GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Travels North To Face VMI Saturday
October 15, 2014 | Football
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hits the road again on Saturday, October 18, to battle former Big South Conference foe VMI – the 12th season in a row the two teams will meet – and the second season in a row the game will be played in Virginia. Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm, and the game will air live on wgwg.org (Fabian Fuentes). The game will also be broadcast via the SoCon Digital Network (soconsports.com).
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series over the Keydets by a 9-2 margin ... VMI has won each of the last two meetings in Lexington, Va., holding off GWU in 2011 and taking a 27-9 win last season in the program's final Big South Conference game ... The two teams will meet for the first time as non-conference foes ... Six of the previous 11 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less ... Each of the last two meetings has been decided by at least 18 points, with Gardner-Webb winning 38-7 in Boiling Springs on October 27, 2012 ... GWU is 8-0 vs. VMI in October.
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged an 10-8 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. VMI head coach Sparky Woods has won 79 career games as a college head coach, which includes stints at Appalachian State and South Carolina. McCray and Woods have worked on three different college staffs together, with McCray serving as an assistant under Woods at both Appalachian State and South Carolina. During Woods' tenure at Mississippi State as offensive coordinator, McCray served as offensive line coach. VMI offensive line coach Matt Campbell played for McCray's offensive line at South Carolina.
BANGED UP
The injury list has been long for Gardner-Webb in 2014. All-Big South linebackers Tanner Burch and Chad Geter are each out for the season and offensive starters Ashanti McPhee (OL), David Sutton (OL) and Juanne Blount (RB) will miss the VMI game. All told, Gardner-Webb has lost 93 combined quarters of action from starters in 2014, with 51 of those coming from All-Big South Conference selections.
SOUS CHEF
Outside linebacker Aaron Cook (6-1, 218, So.) has emerged as Gardner-Webb's top performer at the position with All-Big South running mates Chad Geter and Tanner Burch sidelined. Cook led Gardner-Webb with nine total hits at The Citadel (9/27) and had his best game to date in the win over Wofford. He that victory with a career-best 13 total tackles (six solo) – and made six of those stops on special teams. Cook added 2.0 tackles for loss (minus-9 yards), despite playing logging double duty at injured Chad Geter's Spur position.
HUBBARD TO THE HOUSE
Gardner-Webb return ace J.J. Hubbard (5-7, 168, Sr.) swung momentum quickly in his team's favor in the win over Charlotte (10/4), taking a kickoff back 95 yards to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 7-3 lead. Hubbard wound up with four kickoff returns for 144 yards, adding a 26-yard return later in the game that set his team up near midfield. Hubbard's touchdown return was the third of his career, tying him for the Big South Conference all-time mark with two other return men. The Tampa, Fla., native ranks No. 7 among active FCS career leaders in combined kick returns, No. 4 in career return touchdowns and return yards per game – and No. 14 in all divisions of NCAA football in kickoff return touchdowns. Hubbard has returned 88 career kickoffs for 2,068 yards (23.5 yards per return) and has totaled 3,035 career all-purpose yards with 11 total touchdowns (4 rushing, 4 receiving, 3 kickoff return). He earned All-Big South honors as a kickoff and punt return specialist in 2012 and is heavily in the mix for those same honors as a senior in 2014.
GETER DONE FOR 2014
All-Big South linebacker and All-America candidate Chad Geter will miss the remainder of the 2014 season, Gardner-Webb announced on September 24. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound junior will apply for a medical redshirt and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he returns in 2015. Geter did not play in the win over Wofford, only the second full game he had missed in two seasons as a starter. He was the team's leading tackler with 23 hits through three games – and has 135 total tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss in his 25 career games played.
BURCH OUT FOR 2014
Preseason All-America inside linebacker Tanner Burch will miss the entire 2014 season after suffering an injury during the week of preparation for the season opener at No. 18/21 Furman. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior has a redshirt season remaining after playing in each of his first three seasons and will return as a fifth-year senior in 2015. Burch has led the team and ranked among the Big South leaders with 100-tackle campaigns in both 2012 and 2013 and has averaged nearly 10 hits per game in contests against nationally-ranked teams for his career.
HOME FIELD SUCCESS
Gardner-Webb has won 11 of its last 13 games, and five in a row, in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium – dating back to the 2012 season. The two losses during that stretch came to Coastal Carolina on November 3, 2012 in a 55-33 shootout and to Liberty last October 26 in a 24-0 decision. The Runnin' Bulldogs went 5-1 last season at home. GWU has just two more home games remaining on the 2014 schedule – Coastal Carolina (11/1) and Presbyterian (11/15). Both games will air on American Sports Network.
MAU WOW
Preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List member and All-America nose guard O.J. Mau (6-2, 308, Jr.) has gotten off to a strong start to his 2014 season, collecting 36 total tackles, a league-leading 8.0 tackles for loss (minus-19 yards) and 2.0 sacks. He has added six quarterback pressures, deflected a pass that was intercepted and forced one fumble. Mau was named preseason first-team FCS All-America by The Sports Network, College Sporting News, Tony Softli and Athlon College Football Preview. He earned All-America honors as a sophomore from Phil Steele after a breakout season.
NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT
Gardner-Webb ranked near the bottom of NCAA Division I statistics last season (113th of 121 teams) in turnover margin, and 119th of 121 in turnovers lost. Those numbers have taken a dramatic turn through the first six games in 2014, with GWU ranking No. 14 nationally in turnover margin (+1.20) and 16th in turnovers lost (6). GWU ranks No. 11 nationally in interceptions, with nine different players picking off passes.
AN AFTERNOON TO FORGET
Last November 9 in Lexington, Va., Gardner-Webb dropped a 27-9 decision to the Keydets on a day that saw the 'Dogs cough up five turnovers and combine for 12 bad snaps from center. By game's end, 13 penalties against GWU had been flagged for 85 yards as well. VMI took full advantage, scoring 17 of its points off of Gardner-Webb turnovers. Kenny Cook paced Gardner-Webb with 12 catches for 133 yards, but was kept out of the end zone. A.J. Augustine's 26-yard scoring strike to Sam Patterson late in the third quarter pushed the Keydets' lead to 27-3. Juanne Blount punched in with 2:09 to play in the game for the final margin. GWU had a chance to trim the lead to 17-10 just before halftime, but Demarcus White fumbled out of the side of the end zone inches before cross the goal line for a touchback.
#TURF
Since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000, Gardner-Webb has played 38 games on artificial turf. The Runnin' Bulldogs have not fared well in those games, going a combined 12-27 on the faux green. With the installation of its own new artificial surface in place, Gardner-Webb's first four games in 2014 are on turf – and eight total games (3-2 so far in 2014). GWU is 0-1 on natural grass so far this season (37-14 loss at The Citadel on September 27).
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.
CATCHING ON
Redshirt senior tight end Seth Cranfill (6-4, 246) became the Big South Conference's career leader in receptions with his performance at The Citadel (9/27), and continued to play a major role in Gardner-Webb's passing attack in the win over Charlotte (10/4). He had two touchdown catches vs. Wofford (9/20) and now ranks second on the team with 21 receptions for 221 yards and those two scores. For his career, the Sherrill's Ford, N.C., native has caught 74 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks eighth this season among all Division I tight ends (FBS/FCS) in receptions and fifth among FCS tight ends through six games.
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, October 18
Gardner-Webb at VMI, 1:30 pm
Presbyterian at #22/23 Charleston Southern, 3:00 pm (ESPN3)
#3/4 Coastal Carolina, Idle
Liberty, Idle
Monmouth, Idle
COOKING WITH KENNY
Walter Payton Award candidate Kenny Cook (6-4, 218, RSr.) has been strong since returning from an early-season injury that limited him to one quarter in the first three games. The Cross Hill, S.C., standout has 23 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns over the past three games, catching the game winner against Wofford – and hauling in a game-high nine passes for 103 yards and a score at The Citadel. Had pulled down eight catches for 85 yards against Charlotte (10/4). Cook now ranks eighth in school history with 149 catches for 1,934 yards and 18 touchdowns. He needs just 66 yards to become the 10th receiver in Big South history to reach 2,000 yards for a career.
CLIMBING FAST
Quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 210, RSr.) moved into fifth on Gardner-Webbs's career passing list in September, and has started to show steady improvement and increased accuracy over the past four games. Beatty has completed 93-of-134 passes (69.4%) for 1,013 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception during that stretch, forging a passer rating of 148.65 in the process. He completed 93 consecutive passes without an interception until a second-quarter pick against Charlotte (10/4) – a pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage. The Charlotte, N.C., native currently sits fourth in Gardner-Webb history with 6,794 yards passing and has connected on 617-of-993 attempts for 33 touchdowns in 32 career starts. His career completion percentage (62.1%) is the best in school history to date. Among his active FCS peers, Beatty currently ranks No. 5 in career attempts, No. 5 in career completions and No. 6 in career passing yards. Beatty also ranks among the active career leaders in total offense (14th), total plays (8th) and completion percentage (7th).
IVAN'S ISLAND
Cornerback Ivan Toomer (6-1, 203, RJr.) has performed at a high level again in 2014, collecting 29 total tackles (20 solo), an interception and a Big South-best seven pass break ups in six starts. The Homestead, Fla., native returned his interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the season's third game – but was at his best in the 27-24 win over Charlotte (10/4). Toomer finished with seven tackles (five solo) and a team-high three pass break ups – as GWU picked up three turnovers and limited the 49ers to just 255 yards through the air. Charlotte gained 76 percent of its aerial offense (194 yards) on just three plays, with its final 80-yard score coming against zone coverage.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will trek back to Virginia on October 25 to open Big South Conference play at surging Liberty. The Flames, who were in the top-25 in both major polls in late September, are coming off a 55-48 win at FBS Appalachian State. Liberty will rest during an open date on October 18. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm and will air on ESPN3. †
