Camels Down No. 24 WCU 28-19 In Home Opener

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense and held No. 24 Western Carolina to just one rushing yard, topping the visiting Catamounts 28-19 on Sunday at Barker-Lane Stadium.

With the home opener win, the Camels (2-0) earned their first 2-0 start since 2018, as well as the program’s second victory over an FCS top-25 opponent.

WCU’s (1-1) single rushing yard marked Campbell’s fewest rushing yards ever allowed against a nonconference opponent, and second fewest all-time.

Campbell posted 528 yards of total offense, its second straight game over the 500-yard mark, adding seven tackles for loss on the defensive side while holding WCU to 2-of-13 on third down chances.

Sunday’s game, originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, was delayed over two hours due to lightning in the area before an electrical issue, caused by the severe weather, caused one of the stadium’s four main light banks to malfunction. The game was then postponed to Sunday due to player safety concerns.

Campbell jumped out to a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter, finding the endzone on its first two drives with Kamden Sixkiller finding Brady Ambrose on a six-yard TD, capping a 10-play, 91-yard drive to start the game, and then Sixkiller running in an eight-yarder. After Bryan McCollum put WCU on the board with a 23-yard field goal, the Camels answered two drives later on Ethan Lawrence’s one-yard touchdown, set up by a 43-yard strike from Sixkiller to Ambrose.

The Catamounts cut the Campbell lead to 21-10 on Lex Thomas’ 48-yard pass to Jai Boyd with 2:57 to play in the first half, but the Camels responded with score 30 seconds later, with Sixkiller hitting Spencer Jones for a 32-yard TD, making it 28-10 at the break.

The Camels limited WCU to nine points in the second half, holding on for the 28-19 win.

Sixkiller led the Camels with 330 yards on 29-of-44 passing, tossing two touchdowns with three interceptions, while tacking on another rushing TD. Jones, meanwhile, hauled in career-high 126 yards with a touchdown on seven catches.

Jones was one of eight Camels with at least two catches, with Ambrose adding three grabs for 52 yards, including his first career touchdown. JJ Cowan also ran for 83 yards, while Lawrence rushed for 67 yards with a TD.

AJ Benton tallied eight tackles, including a sack, while adding a pass breakup for the Camels, while Justin Garza posted a pair of stops for loss, including another sack. Michael Gilliam also broke up a pair of passes to go along with two tackles.

Thomas paced WCU with 326 yards passing and two touchdowns, completing 25-of-44 attempts, connecting with Boyd on both scores. AJ Colombo also made six catches for 91 yards.

Joshua Collins led WCU defensively with a game-high nine tackles, including a sack.

NEXT UP
The Camels head back on the road, traveling to Florida on September 12. The game will be the first for the Camels against the Gators, and its first-ever matchup against an SEC opponent.

Campbell returns home on September 19, welcoming North Carolina A&T for its CAA opener.