Box Score Game Box (pdf)
Inside Wofford Football
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday night at Gibbs Stadium, the Wofford football team defeated Lincoln 82-0. Eight different Terriers accounted for touchdowns as Wofford scored the second most points in school history on the way to the largest margin of victory ever.
The Terriers open the season 2-0 and Lincoln is 0-2. For Wofford, the offense had 602 total yards and the defense limited the Lions to 179 total yards. The Terriers were led by Ray Smith with rushing 88 yards and Nick Crocker with 66 rushing yards, with both scoring touchdowns. Brody Hingst and Eric Breitenstein had two rushing touchdowns each, while Michael Harpe caught two touchdown passes.
“We saw a lot of great things tonight but we have to make sure that we continue to progress as a football team,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “Lincoln came in here and fought hard, but we outmanned them. I told our guys at the beginning of the week that we are a better football team, but only if we prove it. We played everybody that was dressed and it was just one of those things where you do not want to tell your guys to stop making plays. We did some real good things, but I guarantee once we look at the film we are going to have some things to tighten up. Western Carolina is a much improved team and a big challenge for us.”
The Lions had the ball first, but were forced three-and-out. Wofford was able to go 60-yards in just six plays as Michael Harpe caught a 24-yard pass from Brian Kass for a touchdown. After another three-and-out by the Lions, Wofford put together a five play, 58 yard drive that was capped by Eric Breitenstein scoring from nine yards out. The Terriers had a 14-0 lead with 7:53 left in the first quarter.
The Wofford defense forced another three-and-out. Wofford then added a touchdown on a seven-yard reception by Jeff Ashley from Brian Kass to take a 21-0 lead at 3:41 in the first quarter. Another three-and-out gave the Terriers a short field to work with and Brian Kass found Michael Harpe for a 22-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 28-0 with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
On the next punt by Lincoln, Jeremy Holt blocked the punt and it was recovered inside the ten-yard line by Tarek Odom. Cam Flowers scored from three-yards out to give Wofford a 35-0 lead with six seconds left in the first quarter. On the next drive by Lincoln, they picked up five first downs, but the drive ended on a 33-yard field goal attempt by Kyle Jaski that was wide left.
Michael Weimer entered the game for Terriers. After three big first downs by Will Gay, Eric Breitenstein capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown as Wofford took a 42-0 lead with 6:47 left in the second quarter. The Lions gained two first downs, then failed to convert a fourth-and-three and turned the ball over on downs. Wofford used a 43-yard run by Ray Smith to set up a 24-yard field goal by Christian Reed for a 45-0 lead at the half.
Wofford had the ball to open the second half with James Lawson in at quarterback. After gaining three first downs, Christian Reed kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Terriers a 48-0 lead. The Lions failed to convert a fourth down conversion and turned the ball over on downs. Wofford answered with a three-yard touchdown run by Brody Hingst to push the lead to 55-0 with 5:52 on the clock in the third quarter.
The teams then traded punts. Lincoln had the ball when Brion Anderson picked off a pass for his first career interception. The Terriers converted the turnover into points when Ray Smith scored from 21 yards out to take a 62-0 lead at the end of the third quarter. Lincoln punted on their next possession. Wofford used a 65-yard run by Nick Crocker to get inside the five-yard line and Crocker punched it in from a yard out to take a 69-0 lead with 11:29 left in the game.
On the next possession by Lincoln, the Lions punted and Octavius Harden returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown. Wofford had a 76-0 lead with 9:03 left in the game. The teams traded punts, then Lincoln had a pass intercepted by Philemon Permis, the first of his career. Wofford ran the ball up the middle five straight times, with Brody Hingst scoring from four-yards out with 2:00 left on the clock. The extra point was missed, giving the Terriers an 82-0 lead. The Lions held the ball for the final two minutes of the game.
Wofford had 602 total yards, with 449 on the ground. Lincoln had 179 total yards, 141 of which were passing. The Terriers had 30 first downs to just eight for the Lions. Wofford was 5-of-9 on third downs. Lincoln was 2-of-15 on third down. Wofford had two penalties, while Lincoln was flagged eight times. Wofford had the time of possession by a 30:15 to 29:45 margin.
Next week the Terriers will host Western Carolina at Gibbs Stadium in a 7:00 p.m. Southern Conference contest.
Wofford vs. Lincoln Post-Game Notes
For the second straight game, the start was delayed due to lightning. The kick was at 7:10 p.m.
Wofford has won the last twelve home openers. The last home opening loss came in 2000 when the Terriers lost 34-14 to Lehigh on September 9. With Mike Ayers at the helm, Wofford is 17-8 in home openers.
Cam Flowers scored his first career touchdown in the first quarter. Brody Hingst and Ray Smith both scored first career touchdowns in the third quarter. Nick Crocker added his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter. Octavius Harden scored his first career touchdown on a punt return in the fourth quarter.
Philemon Permis and Brion Anderson each had their first career interceptions in the contest.
Wofford scored 35 points in the first quarter, just one point shy of the school record of 36 points in a quarter set in 1990 against ETSU (fourth quarter). The 82 points scored were the second most in school history and the most in the NCAA Division I era. The school record is 83 points scored against High Point in 1949. The margin of victory was the largest in school history, topping the 81 point margin (81-0 over Piedmont in 1925).
The 30 first downs were the fifth most in school history.
With two rushing touchdowns, Eric Breitenstein has 50 career rushing touchdowns. He carried the ball only five times for 35 yards and did not play after scoring at the 6:47 mark in the second quarter.
Game captains were Calvin Cantrell and Josh Roseborough.
Attendance was 4,309 at Gibbs Stadium.
