GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hosts Warner (Fla.) Saturday Afternoon
October 31, 2013 | Football
THE
GAME
Gardner-Webb host NAIA newcomer Warner (Fla.) on Saturday, November 2 at 1:30 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com) and WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org).
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Warner have never met in football, with 2013 the Royals' first season on the gridiron ... Gardner-Webb has won 16 consecutive games against non-NCAA Division I opponents, dating back to 2000 ... The Runnin' Bulldogs have gone 6-2 against teams from the State of Florida since beginning senior college football play in 1970, with its losses coming on the road at UCF (1992) and FAU (2003) ... GWU has one win over an NAIA program on its resume this season, defeating Point (Ga.) University by a 55-7 score on September 28 ... GWU last played multiple non-Division I programs in 2011, defeating Brevard and Virginia State in Spangler Stadium.
FAMILIAR FACES
Warner tight end Trey Schley (6-3, 230, Jr.) played at Gardner-Webb in 2010 and 2011 ... Schley caught a pair of touchdown passes in GWU's 2011 homecoming win over Charleston Southern and was a major weapon in that season's road win at Coastal Carolina ... Warner defensive coordinator Tony Pierce served in the same capacity at Gardner-Webb in 2011 and 2012.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) is in his first season at the helm of his alma mater, becoming the first alumnus to hold the position since Woody Fish (1984-1996). Warner head coach Jeff Schaum is in his first season in charge of the new Royals' program, taking on a building process that started in 2012. Schaum has nearly three decades in football coaching under his belt, and is a 1983 Colgate graduate. He got his coaching start by serving under Bobby Bowden as a graduate assistant coach at Florida State.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS
Warner is off to an 0-9 start in its inaugural season of football, with two games remaining on the schedule ... The Royals were ambitious in scheduling, taking on four NCAA Division I FCS programs in their first nine games, and five overall in 2013 ... The Royals have scored only seven touchdowns in nine games and have just 59 points under their belts so far in 2013.
WELCOME TO NOVEMBER ... NO MORE OCTOBER
After getting off to a 4-1 start and moving into both national top-25 polls, Gardner-Webb was welcomed rudely by the year's 10th month. The Runnin' Bulldogs were 0-3 in October, allowing 119 points (39.6 ppg) and scoring just 58 (19.3 ppg) during that stretch. Gardner-Webb is a combined 5-9 in October since 2010.
TOUGH GUY TANNER
All-America linebacker Tanner Burch (6-3, 241, Jr.) is back to his old tricks again in 2013, leading the team and ranking in the top-2 in the Big South Conference with 74 total tackles (31 solo). The Savannah, Ga., native has played the past six quarters with a cast on his hand after suffering that injury at Coastal Carolina in the first half. Over his past 17 games, Burch has totaled 187 stops - an average of 11.0 tackles per starting assignment.
THE CHEF
Receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 210, RJr.) is enjoying a career year through eight games, leading the Big South Conference with 45 catches. Cook is just three shy of last season's 11-game total, and leads Gardner-Webb with 540 yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Cross Hill, S.C., native has hauled in 93 catches for 1,206 yards and 12 touchdowns during his 19-game career in Boiling Springs, which places him 17th in GWU history. Cook has hauled in 14 passes on third down this season, with 12 of those receptions going for first downs or scores. In his two seasons with GWU, Cook has seen 85.7 percent of his third down receptions go for first downs or scores. He has caught 87.5 percent of his targets on third down this season (14-of-16). Cook has gone for 100 yards in three games this season, giving him five for his career. Cook (pictured opposite page) starred for one season at Garden City (Kan.) Community College after earning All-State honors as a defensive back at Clinton (S.C.) High. Cook was also a basketball standout in Clinton, earning SCADA North/South All-Star Game honors in that sport after averaging 18 points and 15 rebounds per game as a senior.
BLOUNT FORCE
Hard-nosed running back Juanne Blount (5-9, 201, RJr.) continues to add onto a career-best season, taking full advantage of his first season as Gardner-Webb's featured back. The Wingate, N.C., native has carried 176 times for 747 yards and five scores through eight games, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 449 carries for 1,942 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, which ranks eighth in Gardner-Webb history - just in front of Blount's former position coach Chris Foster (1,883 yards from 2000-2003). Blount needs just 10 yards to move into 7th and is on pace to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011 - and only the second since 2001.
AIR MILEAGE
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) continues to climb the Gardner-Webb passing charts, and needs just 99 yards to become the eighth quarterback in program history to reach 5,000 yards. Beatty remains the school's career completion percentage leader (62.1) and has completed 437-of-704 passes for 4,901 yards and 22 touchdowns. This season, Beatty has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,787 yards and eight touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C., native has passed for at least 200 yards in six of his eight starts this season and had a career-high 389 yards passing with four touchdowns in a 53-51 shootout loss at Charlotte.
EXPERIENCED ROSTER FOR RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb has 30 men in at least their third season of college football on the two-deep heading into the 2013 season, including 22 juniors and seniors. A total of 14 juniors and seniors among that group had the benefit of a redshirt season. The Runnin' Bulldogs have a total of 40 players on the current roster who have started at least once during their college career. Eight of those men made their first career starts in the first seven games of 2013.
PILING UP AIR MILES
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) continues to climb the Gardner-Webb passing charts, and needs just 299 yards to become the eighth quarterback in program history to reach 5,000 yards. Beatty remains the school's career completion percentage leader (62.4) and has completed 416-of-667 passes for 4,701 yards and 22 touchdowns. This season, Beatty has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Liberty last season, he hit on 16 of his first 17 passes for more than 300 yards in the opening half, and finished with a Big South completion percentage record (84.4 percent) and 383 yards - a career-high mark he passed earlier this season with 389 yards at Charlotte (10/5).
POSSESSIONS
Gardner-Webb was outgained in time of possession for the first time this season in its 24-0 loss to Liberty on Homecoming. The Runnin' Bulldogs had ranked No. 1 nationally in that category all season, averaging well over 34 minutes per game on average. GWU currently ranks second nationally in time of possession average (34:25) behind defending national champion North Dakota State. GWU is one of two Big South Conference schools who rank in the top-5 nationally, along with Charleston Southern.
DEFENSE
Gardner-Webb's defensive numbers have remained solid throughout the 2013 season, and the Runnin' Bulldogs currently rank No. 20 nationally in total defense with an average of 335.4 yards allowed per game. Gardner-Webb has been solid against the run (139.5 yards allowed per game) and the pass (195.9 yards allowed per game), and rank among the league's best in both run defense and pass efficiency defense this season.
MAJOR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Gardner-Webb's coaching staff has garnered significant experience - both as players and coaches - at the highest level of college football. Head coach Carroll McCray has spent time at both South Carolina and Mississippi State as offensive line coach. Defensive coordinator Randall McCray spent time at South Carolina as a graduate assistant, and has been a position coach at both Wisconsin and Pittsburgh. The younger McCray also worked as defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, among other Division I stops during his career. Running backs coach Brett Hickman worked as a graduate assistant at East Carolina. Quarterbacks coach Brett Nichols played at South Carolina, receivers coach La'Donte Harris played at Clemson, assistant head coach / offensive line coach Kenny Ray played at Southern Miss and defensive line coach Issac Mooring played at North Carolina.
TELEVISION BUFFET
Gardner-Webb will appear in front of television cameras six times in 2013, the most ever for a single season on the gridiron. GWU will play four times on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com), the worldwide leader's broadband video service and will play local/regional television games on WMYA-40 (Furman, 8/31) and WCCB-18 (Charlotte, 10/5). Gardner-Webb's home games with Point (9/28), Warner (11/2) and Charleston Southern (11/16) will air on the Big South Network - free in 2013 for all viewers.
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 2
Warner at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 (Big South Network)
#24 Charleston Southern at Presbyterian, 2:00 (ESPN3)
Charlotte at #3/6 Coastal Carolina, 3:00 (WCCB-18)
VMI at Liberty, 3:30 (Big South Network)
THE PROTOTYPE
Tight end Mike Estes (6-4, 230, RFr.) earned Big South Conference Freshman of the Week honors for the first time following a career-best effort at Charlotte (10/5). The Raleigh, N.C., rookie had four catches for 74 yards and his first career touchdown, a 27-yarder that gave GWU a 45-24 lead late in the third quarter. All four of Estes catches went for first downs and came in the final 30 minutes. Estes followed that effort with two catches for 45 yards at Coastal Carolina, including a 40-yard reception just before halftime. Estes earned CFPA honorable mention FCS Tight End of the Week honors for the third week in a row after that performance. He has hauled in 14 passes for 247 yards and a score so far this season, leading the team with a 17.6 yards per catch average. Estes' yardage total is tops among BIg South Conference tight ends in 2013.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
The Big South Conference announced in early September that Kennesaw State University would join the league as an associate member for football when it begins play in 2015. The league lineup that season will now include: Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Monmouth and Presbyterian. Kennesaw State's new head coach, Brian Bohanon, spent one season as an assistant at Gardner-Webb in 1996 - before heading off to join Paul Johnson's staff at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.
RECRUITING WINNERS
Gardner-Webb has 17 student-athletes on its current roster who played on high school teams that either won a state title, played for a state title or were nationally ranked during their time in the program. Cornerback Drew White (5-9, 167, Sr.) played at one of the nation's top high school programs at Concord (Calif.) De La Salle and went on to play two seasons at national junior college power City College of San Francisco. The Gaffney (S.C.) High quartet of Dewayne Wray (6-0, 295, RFr.), Russell Hughes (6-3, 278, Fr.), Don Manning (6-1, 254, RSr.) and Donovan Manning (6-2, 257, Fr.) each played for high-powered teams just south of the state line.
UP NEXT FOR GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb host NAIA newcomer Warner (Fla.) on Saturday, November 2 at 1:30 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com) and WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org).
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Warner have never met in football, with 2013 the Royals' first season on the gridiron ... Gardner-Webb has won 16 consecutive games against non-NCAA Division I opponents, dating back to 2000 ... The Runnin' Bulldogs have gone 6-2 against teams from the State of Florida since beginning senior college football play in 1970, with its losses coming on the road at UCF (1992) and FAU (2003) ... GWU has one win over an NAIA program on its resume this season, defeating Point (Ga.) University by a 55-7 score on September 28 ... GWU last played multiple non-Division I programs in 2011, defeating Brevard and Virginia State in Spangler Stadium.
FAMILIAR FACES
Warner tight end Trey Schley (6-3, 230, Jr.) played at Gardner-Webb in 2010 and 2011 ... Schley caught a pair of touchdown passes in GWU's 2011 homecoming win over Charleston Southern and was a major weapon in that season's road win at Coastal Carolina ... Warner defensive coordinator Tony Pierce served in the same capacity at Gardner-Webb in 2011 and 2012.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) is in his first season at the helm of his alma mater, becoming the first alumnus to hold the position since Woody Fish (1984-1996). Warner head coach Jeff Schaum is in his first season in charge of the new Royals' program, taking on a building process that started in 2012. Schaum has nearly three decades in football coaching under his belt, and is a 1983 Colgate graduate. He got his coaching start by serving under Bobby Bowden as a graduate assistant coach at Florida State.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS
Warner is off to an 0-9 start in its inaugural season of football, with two games remaining on the schedule ... The Royals were ambitious in scheduling, taking on four NCAA Division I FCS programs in their first nine games, and five overall in 2013 ... The Royals have scored only seven touchdowns in nine games and have just 59 points under their belts so far in 2013.
WELCOME TO NOVEMBER ... NO MORE OCTOBER
After getting off to a 4-1 start and moving into both national top-25 polls, Gardner-Webb was welcomed rudely by the year's 10th month. The Runnin' Bulldogs were 0-3 in October, allowing 119 points (39.6 ppg) and scoring just 58 (19.3 ppg) during that stretch. Gardner-Webb is a combined 5-9 in October since 2010.
TOUGH GUY TANNER
All-America linebacker Tanner Burch (6-3, 241, Jr.) is back to his old tricks again in 2013, leading the team and ranking in the top-2 in the Big South Conference with 74 total tackles (31 solo). The Savannah, Ga., native has played the past six quarters with a cast on his hand after suffering that injury at Coastal Carolina in the first half. Over his past 17 games, Burch has totaled 187 stops - an average of 11.0 tackles per starting assignment.
THE CHEF
Receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 210, RJr.) is enjoying a career year through eight games, leading the Big South Conference with 45 catches. Cook is just three shy of last season's 11-game total, and leads Gardner-Webb with 540 yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Cross Hill, S.C., native has hauled in 93 catches for 1,206 yards and 12 touchdowns during his 19-game career in Boiling Springs, which places him 17th in GWU history. Cook has hauled in 14 passes on third down this season, with 12 of those receptions going for first downs or scores. In his two seasons with GWU, Cook has seen 85.7 percent of his third down receptions go for first downs or scores. He has caught 87.5 percent of his targets on third down this season (14-of-16). Cook has gone for 100 yards in three games this season, giving him five for his career. Cook (pictured opposite page) starred for one season at Garden City (Kan.) Community College after earning All-State honors as a defensive back at Clinton (S.C.) High. Cook was also a basketball standout in Clinton, earning SCADA North/South All-Star Game honors in that sport after averaging 18 points and 15 rebounds per game as a senior.
BLOUNT FORCE
Hard-nosed running back Juanne Blount (5-9, 201, RJr.) continues to add onto a career-best season, taking full advantage of his first season as Gardner-Webb's featured back. The Wingate, N.C., native has carried 176 times for 747 yards and five scores through eight games, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 449 carries for 1,942 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, which ranks eighth in Gardner-Webb history - just in front of Blount's former position coach Chris Foster (1,883 yards from 2000-2003). Blount needs just 10 yards to move into 7th and is on pace to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011 - and only the second since 2001.
AIR MILEAGE
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) continues to climb the Gardner-Webb passing charts, and needs just 99 yards to become the eighth quarterback in program history to reach 5,000 yards. Beatty remains the school's career completion percentage leader (62.1) and has completed 437-of-704 passes for 4,901 yards and 22 touchdowns. This season, Beatty has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,787 yards and eight touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C., native has passed for at least 200 yards in six of his eight starts this season and had a career-high 389 yards passing with four touchdowns in a 53-51 shootout loss at Charlotte.
EXPERIENCED ROSTER FOR RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb has 30 men in at least their third season of college football on the two-deep heading into the 2013 season, including 22 juniors and seniors. A total of 14 juniors and seniors among that group had the benefit of a redshirt season. The Runnin' Bulldogs have a total of 40 players on the current roster who have started at least once during their college career. Eight of those men made their first career starts in the first seven games of 2013.
PILING UP AIR MILES
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) continues to climb the Gardner-Webb passing charts, and needs just 299 yards to become the eighth quarterback in program history to reach 5,000 yards. Beatty remains the school's career completion percentage leader (62.4) and has completed 416-of-667 passes for 4,701 yards and 22 touchdowns. This season, Beatty has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Liberty last season, he hit on 16 of his first 17 passes for more than 300 yards in the opening half, and finished with a Big South completion percentage record (84.4 percent) and 383 yards - a career-high mark he passed earlier this season with 389 yards at Charlotte (10/5).
POSSESSIONS
Gardner-Webb was outgained in time of possession for the first time this season in its 24-0 loss to Liberty on Homecoming. The Runnin' Bulldogs had ranked No. 1 nationally in that category all season, averaging well over 34 minutes per game on average. GWU currently ranks second nationally in time of possession average (34:25) behind defending national champion North Dakota State. GWU is one of two Big South Conference schools who rank in the top-5 nationally, along with Charleston Southern.
DEFENSE
Gardner-Webb's defensive numbers have remained solid throughout the 2013 season, and the Runnin' Bulldogs currently rank No. 20 nationally in total defense with an average of 335.4 yards allowed per game. Gardner-Webb has been solid against the run (139.5 yards allowed per game) and the pass (195.9 yards allowed per game), and rank among the league's best in both run defense and pass efficiency defense this season.
MAJOR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Gardner-Webb's coaching staff has garnered significant experience - both as players and coaches - at the highest level of college football. Head coach Carroll McCray has spent time at both South Carolina and Mississippi State as offensive line coach. Defensive coordinator Randall McCray spent time at South Carolina as a graduate assistant, and has been a position coach at both Wisconsin and Pittsburgh. The younger McCray also worked as defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, among other Division I stops during his career. Running backs coach Brett Hickman worked as a graduate assistant at East Carolina. Quarterbacks coach Brett Nichols played at South Carolina, receivers coach La'Donte Harris played at Clemson, assistant head coach / offensive line coach Kenny Ray played at Southern Miss and defensive line coach Issac Mooring played at North Carolina.
TELEVISION BUFFET
Gardner-Webb will appear in front of television cameras six times in 2013, the most ever for a single season on the gridiron. GWU will play four times on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com), the worldwide leader's broadband video service and will play local/regional television games on WMYA-40 (Furman, 8/31) and WCCB-18 (Charlotte, 10/5). Gardner-Webb's home games with Point (9/28), Warner (11/2) and Charleston Southern (11/16) will air on the Big South Network - free in 2013 for all viewers.
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 2
Warner at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 (Big South Network)
#24 Charleston Southern at Presbyterian, 2:00 (ESPN3)
Charlotte at #3/6 Coastal Carolina, 3:00 (WCCB-18)
VMI at Liberty, 3:30 (Big South Network)
THE PROTOTYPE
Tight end Mike Estes (6-4, 230, RFr.) earned Big South Conference Freshman of the Week honors for the first time following a career-best effort at Charlotte (10/5). The Raleigh, N.C., rookie had four catches for 74 yards and his first career touchdown, a 27-yarder that gave GWU a 45-24 lead late in the third quarter. All four of Estes catches went for first downs and came in the final 30 minutes. Estes followed that effort with two catches for 45 yards at Coastal Carolina, including a 40-yard reception just before halftime. Estes earned CFPA honorable mention FCS Tight End of the Week honors for the third week in a row after that performance. He has hauled in 14 passes for 247 yards and a score so far this season, leading the team with a 17.6 yards per catch average. Estes' yardage total is tops among BIg South Conference tight ends in 2013.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
The Big South Conference announced in early September that Kennesaw State University would join the league as an associate member for football when it begins play in 2015. The league lineup that season will now include: Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Monmouth and Presbyterian. Kennesaw State's new head coach, Brian Bohanon, spent one season as an assistant at Gardner-Webb in 1996 - before heading off to join Paul Johnson's staff at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.
RECRUITING WINNERS
Gardner-Webb has 17 student-athletes on its current roster who played on high school teams that either won a state title, played for a state title or were nationally ranked during their time in the program. Cornerback Drew White (5-9, 167, Sr.) played at one of the nation's top high school programs at Concord (Calif.) De La Salle and went on to play two seasons at national junior college power City College of San Francisco. The Gaffney (S.C.) High quartet of Dewayne Wray (6-0, 295, RFr.), Russell Hughes (6-3, 278, Fr.), Don Manning (6-1, 254, RSr.) and Donovan Manning (6-2, 257, Fr.) each played for high-powered teams just south of the state line.
UP NEXT FOR GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb returns to Big South Conference action next Saturday on the road, traveling to Lexington, Va., for a 1:00 pm showdown with VMI. The game will air live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com) and will have the benefit of replay review as the league's Game of the Week. WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) will also carry the game, with Fabian Fuentes calling the action from Lexington.†
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