaining.

Eastern Kentucky moved the ball into Western Carolina territory two more times, but could not tally the tying points. Sophomore Davin Walker returned a Catamount kick-off 55 yards to the WCU 40-yard line only to see the Colonels have to punt. On EKU’s final touch, junior Quinton Williams caught a 34-yard pass to the Catamount 33-yard line. Unfortunately, Long missed a 43-yard field goal attempt wide right allowing Western to run out the clock.

Bugg finished with five receptions for a career-high 118 yard receiving. On the ground, juniors Bobby Washington and Mark Dunn combined for 125 yards. Senior linebacker Brandon Rosser led all players with eight tackles.

For Western Carolina, Darius Fudge notched 104 rushing yards, 87 of which came in the second half. Carlton Bailey, Brandon Breeden and Kadeem Morgan each recorded an interception.

Eastern Kentucky opens its conference schedule on Thursday night, Sept. 21, when the Colonels travel to Tennessee Tech. ESPNU will be covering the game live beginning at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: Eastern Kentucky is now 0-9 under head coach Danny Hope in road non-conference games … Bugg registered his fifth career multiple-touchdown game … the Colonels’ 10 points in the first quarter were their first points in the opening quarter this season … EKU was held to two first downs and 77 yards in the second half … Long’s 36-yard field goal tied a career long … Greco has thrown at least two interceptions in five of his last six games … Western Carolina earned its first-ever win over Eastern (1-2).