Complete Game Notes (pdf)
This week’s game
The Terriers return home this weekend for Homecoming as Wofford hosts Chattanooga in a Southern Conference contest. The game will be broadcast live on SportSouth as part of “SoCon Saturdays.” Prior to a bye week, the Terriers defeated Georgia Southern 38-37 in overtime at Statesboro. Wofford has opened the season 3-1 overall, with wins over Presbyterian, Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern. On Homecoming, Wofford is 39-20-2 all-time. After three weeks of the season, Wofford has the nation’s second-ranked rushing offense at 329.50 average yards and the fourth ranked total offense in the nation with 455.0 average yards. The rushing defense is 22nd in the nation, allowing only 101.0 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 eighth and in the FCS Coaches Poll the Terriers are ranked 9th. Wofford was picked to finish third in the conference by the SoCon Coaches. Chattanooga has opened the season 1-5 and 0-2 in the Southern Conference. They began the season with a loss to Oklahoma, which is now ranked #1 in the nation. In the conference, they lost 35-10 to Furman and 52-28 to Georgia Southern. They were picked to finish seventh in the preseason by the SoCon Coaches.
The Chattanooga Series
Wofford and Chattanooga have faced each other 14 times, with the series tied at seven games each. Chattanooga won the first game in 1927 and the first five in the series. At Gibbs Stadium, the Terriers lead 4-1. Wofford has won five of the last six meetings and the last four games played at Gibbs Stadium. Last season the Terriers won 42-16 in Chattanooga in the final game of the regular season.
About Chattanooga
The Mocs enter the game at 1-5, with losses to both Oklahoma and Florida State and a win over Cumberland. In the conference, they have lost to Furman and Georgia Southern. Last season they finished 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the Southern Conference in fifth place. Head Coach Rodney Allison is entering his sixth season as head coach of the Mocs with a 17-45 overall record. Prior to joining Chattanooga, he was the defensive ends coach at Clemson. The Mocs return 11 starters from last year, including six on offense, three on defense and two specialists. They lost fourteen starters.
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 Georgia Southern game due to injury were wide receiver Blake Beeler (hamstring), running back Sean Lees (right knee), running back Matthew Boggs (left knee) safety Tommy Irvin (arm), and FB Eric Breitenstein (hamstring). Lees and Boggs will miss the rest of the season, both having undergone successful knee surguries. There were no significant injuries for Wofford in the Georgia Southern game.
Last Meeting
Wofford defeated Chattanooga 42-16 on November 10 on the final weekend of the regular season. With the win, the Terriers claimed the Southern Conference title. The Mocs scored first with a field goal, but then Wofford scored with a 62-yard run by Josh Collier and a 18-yard completion to Fenn Allen for a 14-3 lead at the half. Josh Collier and Michael Hobbs added touchdown runs for a 28-3 lead before Chattanooga answered with a touchdown. Sean Lees returned a kickoff 79 yard for a touchdown and Adrian Young added a touchdown for a 42-10 lead before a touchdown pass as time expired for the Mocs made it a 42-16 final.
The Terriers were led by Josh Collier with 191 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns. For Chattanooga, Antonio Miller threw for 150 yards but was intercepted three times. Bryan Fitzgerald ran for 116 yards on just nine carries. Wofford had 444 total yards of offense and had the ball for 37:21.
Wofford in the National Rankings
After the first six weeks of the season, the Terriers are looking good in the national rankings. The rushing offense is second in the nation at 329.50 yards per game and the total offense of 455.0 yards per game is fourth. The rushing defense is 22nd and the passing efficiency is fourth in the nation. Wofford is secondin the nation with a +1.75 turnover margin. The defense is seventh in the nation with 3.25 sacks per game, while the offense is fifthin the nation with just .25 sacks allowed per game. Dane Romero is 34th in the nation with 86.0 yards per game. Romero is also tied for 15th in the nation in scoring, while Patrick Mugan is 19th in the nation with 8.50 points per game. Mike Rucker is 29th in the nation in kickoff returns with 25.47 yards per game. Seth Goldwire is tied for 19th in the nation with an average of 10.25 tackles per game. Mitch Clark is tied for 23rd inthe nation with .75 sacks per game.
