GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hits The Road To Face Charleston Southern
November 06, 2012 | Football
• Of Kenny Cook's 40 receptions in 2012, he has 25 that have either gone for a first down or a touchdown.
• Gardner-Webb has allowed 40 points or more six times in 2012, the most since the 1993 defense allowed seven opponents over 40 points and a school-record 43.9 points per game.
• Gardner-Webb has scored in 53 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the Big South Conference.
• Gardner-Webb's average starting field position in 2012 is its own 32.5 yards line. Opponents are starting on average at their own 34.7 yard line.
• Lucas Beatty is 4-for-4 with three first down completions on fourth downs this season (1 TD). Beatty is completing 65 percent of his passes on third-and-long situations, throwing for 21 first downs.
• Gardner-Webb is averaging 423.4 yards of total offense this season against unranked FCS opponents. Two of those foes - Richmond and Samford - went on to earn top-25 rankings later in the season.
• Lucas Beatty's four games with 300+ yards passing in 2012 are the most by a GWU quarterback since the program made the move to NCAA Division I in 2000. John Craven (1992) passed for 300+ yards six times to establish the school's overall record and Chip Stuart (1982) did so five times during his senior season.
• Gardner-Webb's win over VMI marked the first of more than two touchdowns over a Division I foe since a 47-21 win against Presbyterian on October 18, 2008.
• Gardner-Webb will open the 2013 season at home against Furman (August 31) and open on the road against the Paladins in 2014 (August 30).
SCOUTING
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Known for the past eight seasons as a pass-first squad
under head coach Jay Mills, Charleston Southern has broken the mold
in 2012 with a dominant ground game ... The Bucaneers rank No. 22
nationally and second in the Big South Conference with an
impressive 197.4 yards per game rushing ... The effort has been
balanced on the ground, with running back Teddy Allen emerging as
the top threat (420 yards, 7 TD) and mobile quarterback Malcolm
Dixon (367 yards, 5 TD) joining him as a weapon in a read-option
attack ... Five other Bucs have at least 100 yards rushing on the
season and CSU has scored 14 times on the ground ... Dixon has
passed for 884 yards and eight scores, with three going to freshman
Larry Jones III (13 catches, 344 yards, 3 TD) ... Defensively, CSU
has All-America corner Charles James (25 tackles, 3 PBU, INT)
anchoring the secondary and a pass defense that is allowing only
153.8 yards per game ... That pass defense total ranks fifth
nationally among FCS schools and leads the Big South ... Safety
Elijah Lee leads the team with 58 total tackles and tackel Isaac
McKenzie has a team-high three sacks.
THE
GAME
Gardner-Webb hits the road for the final time in 2012 to
take on Charleston Southern in the Big South's BB&T Game of the
Week at 1:30 pm. The game will air live on ESPN3, with Evan Lepler
and Nate Ross calling the action from Charleston, S.C. The game
will also be broadcast on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) by Fabian
Fuentes, the Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
SERIES
NOTES
Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series with Charleston
Southern by a 9-3 count ... GWU lost at CSU in 2006 and 2008 ...
The Runnin' Bulldogs won 35-25 in Charleston on October 16, 2010 to
snap that streak ... Patrick Hall ran for 129 yards and two
touchdowns, with his final score at the 2:00 mark of the fourth
quarter sealing the win ... Charleston Southern's first win over
Gardner-Webb came in a 38-7 drubbing on Homecoming, 2005 in Boiling
Springs ... Gardner-Webb's 57-15 win at Charleston Southern 10
years ago clinched the first ever Big South Conference football
title and secured a final top-25 ranking in both major polls for
the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2002.
THE
COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Ron Dickerson, Jr., is in his
second season in charge of the Runnin' Bulldogs and holds a 6-14
career record with the Runnin' Bulldogs. Charleston Southern head
coach and 2005 Big South Conference Coach of the Year Jay Mills is
48-62 in his 10th season steering the Buccaneers and is 50-83
overall in 13 seasons.
LAST TIME
AGAINST THE BUCCANEERS
Gardner-Webb's defense registered seven sacks, 12 tackles
for loss and two late interceptions to spark a 14-7 win in a
defensive struggle last Homecoming in Boiling Springs. Tight end
Treymaine Schley caught two touchdowns passes - one from Lucas
Beatty and the other from tailback Ricky
Rhodes - to account for Gardner-Webb's scoring. All-Big South
linebacker Marty
Patterson registered 20 total tackles in the game and current
junior defensive lineman Maurice
Dickson collected 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5
sacks in an outstanding effort up front.
LAST TWO FOR
LUCAS
Quarterback Lucas
Beatty (6-2, 220, RSo.) has been red-hot of late, completing a
sizzling 46-of-64 passes for 649 yards, six touchdowns and only two
interceptions over the last two games. His 181.74 pass efficiency
rating has been helped by an average of 14.1 yards per
completion.
A POINT
TO NOTICE
Gardner-Webb's offense has steadily improved over the
course of the 2012 season, as the unit has adjusted well to new
coordinator Kurt
Beathard - son of former Washington Redskins and San Diego
Chargers GM Bobby Beathard. The Runnin' Bulldogs have averaged 29.6
points and 399.6 yards of total offense over the past five games -
with 97 first downs over that span (19.4 per game).
FRESHMEN
STARTERS
Gardner-Webb has seen a total of 10 freshmen start on
offense and defense so far in 2012. Offensively, right guard Dylan
Hopper (6-4, 295) and receiver Carlton
Heard (6-0, 178) have been regulars in the lineup this season.
Slot receiver Demarcus
White (5-9, 165) made his first start against VMI. Defensively,
cornerback Tiko
Thompson (5-8, 148), safety Brandon
Swayze (6-2, 190), tackle O.J. Mau (6-2, 275), linebacker Azziz
Higgins (6-2, 225), linebacker Chad
Geter (6-2, 220) and defensive back Jonathan
Sherrill (6-3, 196) have made starts.
ONE MORE
CATCH
Redshirt sophomore tight end Seth
Cranfill (6-4, 230) tied the Big South's single-season record
for most catches by a tight end with one reception against Coastal
Carolina (11/3), hauling in a seven-yard shovel pass from Lucas
Beatty just before halftime. The Sherrill's Ford, N.C., native
has caught 34 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns so far in
2012 - tying Coastal Carolina's David Duran (2009) for most catches
in a season. Cranfill already holds the Gardner-Webb single-season
record, previously held by Jason Bright (32 catches, 2001).
D-LINE
DEEPLY SEASONED
The Runnin' Bulldogs have a wealth of experienced depth
in the defensive trenches in 2012. Five players have starting
experience and seven have played extensively during their time in
Boiling Springs to date. Tackle Matt
Goods (6-2, 275, RJr.-2L) and end Preston
Pemasa (6-2, 257, Jr.-2L) have earned All-Big South honors in
each of their two seasons so far and both were named Big South
Freshman of the Year in their respective rookie seasons. Versatile
dual-threat linemen Tyler
Hough-Jenkins (6-4, 281, RSo.-1L) and Maurice
Dickson (6-4, 265, Jr.-2L) have experience at both tackle and
end. Tackles Dylan
Taylor (6-0, 255, Gr.-3L) and Maurice
Bryan (6-2, 271, Gr.-3L) are both graduate students with three
years experience, with Taylor earning multiple starts over the past
two seasons. Youngsters Shaquille
Riddick (6-7, 235, So.-1L) and O.J. Le'iauta Mau (6-2, 275,
Fr.-HS) will also continue to log snaps.
GOURMET
COOKING
Redshirt sophomore Kenny
Cook (6-4, 216) has evolved into a dangerous weapon in the red
zone, as evidenced by his five touchdown catches this season - with
three inside the red zone and all five coming from inside 25 yards.
Cook has caught a team-high 40 passes for 571 yards, and is
averaging 17.2 yards per catch in Big South Conference games. He
has two 100-yard games in league play, and is averaging 97.2 yards
per game against league foes.
BIG
STARTS FOR BEATTY
Lucas
Beatty (6-2, 220, RSo.) has enjoyed a breakout season in his
first full season as the Gardner-Webb starter under center, passing
for a career-high 2,143 yards and 10 touchdowns. A closer look at
the number reveals hot starts for the Charlotte, N.C., native in
several games. Five times so far in 2012 Beatty has completed at
least his first five passes. Four times those starts have resulted
in 300-yard passing games - the most by any Gardner-Webb
quarterback in a single season since John Craven had six games with
at least 300 yards 20 years ago in 1992. Against Liberty, Beatty
completed his first six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown - and
finished the first half by going 16-of-17 for 301 yards and a
score. He hit on his first six passes against VMI (10/27) and went
5-for-5 on the opening drive against Coastal Carolina (11/3).
TRENDING
TOWARD SPECIAL
Beatty is currently the Big South's top passer at 238.1
yards per game, putting him on pace to pass for 2,619 yards through
the season's 11 game schedule. If he can maintain or improve his
current pace, Beatty would finish with the third-best passing
season in Gardner-Webb history, trailing only John Craven's 1992
(4,089) and 1993 (2,950) efforts. Beatty's season currently ranks
11th in school history and his 2,774 yards are 10th on the career
list.
BURCH'S
BIG YEAR CONTINUES
Linebacker Tanner
Burch (6-3, 242, So.) is in the midst of a special season at
middle linebacker and has been a very bright spot for a young
linebacker corps for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Burch has notched at
least 10 tackles in eight of Gardner-Webb's nine games, earning Big
South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice. Burch
leads the Big South with 113 total tackles and ranks No. 3
nationally with 12.6 tackles per game. He has added 7.5 tackles for
loss, two sacks and a pass break up in his first nine career
starts. He saw limited action as a reserve in 2011, but was highly
sought after as a prep senior at Savannah Christian (Ga.) Prep.
Burch was named 2010 Georgia Class 1A State Defensive Player of the
Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and earned MaxPreps/US Air
Force Small School All-America honors that same season. Burch had
11 total tackles (eight solo) against Coastal Carolina on November
3.
A HEALTHY
EARLY SLATE
Four of the first six opponents Gardner-Webb battled on
the FCS level have been ranked in the top-25 at some point this
season. Wofford and Stony Brook each remain in the top-10, Samford
has been ranked twice and Richmond is currently ranked No. 22 in
the Fathead.com/Sports Network Top 25. The last time Gardner-Webb
played two top-10 FCS teams in the same season was early-October
2007 - when it battled SoCon powers Appalachian State and Wofford
on the road in back-to-back weeks. All three non-conference FCS
squads - Wofford (No. 13), Richmond (No. 20) and Samford (No. 28)
are currently ranked among the top-30 nationally (as of November
5).
NO MORE
LIGHTS
Gardner-Webb will play its final two games in 2012 during
daylight hours, and statistically that might be good news for the
GWU offense. In five day games against FCS foes so far in 2012, GWU
is averaging 422.2 yards of total offense and 27.8 ppg. In its
night games against FCS foes, the 'Dogs averaged just 241 yards per
game and 6.5 points per outing.
GOLDEN
DOZEN
Gardner-Webb has developed a nice pipeline to the west
coast in recent years, dating back to 2007 NFL Draft selection
Brian Johnston (San Diego, Calif.). This season, the Runnin'
Bulldogs have 12 players who call California their home state, the
most from the Golden State since the program made the jump to NCAA
Division I in 2000. Of that dozen, nine were listed on the 2012
preseason two-deep.
PRESEASON
NATIONAL HONORS
Gardner-Webb players collected several preseason honors,
with kicker Trever
Austin the most widely noted. Austin (5-10, 194, So.-1L) was
named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, the College Football
Performance Awards Watch List and was an honorable mention
All-America selection by Beyond Sports Network. Jamie
Dunaway earned second-team All-America honors from Beyond
Sports Network, and Preston
Pemasa was named to the College Football Performance Awards
Watch list at defensive end for the second preseason in a row.
Gardner-Webb has had at least one preseason All-America since
2002.
THIS
WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 10
Coastal Carolina at Presbyterian *, 1:00
Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern *, 1:30
The Citadel at VMI, 1:30
#6 Stony Brook at Liberty *, 3:30
OFFENSIVE
LINE A STRONG GROUP
Gardner-Webb returns six players with starting experience
on the offensive line for the 2012 season. Five of those men are
seniors: Right tackle Steve
Demilio (6-5, 293, RSr.-3L); right guard Aaron
Huck (6-3, 296, RSr.-1L); center Austin
Sargent (6-3, 302, Sr.-3L); left guard Jamie
Dunaway (6-3, 290, Sr.-3L) and left tackle Harrison
Martin (6-6, 285, Gr.-3L). Right guard Jeff
Harris (6-2, 292, RJr.-2L) is entering his fourth season in the
program. David
McConnell (6-5, 304, RSo.) and Dylan
Hopper (6-4, 295, Fr.) each started the season's first four
games, with Harris and Martin each coming off the bench.
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 will provide the play-by-play call all season, with
David Allen providing color at home and Matt Clark serving in that
role on the road. Log onto to wgwg.org for a live audio stream via
the internet as well.
THE RON
DICKERSON, JR., RADIO SHOW
Every Monday night at 7:00 pm, Fabian Fuentes and Ron
Dickerson, Jr., will host the Ron
Dickerson, Jr., Coaches Show on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org). The
show will broadcast live on campus and is open to the public.
UP
NEXT
Gardner-Webb returns home to close out the 2012 season
with Military Appreciation Day against Presbyterian College on
Saturday, November 17. Kickoff in Earnest W. Spangler Stadium is
set for 1:30 pm. †
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