CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Taron Dickens had a standout performance, throwing five touchdown passes, which included a crucial 8-yard go-ahead connection with De’Andre Tamarez in the fourth quarter, to lead Western Carolina to a 38-34 victory over Chattanooga in an important Southern Conference matchup on Saturday.
Tamarez secured his third touchdown reception during a decisive seven-play, 85-yard drive that pushed the Catamounts ahead 38-34 with 7 minutes left in the game. Following this drive, the Mocs managed only nine plays for the remainder of the game, ending their final possession with an interception right before the clock expired.
This victory keeps Western Carolina with a record of 5-4 overall and 4-1 in league play, positioning them just half a game behind Mercer, who holds a record of 8-1 and 5-1 in the Southern Conference. Meanwhile, Chattanooga, now at 5-4 with a 4-2 record, drops to third place in the standings.
Dickens had an impressive outing, completing 34 of 48 passes for 431 yards and connecting with 13 different receivers. Although he was intercepted once and had a fumble, his performance was pivotal. Tamarez contributed significantly with five catches for 59 yards.
On the other side, Luke Schomburg passed for 314 yards on 14 of 31 passing for the Mocs. He threw two touchdown passes but faced difficulties with three interceptions. Chris Domercant was a bright spot for Chattanooga, making three receptions for 101 yards, which included a touchdown.
Chattanooga initially took control of the game with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Schomburg to Domercant and a remarkable 75-yard fumble return by Leroy Harris III, giving them a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.
However, Dickens responded sharply for Western Carolina in the second quarter, throwing touchdown passes of 15 yards to Isaiah Johnson and 32 yards to Tamarez, allowing the Catamounts to narrow the gap to 21-17 by halftime. In the second half, Dickens continued his strong performance with three additional touchdown passes, as the Catamounts outscored the Mocs 21-13.