GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hosts Liberty In Big South Conference Opener
October 06, 2011 | Football
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb will play just its second home game of the season Saturday, hosting league favorite Liberty at 4:00 pm in Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN3.com and WGWG-FM (88.3). Patrick Kinas and Ralph Patterson will provide the call and analysis for the ESPN3.com broadcast.
SERIES NOTES
The Gardner-Webb and Liberty football series is tied, 8-8-1, with the Flames taking the past four meetings ... Gardner-Webb is 2-1 when opening Big South play against the Flames, beating Liberty in 2002 and 2006, and dropping a game in Lynchburg in 2004 ... Gardner-Webb is 8-2-0 when playing Liberty during the month of October, with its last win coming during that month in 2006, when Hunter Smith's field goal resulted in a 27-24 win in Lynchburg.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Ron Dickerson, Jr., is in his first season in charge of the Runnin' Bulldogs. GWU is his first head coaching job overall. Danny Rocco is in his sixth season as head coach at Liberty, and has led the Flames to at least a share of the Big South Conference title in each of the past four seasons, including an outright title in 2007. Dickerson and Rocco's fathers were on staff together under Joe Paterno at Penn State in the 1980s.
LAST TIME IN BOILING SPRINGS
NOVEMBER 14, 2009 - Sparked by a 100-yard kickoff return by David Montgomery to open the game and long scoring plays from Patrick Hall (66 yard TD run) and Montgomery (43 yard receiving TD), Gardner-Webb held a 28-27 lead at halftime in Spangler Stadium - but Liberty scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to take a 51-28 win . Then receiver Mike Brown rushed for a pair of short scores in the first half and caught an 80-yard touchdown strike just before the end of the third quarter to give Liberty a 37-28 lead.
A LITTLE BIT OF YARDAGE
Redshirt junior running back Kenny Little (5-11, 205) has emerged as a workhorse at the position in 2011, averaging 101.8 yards per game with four touchdowns through four games. His 93 carries lead the Big South, and his rushing average ranks second - as well as ranking 20th nationally among Football Championship Subdivision programs. Little carried 27 times for a career-high 162 yards and a long touchdown at Samford last week, topping his previous career-high total of 131 set against Brevard in the season opener. Little also ran for 95 yards at Ohio on September 10. His previous career-best effort was 85 yards against NAIA member Southern Virginia in 2009. Little's 162-yard effort at Samford was the fifth-best total for a GWU back during the Division I era, just one yard behind Justin Richardson's 163-yard effort at Samford 11 seasons ago in 2000. Philip Peoples' 176-yard effort vs. Presbyterian in 2008 marked the last time a Runnin' Bulldog had topped the 150-yard mark at the position.
QUARTERBACK CONNECTION ... SORT OF
When camp started in August, Exavier Johnson (6-3, 205, Jr.) and Jordan Paul (6-3, 180, Fr.) were competing for snaps at quarterback. At Samford, Johnson came off the bench and fired a 24-yard touchdown pass to Paul - who moved to receiver just prior to the start of the 2011 season. Paul has since moved into the regular rotation at receiver.
TAKING ADVANTAGE
Gardner-Webb has a cumulative +1 edge in turnover margin so far in 2011, gaining five from its opponents while only turning the football over four times in four games (three INT, one fumble). Unfortunately for the 'Dogs, they have not turned any of those five turnovers gained into points - while the opposition has scored 28 points off of Gardner-Webb's four miscues, averaging a healthy 7.0 points per turnover so far. Two punts have also been blocked - one for a score last week at Samford (10/1), and one that set up a short TD run at Wake Forest (9/17).
BIG PLAYS
Gardner-Webb has recorded 13 plays of at least 20 yards so far in 2011 offensively, with three of those "explosive plays" going for touchdowns. The GWU defense has allowed 18 "explosive plays" through four games, with three going for scores. Of the six long play touchdowns combined by GWU and its opponents, three came last week at Samford - with the hosts scoring twice and Kenny Little scoring on a 42-yard run. Last season, Gardner-Webb managed just 21 "explosive plays" in 11 games, with only seven coming via the run. GWU has seven running plays of 20 yards or more already in 2011.
CHART RISER
Receiver James Perry III (6-0, 182, Sr.) is just five catches away from becoming the top pass catcher in Big South Conference history. The Greensboro, N.C., standout has 198 receptions under his belt so far as a Runnin' Bulldog, and is just shy of catching and passing former Charleston Southern receiver Maurice Price (202 receptions) for first on the list. This season, Perry has 17 catches, with 10 of those going for first downs. Perry is No. 2 on the NCAA FCS active career list for receptions and needs 36 catches to move into first in Gardner-Webb history. Former All-Big South receiver William Andrews, Jr., caught 234 during his career, but played just two of his four seasons in the Big South (2002-2003).
REGULARS IN THE BACKFIELD
Gardner-Webb's defensive front was expected to be a strong suit for the Runnin' Bulldogs heading into 2011, and that group has helped spearhead the team to 40.0 tackles for loss through four games. Gardner-Webb leads the nation in that category, with 32 solo tackles behind the line - with 8.0 coming in the form of quarterback sacks.
A PRESEASON TRADITION
Gardner-Webb placed four men on preseason FCS All-America squads during the summer months, adding to a long tradition of preseason honors for Runnin' Bulldogs players. Receiver James Perry III and guard Jamie Dunaway each earned honorable mention honors from Consensus Draft services. Linebacker Marty Patterson was a fourth-team selection by Phil Steele and a third-team selection by College Sporting News. Long snapper Hudson Smith was also a third-team selection by College Sporting News (CSN). Patterson was a preseason All-America choice for the second season in a row. Since 2003, Gardner-Webb has seen 18 players earn preseason All-America honors - with at least one on a preseason team in each of the past eight seasons.
BIG FRONT LINE
Gardner-Webb's offensive line has drawn solid reviews during preseason camp, coming together nicely as a unit under new position coach Dwayne Ledford. The starting five: left tackle Harrison Martin (6-6, 285, RJr.); left guard Jamie Dunaway (6-4, 290, Jr.); center Austin Sargent (6-3, 290, Jr.); right guard Jeff Harris (6-2, 291, RSo.) and right tackle Steve Demilio (6-5, 290, RJr.) average a solid 6-foot-4, 289-pounds per man and have at least three years each in a college weight program under their belts.
RUNNING CRAZY ON OPENING NIGHT
Gardner-Webb hit the ground with a physical approach in its season opener, and produced two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since October 12, 2002. Kenny Little darted for a career-high 131 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and Juanne Blount barrelled his way to 102 yards on 14 carries - pacing a 220-yard team effort on the ground. The last duo to rush for 100 yards in the same game was quarterback Jeremy Martin and running back Chris Foster - the team's current position coach - against Elon in 2002. The game marked the first 100-yard game of Little's career and the fourth for Blount - who played a major role as a freshman in 2010.
STAFF EXPERIENCE
Gardner-Webb's current coaching staff has a combined 143 years of coaching experience among them, with much of that coming on the college level. Current GWU coaches have held full-time positions at BCS conference schools Pittsburgh, Colorado, Penn State, Clemson, Georgia, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Ole Miss - with two climbing as high as coordinator at that level. Defensive line coach Ron Dickerson, Sr., was an FBS-level head coach in the mid-1990s at Temple.
SLICK RICK
Return man Ricky Rhodes (5-7, 175, RJr.) proved why the coaching staff thought so highly of his abilities in the season opener, registering 193 all-purpose yards - including 156 via returns - on just 12 touches vs. Brevard. Rhodes had a 22-yard punt return to set up Gardner-Webb's first points and had a 59-yarder later in the game - a return that would have stood at 79 yards if not for a personal foul penalty behind the play. Rhodes added 19 yards receiving and 18 yards rushing - and had a 62-yard reception and 35-yard run called back due to penalties. Rhodes also returned three kickoffs for 75 yards. Rhodes had a 54-yard kickoff return at Ohio and ranks among the league leaders in that stat this season.
FOUR TIMES ON THE TUBE IN 2K11
Gardner-Webb will play on live television or on major network broadband four times in 2011 - with five other games airing on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). The Runnin' Bulldogs will play on ESPN3.com against Wake Forest (9/17) and Liberty (10/8); will take on Presbyterian (10/15) on WMYA-40 (Greenville, S.C.) and Coastal Carolina (10/22) on MASN. Games against Brevard, Charleston Southern, Virginia State, Stony Brook and VMI will air on the Big South Network.
MOVING AND SHAKING
Gardner-Webb made several position moves that could prove to be very helpful over the course of the 2011 season. Tyler Hough-Jenkins (6-4, 270, RFr.) has moved from offense to the defensive line, and excelled during fall camp - pushing his way onto the two-deep with a strong performance. Speedster Ricky Rhodes (5-7, 175, RJr.) could emerge as one of the league's most dangerous all-purpose threats, having moved to offense full-time in the spring. The Richmond, Ky., native is a slippery, versatile performer who will also field kickoffs and punts. Highly-touted quarterback Jordan Paul (6-3, 180, Fr.) took snaps under center and at receiver during camp, and is another dangerous all-around threat. With Jeff Harris' emergence at offensive guard, and the addition of some young talent at the position, veteran Maurice Bryan (6-2, 265, RJr.) was allowed to move back to the defensive line, where he will be a tremendous help in the trenches for the 'Dogs.
TWO FROM THE BOWL SUBDIVISION IN '11
For the third time in five seasons, Gardner-Webb did battle at a pair of bowl subdivision teams in the same season. Just like 2009, the 'Dogs took on teams from the MAC and the ACC. With games at Ohio (9/10) and Wake Forest (9/17), Gardner-Webb did something it had never done before, however - take on FBS teams in back-to-back weeks.
THIS WEEK IN THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE ... TIME TO CHASE THE TITLE
In other Big South Conference action this week: Presbyterian travels to Stony Brook (6:00 pm) and VMI travels to No. 24 Coastal Carolina (7:00 pm / ESPN3.com). Charleston Southern (0-5) will enjoy a bye week before getting its Big South Conference slate underway.
FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR UNITE
Gardner-Webb's defensive front four will feature the last two Big South Conference Freshman of the Year selections - tackle Matt Goods (6-2, 275, RSo.) and end Preston Pemasa (6-2, 250, So.). The duo teams with three-year starter Jordan Woods (6-3, 245, Sr.) and veteran Dylan Taylor (6-0, 265, RJr.) to pose a formidable threat up front
ON THE AIR
Gardner-Webb's football games this season can be heard live on WGWG-FM (88.3), the school's 50,000-watt flagship station. Fabian Fuentes and David Allen will provide the call for the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2011. Log onto to wgwg.org for a live audio stream via the internet as well.
ROOKIE DOES GOOD WORK
Freshman kicker Trever Austin (5-10, 190) had a strong debut, scoring 10 points and making all six of his place kicks in the 34-17 win over Brevard. Austin booted field goals of 30 and 33 yards and all four PAT attempts in the game. He averaged just over 61 yards per kickoff and earned Big South Conference Freshman of the Week honors for his efforts. Austin earned the weekly honor from the Big South again following the Ohio game, when he booted home a 41-yard field goal and executed a perfect onside kick that Gardner-Webb recovered. Austin also had a 68-yard kickoff in that game. Austin is 4-of-5 on field goals so far this season, with his lone miss coming on what would have been a school-record effort from 55 yards away at Samford (10/1). The former Crest (N.C.) High standout was an All-State and Shrine Bowl selection last season as prep senior, and was rated as the nation's No. 19 kicking prospect in 2011.
BIG SOUTH NETWORK
The Big South Network, presented by State Farm, will carry all of Gardner-Webb's home football games and all Big South Conference games live as part of the league's subscription-based video streaming package. Interested parties may register for an account at bigsouthsports.com. †
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