GAME NOTES: GWU Welcomes #12/13 Charleston Southern For Senior Day
November 12, 2013 | Football
SCOUTING
#12/13 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Charleston Southern (10-1, 3-0 Big South) enters the final two games of its regular season in the driver's seat for the Big South's automatic bid and potentially a host spot in the 2013 FCS Playoffs ... The loss of standout quarterback Malcolm Dixon hasn't slowed the offense, which has been dynamic behind the running of Christian Reyes (5-10, 218, Jr.) and the leadership of a young quarterback in Daniel Croghan III (6-4, 220, RFr.). Reyes has stormed his way to 1,184 yards and nine scores and CSU is averaging 256.5 yards per game on the ground as a team. Defensively, the Bucs attack to the tune of 18 forced turnovers and only 139.2 yards allowed on the ground. Linebacker Calvin Bryant (5-11, 222, Sr.) has emerged as a leader with 65 total hits, 11.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Corner Elijah Lee has broken up seven passes with one interception to key a very strong secondary.
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hosts #12/13 Charleston Southern on Saturday at 1:30 in its final home game of the season at Spangler Stadium. The game will air on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), and WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org), with Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller providing the call on both platforms.
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb owns a 9-4 edge in the all-time series with Charleston Southern, with the first meeting coming in 1992 ... The two teams did not meet again after that until 2002, the first season of Big South Conference football action ... Charleston Southern's first win in the series came in dominant fashion - a 38-7 win in Spangler Stadium in 2005 ... GWU has won three of the past four meetings, but lost 28-10 last season in Charleston after holding a 10-7 lead after three quarters ... GWU is 5-1 all-time at home against the Buccaneers, winning by a touchdown in 2009 and 2011.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) is in his first season in charge of his alma mater, and is the first alum to coach the Runnin' Bulldogs since Woody Fish (1984-96). Charleston Southern head coach Jamey Chadwell is off to a 10-1 start in his first season at Charleston Southern and is 33-22 overall as a college head coach with stops at North Greenville and Delta State on the NCAA Division II level.
A TOUGH STAT
Gardner-Webb has been bitten deeply by the dreaded turnover bug in 2013, ranking dead last nationally (121st) with 29 turnovers lost through 10 games and 121st nationally with 16 lost fumbles. GWU has allowed 100 points off of turnovers to its opponents through 10 games, the most allowed in a season since the program's move to NCAA Division I in 2000. The differential for the season in points off of turnovers is minus-49 for GWU, an average of nearly five points per game. VMI scored 17 of its 27 points off of turnovers, including a fumble recovery in the end zone for a score. GWU has allowed 31 points off of turnovers in its two road losses in league play combined.
SUNSHINE TROUBLE
Gardner-Webb has endured a tough stretch this season when playing during daylight hours. The Runnin' Bulldogs are 1-3 so far this season when playing before dark, falling at Charlotte (Oct. 5), at home to Liberty (10/26) and at VMI (11/9). The lone win came against Warner on November 2.
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 240, Jr.) has emerged as a force in his third season - and second as a starter. The Akron, Ohio, native leads the Big South Conference with 15.0 tackles for loss and ranks a close second with 6.5 quarterback sacks - both more than double his career totals from the previous two seasons combined. Riddick also has a career-high 59 total tackles to his credit through 10 games and a league-leading 12 pressures - two more than his previous career-high set last season. Riddick should challenge for All-Big South and FCS All-America honors this postseason, and will likely be a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List heading into the 2014 season.
THE CHEF
Receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 210, RJr.) has been one of the Big South's best at his position again this season, and has continued to impress late in the season. Cook has posted five 100-yard receiving games in 2013, with four coming in the past five weeks. Against VMI on Saturday, Cook was perhaps the lone bright spot in a tough offensive outing, out-muscling the Keydets' secondary for a career-high 12 catches and 133 yards. Cook now has a career-high and Big South-leading 65 receptions on the season and has gone for 852 yards and seven touchdowns as well - topping a solid 2012 season in all three categories. He is within 11 catches of posting the second-best season in Gardner-Webb history (William Andrews, 2003 - 76 receptions) and is within striking distance of becoming just the second receiver in school history to post a 1,000-yard season - and first since 1992. Cook has hauled in 113 passes for 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 21 career games at Gardner-Webb. The Clinton, S.C., native has seven career 100-yard games under his belt.
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 210 times for 906 yards and seven scores through 10 games, averaging a solid 4.3 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 483 carries for 1,991 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, which ranks seventh in Gardner-Webb history - two spots in front of Blount's former position coach Chris Foster (1,883 yards from 2000-2003). Blount needs just nine yards to reach 2,000 for his career and is well on pace to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011. He scored Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown with a four-yard plunge at VMI.
NEON KEON
Cornerback Keon Williams (6-0, 170, Sr.) is enjoying a career-best year himself, ranking tops in the Big South with four interceptions - which he has returned for 43 yards and one touchdown. Williams has broken up three passes and now has 90 career tackles, five interceptions, five pass break ups and three fumble recoveries on his football resume'. On top of his athletics success, Williams recently became the first defensive back in Gardner-Webb history to earn a position on the Capital One Academic All-District III first team. He carries a 3.6 cumulative grade point average in Economics and Finance.
5,000 YARDS
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) has another 2,000-yard season under his belt, and recently passed the 5,000-yard mark for career yardage - becoming the eighth player in GWU history to do so. Beatty has passed for 2,154 yards and 10 touchdowns so far in 2013, and sits at 5,268 yards and 24 touchdown passes in 25 career starts. Beatty also carries a 3.6 cumulative GPA in Economics and Finance, and recently became the first quarterback in school history to be named first-team Capital One Academic All-District III.
HOT ROD
Gardner-Webb back Rod Talley (5-10, 203, Fr.) posted his second 100-yard game of the season against Warner, darting for 107 yards and a score on just nine carries. His second touch of the game turned into a 60-yard sprint into the end zone - the longest run from scrimmage for a Gardner-Webb player this season. Talley, who starred at Laurens (S.C.) High last season, has seen limited duty behind veterans Juanne Blount and J.J. Hubbard, but has performed very well when called upon. Talley ranks second on the team with 276 yards and three scores on just 40 attempts (6.9 yards per carry).
CHAN-TASTIC
Quarterback Chandler Browning (6-3, 245, RSr.) has come off the bench with excellent results in each of the past two games, providing a lift to the GWU offense with his legs and arm. Browning came on in the fourth quarter at VMI, and completed 9-of-14 passes for 101 yards - and rushed for 13 yards on two carries. His appearance led to Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown drive of the game. Browning was sharp in a relief appearance against Warner, providing a lift that sparked a 51-14 win for GWU. Browning completed 2-of-4 passes for 38 yards, including a perfectly thrown, 25-yard scoring strike to Kenny Cook that put GWU up 14-7 in the second quarter. Browning also ran for a pair of first downs, including a career-long, 21-yard burst on a designed quarterback run. Browning made his last start under center on November 19, 2011 at VMI before missing last season with an injury. He has passed for 1,873 yards and eight scores in 23 games played as a Runnin' Bulldog.
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.
RANKED FOES
Gardner-Webb will do battle with its fourth ranked opponent on Saturday, the most in a single-season for the program since 2003. Unlike 2004 (1-3), GWU is 2-1 so far against top-25 teams in 2013 - picking up wins over #11/15 Richmond at home on September 14 (12-10) and #8/15 Wofford on the road the following week (3-0) behind a stout defensive effort and timely kicking. GWU had just two wins over ranked foes in its previous 13 seasons as a Division I program before 2013 - winning at #23 New Hampshire (2000) and vs. #25 Western Carolina (2004)
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 16
Presbyterian at #9/11 Coastal Carolina, 1:00 (ESPN3)
VMI at The Citadel, 1:00
#12/13 Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 (BSN)
Brevard at Liberty, 3:30 (BSN)
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
Gardner-Webb has been stout defensively all season and the Runnin' Bulldogs currently rank No. 7 nationally in total defense - allowing 305.7 yards per game. Coach Randall McCray's unit has remained balanced for much of its campaign, ranking 28th against the run (131.6 yards allowed per game) and 14th in passing defense (174.1 yards allowed per game). Gardner-Webb ranks No. 9 nationally in third down conversion defense (30.6 percent), No. 17 in fourth down conversion defense (33.3 percent) and 12th in first down defense (156 allowed).
ROAD WOES
Gardner-Webb has not won a Big South Conference road game since a 26-24 win at Coastal Carolina on October 22, 2011 and is just 2-9 on the road in league play since 2010. GWU last won multiple road games in the same season in 2009, knocking off Western Carolina, VMI and Presbyterian away from home that season.
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 close out the 2013 season on the road, traveling just south to battle with longtime foe Presbyterian. The Blue Hose and Runnin' Bulldogs will kick at 1:00 pm from Bailey Memorial Stadium. The game will air on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) and The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). †
Charleston Southern (10-1, 3-0 Big South) enters the final two games of its regular season in the driver's seat for the Big South's automatic bid and potentially a host spot in the 2013 FCS Playoffs ... The loss of standout quarterback Malcolm Dixon hasn't slowed the offense, which has been dynamic behind the running of Christian Reyes (5-10, 218, Jr.) and the leadership of a young quarterback in Daniel Croghan III (6-4, 220, RFr.). Reyes has stormed his way to 1,184 yards and nine scores and CSU is averaging 256.5 yards per game on the ground as a team. Defensively, the Bucs attack to the tune of 18 forced turnovers and only 139.2 yards allowed on the ground. Linebacker Calvin Bryant (5-11, 222, Sr.) has emerged as a leader with 65 total hits, 11.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Corner Elijah Lee has broken up seven passes with one interception to key a very strong secondary.
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hosts #12/13 Charleston Southern on Saturday at 1:30 in its final home game of the season at Spangler Stadium. The game will air on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), and WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org), with Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller providing the call on both platforms.
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb owns a 9-4 edge in the all-time series with Charleston Southern, with the first meeting coming in 1992 ... The two teams did not meet again after that until 2002, the first season of Big South Conference football action ... Charleston Southern's first win in the series came in dominant fashion - a 38-7 win in Spangler Stadium in 2005 ... GWU has won three of the past four meetings, but lost 28-10 last season in Charleston after holding a 10-7 lead after three quarters ... GWU is 5-1 all-time at home against the Buccaneers, winning by a touchdown in 2009 and 2011.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) is in his first season in charge of his alma mater, and is the first alum to coach the Runnin' Bulldogs since Woody Fish (1984-96). Charleston Southern head coach Jamey Chadwell is off to a 10-1 start in his first season at Charleston Southern and is 33-22 overall as a college head coach with stops at North Greenville and Delta State on the NCAA Division II level.
A TOUGH STAT
Gardner-Webb has been bitten deeply by the dreaded turnover bug in 2013, ranking dead last nationally (121st) with 29 turnovers lost through 10 games and 121st nationally with 16 lost fumbles. GWU has allowed 100 points off of turnovers to its opponents through 10 games, the most allowed in a season since the program's move to NCAA Division I in 2000. The differential for the season in points off of turnovers is minus-49 for GWU, an average of nearly five points per game. VMI scored 17 of its 27 points off of turnovers, including a fumble recovery in the end zone for a score. GWU has allowed 31 points off of turnovers in its two road losses in league play combined.
SUNSHINE TROUBLE
Gardner-Webb has endured a tough stretch this season when playing during daylight hours. The Runnin' Bulldogs are 1-3 so far this season when playing before dark, falling at Charlotte (Oct. 5), at home to Liberty (10/26) and at VMI (11/9). The lone win came against Warner on November 2.
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 240, Jr.) has emerged as a force in his third season - and second as a starter. The Akron, Ohio, native leads the Big South Conference with 15.0 tackles for loss and ranks a close second with 6.5 quarterback sacks - both more than double his career totals from the previous two seasons combined. Riddick also has a career-high 59 total tackles to his credit through 10 games and a league-leading 12 pressures - two more than his previous career-high set last season. Riddick should challenge for All-Big South and FCS All-America honors this postseason, and will likely be a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List heading into the 2014 season.
THE CHEF
Receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 210, RJr.) has been one of the Big South's best at his position again this season, and has continued to impress late in the season. Cook has posted five 100-yard receiving games in 2013, with four coming in the past five weeks. Against VMI on Saturday, Cook was perhaps the lone bright spot in a tough offensive outing, out-muscling the Keydets' secondary for a career-high 12 catches and 133 yards. Cook now has a career-high and Big South-leading 65 receptions on the season and has gone for 852 yards and seven touchdowns as well - topping a solid 2012 season in all three categories. He is within 11 catches of posting the second-best season in Gardner-Webb history (William Andrews, 2003 - 76 receptions) and is within striking distance of becoming just the second receiver in school history to post a 1,000-yard season - and first since 1992. Cook has hauled in 113 passes for 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 21 career games at Gardner-Webb. The Clinton, S.C., native has seven career 100-yard games under his belt.
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 210 times for 906 yards and seven scores through 10 games, averaging a solid 4.3 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 483 carries for 1,991 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, which ranks seventh in Gardner-Webb history - two spots in front of Blount's former position coach Chris Foster (1,883 yards from 2000-2003). Blount needs just nine yards to reach 2,000 for his career and is well on pace to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011. He scored Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown with a four-yard plunge at VMI.
NEON KEON
Cornerback Keon Williams (6-0, 170, Sr.) is enjoying a career-best year himself, ranking tops in the Big South with four interceptions - which he has returned for 43 yards and one touchdown. Williams has broken up three passes and now has 90 career tackles, five interceptions, five pass break ups and three fumble recoveries on his football resume'. On top of his athletics success, Williams recently became the first defensive back in Gardner-Webb history to earn a position on the Capital One Academic All-District III first team. He carries a 3.6 cumulative grade point average in Economics and Finance.
5,000 YARDS
Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) has another 2,000-yard season under his belt, and recently passed the 5,000-yard mark for career yardage - becoming the eighth player in GWU history to do so. Beatty has passed for 2,154 yards and 10 touchdowns so far in 2013, and sits at 5,268 yards and 24 touchdown passes in 25 career starts. Beatty also carries a 3.6 cumulative GPA in Economics and Finance, and recently became the first quarterback in school history to be named first-team Capital One Academic All-District III.
HOT ROD
Gardner-Webb back Rod Talley (5-10, 203, Fr.) posted his second 100-yard game of the season against Warner, darting for 107 yards and a score on just nine carries. His second touch of the game turned into a 60-yard sprint into the end zone - the longest run from scrimmage for a Gardner-Webb player this season. Talley, who starred at Laurens (S.C.) High last season, has seen limited duty behind veterans Juanne Blount and J.J. Hubbard, but has performed very well when called upon. Talley ranks second on the team with 276 yards and three scores on just 40 attempts (6.9 yards per carry).
CHAN-TASTIC
Quarterback Chandler Browning (6-3, 245, RSr.) has come off the bench with excellent results in each of the past two games, providing a lift to the GWU offense with his legs and arm. Browning came on in the fourth quarter at VMI, and completed 9-of-14 passes for 101 yards - and rushed for 13 yards on two carries. His appearance led to Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown drive of the game. Browning was sharp in a relief appearance against Warner, providing a lift that sparked a 51-14 win for GWU. Browning completed 2-of-4 passes for 38 yards, including a perfectly thrown, 25-yard scoring strike to Kenny Cook that put GWU up 14-7 in the second quarter. Browning also ran for a pair of first downs, including a career-long, 21-yard burst on a designed quarterback run. Browning made his last start under center on November 19, 2011 at VMI before missing last season with an injury. He has passed for 1,873 yards and eight scores in 23 games played as a Runnin' Bulldog.
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.
RANKED FOES
Gardner-Webb will do battle with its fourth ranked opponent on Saturday, the most in a single-season for the program since 2003. Unlike 2004 (1-3), GWU is 2-1 so far against top-25 teams in 2013 - picking up wins over #11/15 Richmond at home on September 14 (12-10) and #8/15 Wofford on the road the following week (3-0) behind a stout defensive effort and timely kicking. GWU had just two wins over ranked foes in its previous 13 seasons as a Division I program before 2013 - winning at #23 New Hampshire (2000) and vs. #25 Western Carolina (2004)
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 16
Presbyterian at #9/11 Coastal Carolina, 1:00 (ESPN3)
VMI at The Citadel, 1:00
#12/13 Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 (BSN)
Brevard at Liberty, 3:30 (BSN)
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
Gardner-Webb has been stout defensively all season and the Runnin' Bulldogs currently rank No. 7 nationally in total defense - allowing 305.7 yards per game. Coach Randall McCray's unit has remained balanced for much of its campaign, ranking 28th against the run (131.6 yards allowed per game) and 14th in passing defense (174.1 yards allowed per game). Gardner-Webb ranks No. 9 nationally in third down conversion defense (30.6 percent), No. 17 in fourth down conversion defense (33.3 percent) and 12th in first down defense (156 allowed).
ROAD WOES
Gardner-Webb has not won a Big South Conference road game since a 26-24 win at Coastal Carolina on October 22, 2011 and is just 2-9 on the road in league play since 2010. GWU last won multiple road games in the same season in 2009, knocking off Western Carolina, VMI and Presbyterian away from home that season.
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 close out the 2013 season on the road, traveling just south to battle with longtime foe Presbyterian. The Blue Hose and Runnin' Bulldogs will kick at 1:00 pm from Bailey Memorial Stadium. The game will air on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) and The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). †
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