Complete Game Notes
This week’s game
After opening the season with home wins over Presbyterian College and Charleston Southern, the Terriers had last weekend off. This week, Wofford will play the first road game of the season with a trip to South Carolina. The Terriers open the season 2-0 for the second straight season and only the fifth time in the last 21 seasons. After two weeks of the season, Wofford has the nation’s top rushing offense at 400 average yards and the second ranked total offense in the nation with 512 yards. The rushing defense is fifth in the nation, allowing only 45.5 average yards. 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, Wofford is ranked 11th and in the FCS Coaches Poll the Terriers are ranked 12th. Wofford was picked to finish third in the conference by the SoCon coaches. South Carolina is 1-2 on the season after a win over N.C. State in the opener and losses at Vanderbilt and against #2 Georgia. They were picked to finish fourth in the SEC Eastern Division by the media. South Carolina’s pass defense is first in the nation and the total defense is ninth in the nation.
The South Carolina Series
Wofford and South Carolina have faced each other 21 times, with the Gamecocks holding a 17-4 advantage. Wofford won the first two games in the series, played in 1895 and 1896. The last Wofford win over South Carolina was in 1917 in Spartanburg. South Carolina has won the last 14 games. This will be the third meeting in the last eight seasons following a 44-year hiatus in the series from 1957 to 2001. At Williams-Brice Stadium, the Gamecocks have won all seven games.
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 Charleston Southern game due to injury were wide receiver Blake Beeler (hamstring), running back Sean Lees (knee), running back Matthew Boggs (knee) safety Tommy Irvin (arm) and safety Greg Gasparato (knee). Lees and Boggs will miss the rest of the season. There were no significant injuries in the Charleston Southern game.
Last Meeting
Wofford and South Carolina played on September 16, 2006 in Columbia. Wofford’s final drive took the Terriers down to the South Carolina 10 yard line but a fumble on fourth down ended any hopes of an upset as the Gamecocks held on for a 27-20 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Terriers brought the score within one touchdown with 4:43 on the clock as Josh Collier hit Andy Strickland for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Wofford then stopped USC on its next possession before mounting its final drive covering 51 yards with just one timeout remaining.
Wofford used a 63-yard run by Kevious Johnson to set up a 1-yard run by the former SoCon Freshman of the Year as Wofford closed the gap to 17-10 with 4:26 to play in the half. Justin Franklin’s interception and 24-yard return set up a 28-yard field goal by Nick Robinson as Wofford closed to 27-13 with 7:19 to play in the game. Johnson led all players with 129 yards on 12 carries, his eighth career 100-yard rushing effort, for a 10.8 average. He helped pace a Terrier ground attack which totaled 290 yards compared to 165 for USC.
