Complete Game Notes (pdf)
Quick Game Facts
Wofford at Western Carolina
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Kickoff: 4:00 PM
Whitmire Stadium (grass, capacity 13,742)
Radio: ESPN 1400 AM and WPJM 800 AM;
www.espn1400am.com
Mark Hauser, Thom Henson, Collins McCraw (sideline)
TV: WMYA-40
Series: Wofford leads 19-12
This week’s game
Coming off a hard-fought loss to Appalachian State, the Terriers will travel to Western Carolina on Saturday, October 18, still in search of their first SoCon win of the season ... In their last game, the Terriers were defeated 44-34 by the Mountaineers ... The Catamounts were 14-10 winners over The Citadel ...Wofford has won the last three meetings and six of the last seven in the series ... Wofford has the nation’s second best rushing attack and are ninth in the country in sacks allowed ... Western Carolina ended a five-game losing streak to open the season with a win over The Citadel ... Injuries have been taking their toll on the Terriers this season, with two more players lost of the season in the ASU game ... As a result, Wofford has had 33 different players earn starts this season ... The Terriers and Catamounts are not ranked ... The game will be televised locally by WMYA-TV 40.
About Wofford
Wofford is 1-5 so far in the 2009 season with a 40-7 loss at the University of South Florida, a 42-14 win at home against Charleston Southern, a 44-14 loss at Wisconsin and SoCon losses to Chattanooga, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Wofford returns 44 letterwinners from last season, including four offensive starters, five defensive starters and three specialists. In addition, three other players with at least two starts return for Wofford. Wofford runs the wingbone offense, led by sophomore quarterback Mitch Allen and backs Mike Rucker and Sean Lees. The rushing offense is second in the nation with 257.33 yards per game, but the passing offense is last in the NCAA. The multiple defense is led by first team All-SoCon defensive lineman Mitch Clark and senior linebacker Gary Blount. Wofford had five players named to the Preseason All-SoCon Team. OL Pat Illig and DL Mitch Clark earned first team honors, while OL Trey Johnson, LB Gary Blount, DL Eric Eberhardt and DB Mychael Johnson were named to the second team. The Terriers were picked to finish second in the Southern Conference by the coaches and third by the media in the 2009 Preseason Polls.
About Western Carolina
Western Carolina is 1-5 on the season and 1-3 in Southern Conference play after a win over The Citadel. Head Coach Dennis Wagner is in his second season as head coach with a 4-14 overall record. The Catamounts return 36 lettermen and 14 starters from the 2008 season in which the team posted a 3-9 record. They were 1-7 in SoCon play to finish seventh. On offense, they are led by quarterback Zack Jaynes who is 88-of-156 with two touchdowns and six interceptions. Dion Wilson has three rushing touchdowns on 20 carries. Receiver Marquel Pittman has 24 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Adrian McLeod leads the team with 68 tackles, plus one sack. Chris Collins has 64 tackles along with three sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
The Western Carolina Series
Wofford and Western Carolina have played 31 times in a series dating back to 1952. The Terriers have a 19-12 advantage and have won the last three games. Wofford has also won ten of the last twelve games in the series. At Whitemire Stadium, the Catamounts have an 8-5 advantage, which included a 24-0 win in 2005. That game marked the last time the Terriers have been shutout in a contest.
Terrier Top Ten
Here are the top ten notes of interest heading into the Western Carolina game:
• The Terriers are second in the nation in rushing with 257.33 yards per game in 2009
• Fourteen players made their first career starts at South Florida and a total of 19 players have marked their first starts this season
• The Terriershave had only eleven players start all six games this season
• Wofford had five players named Preseason All-SoCon
• Wofford has five players among the top 20 rushers in the conference
• The Terriers have been led in tackles by five different players in the six games this season
• Mike Rucker is second all-time in kickoff return yards with 1,810 and second in kickoff
returns with 80
• Wofford leads the SoCon in rushing and is second in sacks allowed
• Wofford has opened the season 1-5 for the first time since the 1987 season and are 0-3 in
the SoCon for the first time since 2001
• The offensive line has not allowed a sack in the last two games
Injury Update
Wofford opened the season without running back Jeremy Marshall, who is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in the 2008 Appalachian State game. Freshmen HB Cody Burris (clavicle) and TE Kenny Barnes (knee) will also miss the season after injuries in August camp. LB Ricco Braxton (knee, out for season), FB Eric Breitenstein (knee, out for season), DE Mitch Clark (pectoral muscle), HB Sean Lees (shoulder), WR Devin Reed (ankle), HB Brad Nocek (foot), TE Brad Miller (shoulder), and LB Mike Niam (knee, out for season) were out of the Appalachian State game due to injury, and several players were limited due to illness. During the ASU game, HB Derek Boyce (knee, out for season) and Hunter Hobson (knee, out for season) were injured.
