Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday night at Gibbs Stadium, the Wofford football team ran for 590 yards on the way to a 49-20 win over Western Carolina. Three different Terriers had over 100 yards rushing in the contest and Wofford scored seven rushing touchdowns in the contest.
The Terriers open the season 3-0 and Western Carolina is 1-2. For Wofford, the offense had 595 total yards and the defense limited the Catamounts to only two offensive touchdowns. The Terriers were led by Eric Breitenstein with 160 rushing yards, Michael Weimer with 141 rushing yards, and Donovan Johnson with 126 rushing yards. The Catamounts were led by Eddie Sullivan who was 28-of-37 passing for 302 yards, while Spearman Robinson had 91 receiving yards.
“We ran the ball effectively and we have some good backs, but it starts with the offensive line,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “We did a nice job at the point of attack. I think our offensive line won the battle up front. We had some good things, but we should have been better to tell you the truth. There were times when we just had to pull it and pitch it and we did not get it done. We are a work in progress. Defensively we played really well. We had some penalties that created some problems for us and we have to get those things corrected.”
The Terriers received the opening kickoff and picked up one first down before punting. The Catamounts gained three first downs passing before lining up for a 23-yard field goal. Mike Niam blocked the attempt and James Zotto returned it 37 yards. Wofford then used three rushing first downs to set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by Eric Breitenstein. The Terriers led 7-0 with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
The Wofford defense forced the Catamounts three-and-out on their next drive. The Terriers picked up a first down, but then Brian Kass was sacked and fumbled. Eric Banford recovered the fumble and ran it in ten yards for the touchdown to tie the game with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.
With the ball back, Wofford went 93 yards in eleven plays on a drive that was capped by a one-yard run by Eric Breitenstein. The Terriers led 14-7 at the 13:17 mark of the second quarter. The Catamounts then were three-and-out and punted back to the Terriers. Wofford then added a touchdown when Michael Weimer broke free on a 54-yard run for a 21-7 lead at 8:41 in the second quarter.
Western Carolina gained two big first downs, but then Josh Roseborough ripped the ball away from the running back and returned it to the 49-yard line. Will Irwin then ran 51-yards on a perfectly executed reverse to take a 28-7 lead with 7:11 left in the first half. The Catamounts went three-and-out and punted. Wofford then used a 73-yard run by Michael Weimer along the far sideline to make it a 35-7 advantage with 3:48 on the clock.
The Catamounts drove down the field and lined up for a 43 yard field goal, but a running into the kicker penalty gave them another shot. The try from 38-yards was wide right and Wofford got the ball back with 1:19 left in the half and gained one first down before the clock hit zero.
To open the second half, Western Carolina gained two first downs before turning the ball over after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-three. Wofford then went on an eight play drive that covered 76 yards and was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Eric Breitenstein for a 42-7 lead at 7:57 in the third quarter. The Catamounts used a 62-yard completion to Karnorris Benson from Eddie Sullivan to move inside the red zone. Darius Ramsey then scored a touchdown from three yards out to make it 42-14 with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
On third and long, Eric Breitenstein broke free and went 55 yards to set up a four-yard touchdown run by Donovan Johnson. Wofford had a 49-14 lead with 3:17 left in the third quarter. Western Carolina added a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter when Troy Mitchell scored from eight yards out. The point after was blocked, making it a 49-20 game with 14:52 left in the game.
After trading punts, Wofford had the ball and had a first down by penalty before punting. Western Carolina then drove into to the Wofford 30-yard line before Alvin Scioneaux recovered a fumble by Troy Mitchell. The Terriers were then able to run out the final 5:43 on the clock, gaining four first downs.
Wofford had 595 total yards, with 590 on the ground. Western Carolina had 428 total yards, 335 of which were passing. The Terriers had 24 first downs to 21 for the Catamounts. Wofford was 12-of-17 on third downs. Western Carolina was 4-of-13 on third down. Wofford had seven penalties, while Western Carolina was flagged three times. Wofford had the time of possession by a 32:17 to 27:43 margin.
After an open week, the Terriers will travel to Elon on Saturday, September 29 for a Southern Conference contest against the Phoenix.
Wofford vs. WCU Post-Game Notes
In the second quarter, Michael Weimer and Will Irwin both scored their first career touchdowns.
Eric Breitenstein crossed the 4,000 career rushing yards mark in the second quarter. He had 160 rushing yards in the game to give him a total of 4,109.
The total of 590 rushing yards were the second most in school history and only five yards behind the record of 595 yards against Charleston Southern in 1994.
Wofford had three players run for over 100 yards in the contest. Michael Weimer had his first career 100+ game, Donovan Johnson had his fifth career 100+ game, and Eric Breitenstein had his 22nd career 100+ game. The last time Wofford had three players with over 100 rushing yards each was on October 16, 2011 at Western Carolina.
With three rushing touchdowns, Eric Breitenstein has 53 career rushing touchdowns. He is tied for seventh in SoCon history in career rushing touchdowns.
Game captains were Phillip LeGrande and Jake Miles.
Attendance was 8,544 at Gibbs Stadium.
