Perry’s two rushing TDs help carry Western Carolina to upset win over Tennessee Tech 44-20

Josh Perry delivered a stellar performance for Western Carolina as he amassed 157 rushing yards and added two touchdowns, leading the Golden Eagles to a surprising upset victory over Tennessee Tech with a final score of 44-20 on Saturday night.

The Catamounts entered the game ranked No. 9 in the Stats Perform poll. Early in the game, Jordan Martin-Durham rushed in from the 1 yard line to give Tennessee Tech an early 10-0 lead. Lex Thomas quickly responded by connecting with Jai Boyd for a 49-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 17-0.

Following a Bryan McCollum field goal, Tennessee Tech narrowed the gap to 20-14 when a 4-yard touchdown pass from Lex Thomas to Eric Weatherly connected. However, Western Carolina's defense remained unyielding, as Carter Brown's 50-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the half trimmed the deficit to 20-17.

The Golden Eagles held onto their lead for the remainder of the game, ultimately securing the victory in a landslide margin of 44-20. Jordan Nunez, Tennessee Tech's leading receiver, showcased his versatility by contributing 225 receiving yards and a touchdown on 13 receptions. Western Carolina, meanwhile, secured a trip to face Mercer on Saturday.