Taron Dickens throws 5 touchdown passes and Western Carolina outlasts Chattanooga 38-34

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- , Taron Dickens threw five touchdown passes, the last an 8-yard go-ahead strike to De’Andre Tamarez in the fourth quarter, and Western Carolina defeated Chattanooga 38-34 in a key Southern Conference game on Saturday. Tamarez' third TD catch of the game capped a seven-play 85-yard drive that gave the Catamounts their 38-34 lead with 7 minutes remaining. The Mocs ran only nine plays the rest of the game, their final possession ending with an interception in the final minute. With the win, Western Carolina (5-4, 4-1) remains half a game behind Mercer (8-1, 5-1) in the SoCon standings. Chattanooga (5-4, 4-2) fell to third. Dickens was 34-of-48 passing for 431 yards , with a completion to 13 different receivers. He was intercepted once and lost a fumble. Tamarez had five receptions for 59 yards. Luke Schomburg was 14-of-31 passing for 314 yards for the Mocs.