Complete Game Notes (pdf)

This week’s game
The Terriers will travel to James Madison on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm. This marks the second-straight season that Wofford has reached the NCAA and the third time in the last six years. Wofford defeated Furman 35-10 on Saturday to improved to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the conference. James Madison defeated Towson 58-27 last week to complete a 10-1 regular season with an 8-0 record in the Colonial Athletic Association. The game will feature two of the best rushing teams in the nation, as Wofford is second in the nation at 343.27 ypg and James Madison is fourth at 278.82 ypg. In the Sports Network Poll the Terriers are eighth, and in the FCS Coaches Poll the Terriers are ranked ninth. Wofford was picked to finish third in the conference by the SoCon Coaches. James Madison ended the regular season 10-1 overall and were 8-0 in the conference. Currently James Madison is ranked first in both the Sports Network Poll and a unanimous first place choice in the FCS Coaches Poll.

About Wofford
Wofford ended the regular season 9-2 overall, with wins over Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Georgia Southern, Chattanooga, Western Carolina, Elon, The Citadel, Samford and Furman. Losses were to South Carolina and Appalachian State. The Terriers have a 7-1 record in the Southern Conference and are locked in second place. After the regular season, Wofford has the nation’s second-ranked rushing offense at 343.27 yards per game and the second ranked total offense in the nation with 470.45 average yards. The scoring offense is sevennth in the nation, while the passing efficiency is second in the country. The rushing defense is 28th in the nation, allowing only 115.45 average yards, and the turnover margin of +.91 is 15th in the nation. The Terriers are the 2008 defending Southern Conference Champions. Wofford returns 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. Wofford runs the wingbone offense, led by senior quarterback Ben Widmyer. The multiple defense is led by first team All-SoCon linebacker Seth Goldwire.

About James Madison
James Madison enters the playoffs with a 10-1 overall record and an 8-0 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. They opened the season with a loss at Duke, then have won ten straight games over N.C. Central, Massachusetts, Appalachian State, Maine, Hofstra, Richmond, Villanova, Delaware, William and Mary and Towson. Last season they finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the CAA and reached the NCAA Playoffs. Head Coach Mickey Matthews is in his tenth season in Harrisonburg and has a 74-45 overall record. He is the winningest coach in school history. The Dukes return 10 starters from last year and 39 overall lettermen. James Madison runs a spread offense that features senior quarterback Rodney Landers and an eight-man front defense.

The James Madison Series
Wofford and James Madison have faced each other only once. On October 25, 1980, the Dukes picked up a 3-0 win in Harrisonburg. Wofford was an NAIA school that season, while James Madison was in their first season as a member of NCAA I-AA after being a Division III member since the varsity program began in 1974. In that meeting, current Wofford head coach was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator Wade Lang was the Terriers’ quarterback.

Terrier Top Ten
Here are the top ten notes of interest heading into the James Madison game:
• The offensive line has allowed only three sacks all season, best in the NCAA FCS
• Dane Romero leads the Southern Conference and is tied for fifth in the nation in scoring; he
also needs only nine yards to reach 1,000 in a season for the first time
• Wofford is 7-1 in the SoCon and finished second
• Mitch Clark leads the team with eight sacks, eighth most in school history in a season
• The nine wins by Wofford are tied for fourth-most in school history
• The Terriers have the nation’s second-best rushing offense at 343.27 ypg
• Andy Strickland leads the team in receiving for the third straight season
• Wofford is first or second in the conference in eight stat categories, including sacks
• The Terriers have over 400 yards of offense in all but one game this season (SC)
• Ben Widmyer has a 66.9% completion percentage, best in school history