SCOUTING #6/8 COASTAL CAROLINA
Coastal Carolina (5-0) is ranked in the top-10 nationally earlier than ever before, and are on a roll heading into Big South Conference play ... The Chants have steamrolled opponents of late offensively, dating back to the close of the 2012 season ... CCU ranks in the top-20 nationally in 13 different offensive categories kept by the NCAA, including eye-popping marks in scoring offense (5th, 43.2 ppg); total offense (7th, 507.6 ypg), red zone offense (2nd, 96.6 percent) and 3rd down conversions (2nd, 56.1 percent) ... Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro ranks 19th nationally with 144.0 yards per game aand is fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (10) and scoring. Quarterback Alex Ross ranks in the top-15 in completion percentage, pass efficiency rating and points responsible for. Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Matt Hazel returns to action this week. The CCU defense is also talented, paced by Defensive Player of the Year Quinn Backus and linebacker mate Mike McClure.

SERIES NOTES
Coastal Carolina leads the all-time series 8-2 ... Gardner-Webb has won both of its games in the series in Conway, winning the first game in the series, 38-17, in 2003 ... GWU rallied for a 26-24 win at Coastal in 2011 ... The Chanticleers have won all five meetings in Boiling Springs ... The teams' last four meetings in Brooks Stadium have been decided by a slim average of just 3.3 points per game ... None of those four meetings has been decided by more than five points ... Both teams have held at least one lead in each of the last seven meetings overall ... Six of the last eight meetings overall have been decided by five points or less.

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). Coastal Carolina head coach Joe Moglia (Fordham '71) is in his second season with the Chanticleers, and has posted a strong 13-5 mark so far - which includes the 2012 Big South Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs.

A HIGH PACED HEARBREAKER
Gardner-Webb bolted to a 17-7 lead after one quarter, and led 45-24 after three quarters - but fell victim to three turnovers and an improbable Charlotte comeback as the 49ers rallied to stun the 24th-ranked Runnin' Bulldogs, 53-51, in a wild game last weekend. GWU allowed four times as many points in the fourth quarter Saturday to Charlotte than it had in its five previous games combined, but still had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Lucas Beatty's two-point conversion pass fell just short, however, and GWU lost for the first time to a startup program since moving to Division I itself in 2000. The two teams combined for more than 1,100 total yards, 66 first downs and 14 touchdowns.

FOCAL POINT - WEEK #7
Coastal Carolina enters Saturday as one of the nation's top offenses, with a large and cohesive offensive line grading a road for Lorenzo Taliaferro and building walls to protect quarterback Alex Ross. The group has made 102 combined starts. Gardner-Webb's strength defensively remains up front, with experienced linemen Preston Pemasa (6-2, 254, Sr.), Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 240, Jr.), O.J. Le'Iatua Mau (6-2, 302, So.) and Matt Goods (6-2, 260, RSr.) headlining.

HALF A HUNDRED
Gardner-Webb has scored 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2005, and has also put up 500 yards offensively in consecutive games for the first time since that season ... Coastal Carolina has scored 50 points or more in three consecutive games in 2013, and has done so six times since last season.

4,000 CLUB
Quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) moved into eighth place on Gardner-Webb's career passing yardage list against Point (Ga.), and has 4,419 yards to his credit in just 22 starts following his sizzling effort in Charlotte last week. The Academic All-Big South selection has completed 395-of-627 passes for 4,419 yards and 22 touchdowns, and remains the program's career leader with a 63.0 percent completion rate. Beatty also owns the top two completion percentage games in Big South history, completing 84.4 percent at Liberty (10/6/12) and 84.0 percent vs. Point (9/28/13). Beatty ranks second in Big South history with five 300-yard passing games during his career.

THE CHEF
Receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 210, RJr.) has been exceptional during his time in Boiling Springs, starting 17 times and hauling in 82 passes for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns so far. This season, the Clinton, S.C., native leads the Big South Conference with 34 catches through six games, and has caught five of Lucas Beatty's eight touchdown passes. Cook earned second-team All-Big South honors in 2012 and was a consensus preseason All-Big South selection in 2013. He earned All-State honors as a defensive back at Clinton (S.C.) High and was a two-sport SCADA North/South All-Star participant - averaging 18 points and 16 rebounds per game in basketball as a senior.

TRIPLE THREAT x3
Gardner-Webb had a quarterback pass for 300+ yards, a running back rush for 100+ yards and receiver post 100+ yards for just the third time since the program's move to Division I when Lucas Beatty, Juanne Blount and Kenny Cook did so at Charlotte (10/5). Beatty passed for 389 yards, Blount rushed for 133 and Cook had 136 through the air in that game. Beatty and Cook were joined by Kenny Little in accomplishing the feat on Nov. 3, 2012 vs. Coastal Carolina. The only other time happened on Nov. 11, 2000 at #23 New Hampshire, when GWU had Jeremy Martin pass for 403 yards, Justin Richardson rush for 124 and both William Andrews, Jr. (203) and Darin Bradford (100) reach the 100-yard mark catching the football. GWU defeated New Hampshire, 38-35, in that game - despite a muddy field.

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 five games of 2013.

ALL-AMERICA RECOGNITION
Gardner-Webb has seen at least one player named preseason I-AA/FCS All-America in each of the past 10 years, with 24 total student-athletes earning the nod. Tanner Burch (6-3, 241, Jr.), Matt Goods (6-2, 260, RSr.) and Hudson Smith (6-1, 235, RSr.) were on preseason lists in 2013.

SNEAK PREVIEW
Gardner-Webb got a sneak preview of 2013 Coastal Carolina starter Alex Ross, when the current standout made his first career start in Boiling Springs last season. Ross finished that day with 342 yards through the air and 404 yards of total offense in a 55-33 win. Ross was subbing for injured All-Big South signal caller Aramis Hillary, a man he has more than adequately replaced in 2013.

TURNOVERS A PROBLEM FOR 'DOGS
Gardner-Webb ranks 113th out of 122 teams in FCS in turnovers lost in 2013 (15), with its nine fumbles lost this season ranking 119th of 122 nationally. GWU is 0-2 this season when losing the turnover battle - with a combined deficit of 9-1 in losses at Marshall (9/7) and Charlotte (10/5). On the flip side, Gardner-Webb is 4-0 when either tying the turnover margin or coming out on top. Teams have a +21 advantage in points off of turnovers through the season's first six games, with Marshall (24 points) and Charlotte (17 points) doing the most damage in that key category.

BLOUNT FORCE
In his first season as Gardner-Webb's feature back, Juanne Blount (5-9, 201, RJr.) has excelled. The Wingate, N.C., standout has carried 139 times for a career-high 621 yards, averaging 103.5 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry through six starts. Blount's previous top season came in 2010, when he carried for 494 yards on 133 carries. Blount has played in 29 games during his career, splitting time in 2010 with a handful of backs, missing most of 2011 with an injury and backing up All-Big South teammate Kenny Little in 2012. He has barreled his way to 1,706 yards and 13 touchdowns on 412 carries, ranking 12th in GWU history in yardage and 15th in rushing touchdowns. Blount carried 32 times for 133 yards and two scores at Charlotte (10/5), his third 100-yard game of the season. He also hauled in five catches for 45 yards in that game to finish with a career-high 178 all-purpose yards. Blount has gained 2,051 all-purpose yards during his career.

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 has caught 11 passes this season, and leads all Big South tight ends with 178 yards. Estes leads the Runnin' Bulldogs with 16.2 yards per catch, and has seen all six of his catches over the last two games go for first downs.

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, October 12
#25 Charleston Southern at VMI, 1:30 pm (Big South Network)
Gardner-Webb at #6/8 Coastal Carolina, 6:00 pm (ESPN3)
Liberty, Idle
Presbyterian, Idle

THE FUTBOL GUY
Kicker Jordan Day (5-10, 184, RSr.) has taken well to his new sport, after lettering four seasons with the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team. Day made 20 starts with Tony Setzer's team on the pitch and played in 53 games over four seasons (three assists). The Marvin, N.C., native has knocked home 8-of-11 field goal attempts and leads Gardner-Webb through five games with 39 points scored. Day leads the league in field goals per game, and has also been effective as a punter - averaging 39.2 yards per attempt and helping GWU tie for the league lead in net punting average with excellent hang time. Day has twice been named Big South Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting game-winning field goals vs. #11 Richmond (9/14) and #8 Wofford (9/21).

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 will enjoy its lone open date of the 2013 season, before returning home to host Big South foe Liberty on Saturday, October 26 at 1:30 pm. That game will air on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com) as the Big South's Game of the Week - one of four appearances in that showcase for Gardner-Webb this season. The game will also air on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) with Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller calling the action.