GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Closes Season On The Road At Presbyterian
November 20, 2013 | Football
SCOUTING
THE BLUE HOSE
Presbyterian enters its home finale having lost three in a row, with two of those coming to ranked teams in Charleston Southern (27-16) and Coastal Carolina (46-13) ... Freshman quarterback Heys McMath has burst onto the scene under center, passing for 218.6 yards per game since entering the starting lineup vs. VMI ... Favorite target Tobi Antigha ranks among the league's best with 45 catches for 706 yards and five scores ... Tailback Demarcus Rouse leads the ground game with seven touchdowns ... Breyon Williams (68 tackles) and Ed Britt (64 tackles) lead the defense ... The Blue Hose have forced just 11 turnovers in 10 games (nine fumbles, two interceptions).
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb visits old rival Presbyterian on Saturday, November 23, at 1:00 pm in Clinton, S.C. 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.
SERIES NOTES
The series, which dates back to both programs' NAIA and Division II days, is tied 17-17 ... The series began on November 7, 1970 in Clinton, S.C. ... Presbyterian won the first five meetings in the series ... GWU has an 11-7 record in the series in Clinton, S.C. ... GWU jumped to a 21-2 early in the fourth quarter last season before thwarting a late rally by the Blue Hose to win 21-15 in the season finale ... All but three of the 34 previous meetings have been in November.
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). Presbyterian head coach Harold Nichols is in his fifth season in charge of his alma mater and has a 9-43 overall record.
A GAME OF NUMBERS
Gardner-Webb has forged a strong 3-1 record this season against nationally-ranked opponents, picking up more wins against top-25 competition in 2013 than it had in its previous 13 seasons combined at the Division I FCS level. In its three wins over ranked teams, Gardner-Webb has allowed just 6.7 points and 230.0 yards of total offense per game. Despite playing two run-heavy teams in Wofford and Charleston Southern, GWU has allowed an average of just 56.7 yards per game on the ground in those three victories.
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 240, Jr.) earned a spot on two prestigious watch lists earlier this week, as he was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Mid-Season Watch List and the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Hendricks award is given to the top defensive end in the nation, regardless of classification, and Riddick is the lone FCS name included. Jadaveon Clowney (USC) won the award in 2012. The Buchanan is awarded to the top defensive player in the FCS by The Sports Network. Riddick has totaled career-high numbers across the board in 2013, including tackles (67), tackles for loss (19), sacks (8.5) and pressures (17). He ranks No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss, leads the nation in negative yards recorded and set a new Big South single-season record with 8.5 sacks. He was strong against No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, totaling 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and five pressures in the 27-10 win.
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 six weeks. Cook now has a career-high and Big South-leading 72 receptions on the season and has gone for 931 yards and eight touchdowns as well - topping a solid 2012 season in all three categories. He is within 4 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 120 passes for 1,597 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 22 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 231 times for 962 yards and eight scores through 11 games, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 504 carries for 2,047 yards and 17 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 crossed the 2,000-yard mark against No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, and needs just 38 yards to become the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011 - and just the third since 1996. He has scored three of Gardner-Webb's four offensive touchdowns in league play.
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 eight passes and now has 95 career tackles, five interceptions, 10 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. He had five solo stops and five pass break ups in Saturday's win over Charleston Southern.
WE LIKE OUR TURF
Gardner-Webb wrapped up the 2013 home slate with a very good 5-1 record in Spangler Stadium. In those six home contests, Gardner-Webb averaged 28.8 points and 380.0 yards per game offensively, while limiting opponents to a scant 238.0 yards of total offense per game. GWU has won eight of its last 10 games in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, dating back to the 2012 season.
5K
Gardner-Webb's Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) has topped the 2,000-yard mark for the second time in two seasons, and currently sits at 2,288 yards and 11 touchdowns on 214-of-347 passing. Beatty ranks seventh in school history with 5,402 yards through the air for his career, and remains the all-time completion percentage leader as well (61.7 percent). Beatty was effective with his legs on Saturday vs. No. 12 /13 Charleston Southern, rushing for a career-high 27 yards on just four carries and passing for 134 yards and a touchdown. Beatty, also a fine student with a 3.67 cumulative GPA in Economics and Finance, was recently named first-team Capital One Academic All-District III - the first quarterback in school history to be honored in that fashion.
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.
RETURN MAN
Return man J.J. Hubbard (5-8, 170, Jr.) made a major impact on Saturday's win over No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, returning a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. He earned FCS Kickoff Return Performer of the Week honors from College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). It was Hubbard's second kickoff return for a score of his career with the other coming on November 19, 2011 at VMI (78 yards).
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 23
Liberty at #16/18 Charleston Southern, 11:00 am
Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian, 1:00 pm
#7/11 Coastal Carolina at South Carolina, 1:00 pm
Bucknell at VMI, 1:30 pm
BUILDING A WALL
Gardner-Webb's defensive improvement in 2013 has been mind-boggling, moving from a final ranking of 101st (of 121) last season to No. 6 nationally in total defense through 11 games (296.4 yards per game). Gardner-Webb also ranks highly in passing yardage defense (14th), rushing defense (21st), tackles for loss (13th), first down defense (9th), 3rd down conversion defense (8th) and 4th down conversion defense (10th).
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.
FINAL GAME FOR BAKER'S DOZEN
Gardner-Webb will see 13 seniors for the final time on the field Saturday at Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, S.C., with the 2013 season coming to a close on the road. That group includes: Jordan Bookhart (OL); Chandler Browning (QB); Jordan Day (PK/P); Matt Goods (NG); Jeff Harris (OL); Lonnie Johnson (SS); Richard Jules (WR); Don Manning (TE); Preston Pemasa (DE); Zach Shelton (DE); Hudson Smith (LS/TE); Drew White (CB) and Keon Williams (CB). †
Presbyterian enters its home finale having lost three in a row, with two of those coming to ranked teams in Charleston Southern (27-16) and Coastal Carolina (46-13) ... Freshman quarterback Heys McMath has burst onto the scene under center, passing for 218.6 yards per game since entering the starting lineup vs. VMI ... Favorite target Tobi Antigha ranks among the league's best with 45 catches for 706 yards and five scores ... Tailback Demarcus Rouse leads the ground game with seven touchdowns ... Breyon Williams (68 tackles) and Ed Britt (64 tackles) lead the defense ... The Blue Hose have forced just 11 turnovers in 10 games (nine fumbles, two interceptions).
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb visits old rival Presbyterian on Saturday, November 23, at 1:00 pm in Clinton, S.C. 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.
SERIES NOTES
The series, which dates back to both programs' NAIA and Division II days, is tied 17-17 ... The series began on November 7, 1970 in Clinton, S.C. ... Presbyterian won the first five meetings in the series ... GWU has an 11-7 record in the series in Clinton, S.C. ... GWU jumped to a 21-2 early in the fourth quarter last season before thwarting a late rally by the Blue Hose to win 21-15 in the season finale ... All but three of the 34 previous meetings have been in November.
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). Presbyterian head coach Harold Nichols is in his fifth season in charge of his alma mater and has a 9-43 overall record.
A GAME OF NUMBERS
Gardner-Webb has forged a strong 3-1 record this season against nationally-ranked opponents, picking up more wins against top-25 competition in 2013 than it had in its previous 13 seasons combined at the Division I FCS level. In its three wins over ranked teams, Gardner-Webb has allowed just 6.7 points and 230.0 yards of total offense per game. Despite playing two run-heavy teams in Wofford and Charleston Southern, GWU has allowed an average of just 56.7 yards per game on the ground in those three victories.
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 240, Jr.) earned a spot on two prestigious watch lists earlier this week, as he was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Mid-Season Watch List and the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Hendricks award is given to the top defensive end in the nation, regardless of classification, and Riddick is the lone FCS name included. Jadaveon Clowney (USC) won the award in 2012. The Buchanan is awarded to the top defensive player in the FCS by The Sports Network. Riddick has totaled career-high numbers across the board in 2013, including tackles (67), tackles for loss (19), sacks (8.5) and pressures (17). He ranks No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss, leads the nation in negative yards recorded and set a new Big South single-season record with 8.5 sacks. He was strong against No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, totaling 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and five pressures in the 27-10 win.
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 six weeks. Cook now has a career-high and Big South-leading 72 receptions on the season and has gone for 931 yards and eight touchdowns as well - topping a solid 2012 season in all three categories. He is within 4 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 120 passes for 1,597 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 22 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 231 times for 962 yards and eight scores through 11 games, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. For his career, Blount has 504 carries for 2,047 yards and 17 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 crossed the 2,000-yard mark against No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, and needs just 38 yards to become the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011 - and just the third since 1996. He has scored three of Gardner-Webb's four offensive touchdowns in league play.
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 eight passes and now has 95 career tackles, five interceptions, 10 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. He had five solo stops and five pass break ups in Saturday's win over Charleston Southern.
WE LIKE OUR TURF
Gardner-Webb wrapped up the 2013 home slate with a very good 5-1 record in Spangler Stadium. In those six home contests, Gardner-Webb averaged 28.8 points and 380.0 yards per game offensively, while limiting opponents to a scant 238.0 yards of total offense per game. GWU has won eight of its last 10 games in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, dating back to the 2012 season.
5K
Gardner-Webb's Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) has topped the 2,000-yard mark for the second time in two seasons, and currently sits at 2,288 yards and 11 touchdowns on 214-of-347 passing. Beatty ranks seventh in school history with 5,402 yards through the air for his career, and remains the all-time completion percentage leader as well (61.7 percent). Beatty was effective with his legs on Saturday vs. No. 12 /13 Charleston Southern, rushing for a career-high 27 yards on just four carries and passing for 134 yards and a touchdown. Beatty, also a fine student with a 3.67 cumulative GPA in Economics and Finance, was recently named first-team Capital One Academic All-District III - the first quarterback in school history to be honored in that fashion.
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.
RETURN MAN
Return man J.J. Hubbard (5-8, 170, Jr.) made a major impact on Saturday's win over No. 12/13 Charleston Southern, returning a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. He earned FCS Kickoff Return Performer of the Week honors from College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). It was Hubbard's second kickoff return for a score of his career with the other coming on November 19, 2011 at VMI (78 yards).
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 23
Liberty at #16/18 Charleston Southern, 11:00 am
Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian, 1:00 pm
#7/11 Coastal Carolina at South Carolina, 1:00 pm
Bucknell at VMI, 1:30 pm
BUILDING A WALL
Gardner-Webb's defensive improvement in 2013 has been mind-boggling, moving from a final ranking of 101st (of 121) last season to No. 6 nationally in total defense through 11 games (296.4 yards per game). Gardner-Webb also ranks highly in passing yardage defense (14th), rushing defense (21st), tackles for loss (13th), first down defense (9th), 3rd down conversion defense (8th) and 4th down conversion defense (10th).
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.
FINAL GAME FOR BAKER'S DOZEN
Gardner-Webb will see 13 seniors for the final time on the field Saturday at Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, S.C., with the 2013 season coming to a close on the road. That group includes: Jordan Bookhart (OL); Chandler Browning (QB); Jordan Day (PK/P); Matt Goods (NG); Jeff Harris (OL); Lonnie Johnson (SS); Richard Jules (WR); Don Manning (TE); Preston Pemasa (DE); Zach Shelton (DE); Hudson Smith (LS/TE); Drew White (CB) and Keon Williams (CB). †
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