Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
This week’s game
The Terriers remain at home for the second straight week when Wofford hosts Western Carolina on Saturday in a Southern Conference match-up. Wofford is coming off a 56-7 win over Chattanooga last week to improve to 2-0 in the conference. Wofford has opened the season 4-1 overall, with wins over Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Georgia Southern and Chattanooga. After seven weeks of the season, Wofford has the nation’s second-ranked rushing offense at 347.0 average yards and the second ranked total offense in the nation with 476.8 average yards. The scoring offense is tenth in the nation, while the passing efficiency is second in the country. The rushing defense is 19th in the nation, allowing only 94.0 average yards, and the turnover margin is second in the nation.
The Terriers are the 2008 defending Southern Conference Champions. The Terriers return 43 letterwinners from last season, including six offensive starters, four defensive starters and two specialists. In addition, six other players with at least two starts return for Wofford. Wofford finished the 2007 season 9-4 and were 5-2 in the Southern Conference.
In the Sports Network Poll the Terriers are fourth and in the FCS Coaches Poll the Terriers are ranked sixth. Wofford was picked to finish third in the conference by the SoCon Coaches. Western Carolina has opened the season 1-6 and 0-3 in the Southern Conference. They began the season with a 35-0 win over Shorter College before a loss at Florida State. In the conference, they have losses to The Citadel, Samford and Furman. They were picked to finish eighth in the preseason by the SoCon Coaches.
The Western Carolina Series
Wofford and Western Carolina have faced each other 30 times, with Wofford holding an 18-12 advantage in the series. Wofford won the first meeting in 1952. At Gibbs Stadium, the Terriers lead 5-0. Wofford has won five of the last six meetings and nine of the last eleven meetings. Four of the last seven games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Last season the Terriers won 47-44 in a game televised on Thursday night on ESPNU.
About Western Carolina
The Catamounts enter the game at 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the conference. Last season they finished 1-0 overall and 0-7 in the Southern Conference. Head Coach Dennis Wagner is in his first season at Western Carolina after spending the last three seasons at Nebraska. The Catamounts return 13 starters from last year, including five on offense and seven on defense. They lost ten starters from last year. Western Carolina runs a multiple/spread offense and a 3-3-5 defense.
Injury Update
Wofford opened the season without punter Chris Tommie (knee), offensive lineman Grant Duren (leg) and tight end Joseph Inman (knee). All three players are expected to take a medical redshirt and return in 2009. Players that missed the Chattanooga game due to injury were running back Sean Lees (right knee) and running back Matthew Boggs (left knee). Both will miss the rest of the season, having undergone successful knee surguries. There were no significant injuries for Wofford in the Chattanooga game.
Wofford in the National Rankings
After the first seven weeks of the season, the Terriers are looking good in the national rankings. The rushing offense is second in the nation at 347.0 yards per game and the total offense of 476.8 yards per game is also second. The rushing defense is 19th and the passing efficiency is second in the nation. Wofford is second in the nation with a +1.80 turnover margin. Wofford and Cal Poly are the only to schools in the nation (FBS or FCS) without an interception. The defense is third in the nation with 3.60 sacks per game, while the offense is fifth in the nation with just .20 sacks allowed per game. Ben Widmyer is 43rd in the nation with 80.60 rushing yards per game. Dane Romero is 58th in the nation with 73.0 yards per game. Romero is also tied for 17th in the nation in scoring, while Patrick Mugan is also 17th in the nation with 8.40 points per game. Mike Rucker is 26th in the nation in kickoff returns with 25.74 yards per game. Seth Goldwire is 53rd in the nation with an average of 8.80 tackles per game. Mitch Clark is tied for 9th in the nation with 0.90 sacks per game and Matt Norcia is 51st with 0.60 sacks per game.
The Terriers in the SoCon Rankings
Wofford is also at the top of several categories in the conference rankings after the first seven weeks. Wofford leads the SoCon in rushing offense, total offense, turnover margin, kickoff returns, passing efficiency, sacks, tackles for loss and sacks allowed. The Terriers are second in scoring offense and rushing defense. In the top ten conference rushers, Wofford has Ben Widmyer (3rd), Dane Romero (5th), and Mitch Allen (10th). Widmyer is 6th in the conference in total offense. Mike Rucker is second in the conference in kickoff returns. On defense, Seth Goldwire is fourth in tackles (8.80 per game) and James Mitchell is tenth (7.40). Mitch Clark leads the conference in sacks, while Matt Norcia is second in sacks. Clark also leads the conference in tackles for loss (1.20). Dane Romero and Patrick Mugan are tied for third in scoring.
