Story by
The Sanford Herald, N.C.
Sanford's McCollum earns SoCon honor after game-winning kick
- Story byThe Sanford Herald, N.C.
- Sanford's McCollum earns SoCon honor after game-winning kick
CULLOWHEE — Sanford native and Southern Lee High School graduate Bryan McCollum was named the Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking the game-winning field goal in Western Carolina's dramatic 27-26 victory over Furman on Saturday.
McCollum, a sophomore placekicker, connected on a 36-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give the Catamounts their first road victory of the season and their third consecutive win over Furman.
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The kick capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive engineered by quarterback Lex Thomas after Furman's Nate Chapman connected on his fourth field goal of the afternoon to give the Paladins a 26-24 lead with 1:55 remaining.
McCollum finished with nine points, converting all three extra-point attempts and making two field goals. It marked his fourth game with multiple field goals this season.
The performance earned McCollum his second conference weekly honor of the season and the third of his collegiate career. He previously received the award Sept. 21 and following his collegiate debut against VMI last season.
McCollum has emerged as one of the nation's most accurate kickers this season, converting 14 of 15 field goal attempts for a 93.3% success rate.
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That percentage ranks first nationally among Football Championship Subdivision kickers with at least 10 attempts and fourth overall in the FCS.
His 14 field goals also tie him for 10th in Western Carolina's single-season record book, matching the mark established by his older brother, Richard McCollum, who also made 14 of 15 attempts during the 2023 season.
Over the past two seasons, Bryan McCollum has connected on 16 of 17 field goal attempts, placing him 14th on the school's career list.
He leads Western Carolina with 72 points this season and ranks second in the Southern Conference in both total scoring and scoring average at 8.0 points per game.
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Saturday's game at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina, featured two of the FCS's top kickers.
Furman's Chapman made four of five field goal attempts and received honorable mention recognition for the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week award.
While McCollum provided the winning points, Western Carolina's defense played a major role in the victory, scoring two touchdowns in the opening 70 seconds.
Ken Moore Jr. recovered a fumble on Furman's first offensive play and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown just nine seconds into the game.
On the Paladins' next possession, Jermiyah Douglas intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 37 yards for another touchdown, giving Western Carolina a 14-0 lead before its offense had taken the field.
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Furman responded with 17 consecutive points to take a 17-14 lead in the second quarter.
Western Carolina regained the advantage before halftime when Thomas connected with Jai Boyd on a 40-yard touchdown pass, giving the Catamounts a 24-17 lead at the break.
Furman controlled much of the second half, scoring on three Chapman field goals to take a two-point lead in the closing minutes.
Thomas then directed the decisive drive, highlighted by a career-long 31-yard reception by Matthew Keener and two quarterback scrambles totaling 21 yards.
The possession set up McCollum's winning field goal, which secured Western Carolina's third consecutive victory over Furman and matched the longest winning streak by either team in the series.
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Thomas completed 22 of 37 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown while adding 36 rushing yards.
Boyd led Western Carolina receivers with 83 yards on four catches, while AJ Colombo had five receptions for 35 yards.
Furman outgained Western Carolina 388-321 in total offense but committed three turnovers.
The loss was Furman's sixth consecutive defeat, all by one possession.
Western Carolina improved to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in Southern Conference play.
The Catamounts return home Saturday, Nov. 7, to face Wofford (5-4, 3-3 SoCon) at E.J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the game available on ESPN+.
