Complete Game Notes (pdf)
This Week’s Game
The Terriers host The Citadel on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium to begin the final three-game stretch of the regular season. Wofford will look to bounce back after a loss to Appalachian State on Friday night, the first conference loss of the season for the Terriers. The Citadel is coming off a 44-41 loss at home in three overtimes to Georgia Southern. After ten weeks of the season, Wofford has the nation’s top-ranked rushing offense at 354.38 yars per game and the second ranked total offense in the nation with 482.50 average yards. The scoring offense is fifth in the nation, while the passing efficiency is fifth in the country. The rushing defense is 32nd in the nation, allowing only 118.25 average yards, and the turnover margin is fourth in the nation. In the Sports Network Poll the Terriers are tenth, and in the FCS Coaches Poll the Terriers are ranked twelfth. Wofford was picked to finish third in the conference by the SoCon Coaches. The Citadel has begun the season 3-6 overall and are 1-5 in the conference. They are third in the nation in punt returns and are second in the Southern Conference in passing offense. They were picked to finish sixth in the preseason by the SoCon Coaches.
About Wofford
Wofford has opened the season 6-2 overall, with wins over Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Georgia Southern, Chattanooga, Western Carolina and Elon. Losses were to South Carolina and Appalachian State. 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 The Citadel
The Citadel enters the game at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference, with wins over Webber International, Princeton and Western Carolina. Last season they finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Southern Conference, tied for third place. Head Coach Kevin Higgins is in his fourth season at The Citadel and has posted a 19-23 record. Overall, he is 75-48-1 in eleven seasons as a head coach. The Bulldogs return 16 starters from last year amd 34 overall lettermen. The Citadel runs a spread option offense that features All-American receiver Andre Roberts and a 4-3 defense led by junior linebacker Jordan Gilmore.
The Citadel Series
Wofford and The Citadel have faced each other 60 times, with The Citadel holding a 40-19-1 advantage in the series. The teams first met in 1916, a 37-0 win by The Citadel. Since both teams have been members of the Southern Conference, Wofford has a 9-2 lead in the series. Wofford has won the last nine straight over the Bulldogs, the longest current winning streak for the Terriers over any Southern Conference opponent. Last season Wofford won 28-7 in Charleston.
Terrier Top Five
Here are the top five notes of interest heading into the Citadel game:
• The offensive line has allowed only two sacks all season, tied for best in all of NCAA
Division I with Air Force
• Wofford is the only team ranked in the top five in sacks and sacks allowed
• With a +10 on turnover margin, Wofford is fourth in the nation
• The Terriers have the nation’s top rushing offense at 354.38 ypg
• Wofford is first in the conference in six stat categories, including sacks
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 will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries include running back Sean Lees (right knee), running back Matthew Boggs (left knee), safety Trey Diller (pelvis) and running back Jeremy Marshall (right knee).
Wofford in the National Rankings
After the first ten weeks of the season, the Terriers are looking good in the national rankings. The rushing offense leads the nation at 354.38 yards per game and the total offense of 482.50 yards per game is second. The rushing defense is 32nd and the passing efficiency is fifth in the nation. Wofford is fourth in the nation with a +1.25 turnover margin. The defense is fourth in the nation with 3.38 sacks per game, while the offense is first in the nation with just .25 sacks allowed per game. Dane Romero is 47th in the nation with 78.0 rushing yards per game and Ben Widmyer is 71st with 63.38 yards per game. Romero is sixth in the nation with 9.75 points per game, while Patrick Mugan is 25th with 7.62 points per game. Mike Rucker is 38th in the nation in all-purpose yards per game at 128.25. Seth Goldwire is 93rd in the nation with an average of 7.88 tackles per game. Mitch Clark is tied for 20th in the nation with 0.75 sacks per game and Matt Norcia is tied for 67th with 0.50 sacks per game.
The Terriers in the Conference Rankings
Wofford is also at the top of several categories in the conference rankings after the first ten weeks. Wofford leads the SoCon in rushing offense, total offense, net punting, turnover margin, sacks, and sacks allowed. The Terriers are second in scoring offense, rushing defense, passing efficiency and tackles for loss. In the top ten conference rushers, Wofford has Dane Romero (3rd), and Ben Widmyer (8th). Widmyer is 6th in the conference in total offense. Mike Rucker is third in the conference on kickoff returns. Andy Strickland is sixth in receiving yards per game. On defense, Seth Goldwire is ninth in tackles (7.88 per game). Mitch Clark is second in the conference in sacks, while Matt Norcia is tird for fifth in sacks. Clark is tied for third in the conference in tackles for loss (1.13). Dane Romero leads the conference in scoring with 9.75 points per game, with Patrick Mugan fifth at 7.62 points per game.
