GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hosts #2/3 Coastal Carolina Saturday Afternoon
October 29, 2014 | Football
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hosts #2/3 Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon, one of only two Big South Conference games in Spangler Stadium this season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm and the game will air live on American Sports Network (ASN), which will broadcast the game locally on WCCB (Charlotte) and WMYA (Asheville-Greenville-Spartanburg). Evan Lepler and Nate Ross will handle the call. Fabian Fuentes, Ben Fuller and Alex Guest will call the action live on wgwg.org Saturday afternoon.
SERIES NOTES
Coastal Carolina has dominated the series with Gardner-Webb, going 9-2 since the series started in 2003 ... Gardner-Webb has never beaten the Chanticleers in Spangler Stadium, losing in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 ... The 2010 contest was an overtime win for the Chants and the 2012 meeting was a one-point game heading into the fourth quarter ... Gardner-Webb's two wins in the series came in 2003 and 2011 in Conway, S.C. (Brooks Stadium).
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged an 11-9 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Coastal Carolina head coach Joe Moglia (Fordham '71) has experienced unmatched success since taking over the program, going 28-8 with two playoff appearances in his third season at the helm.
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 home games remaining this season. Coastal Carolina is a daunting foe, with the Chanticleers holding a better road record (5-0) than home record (3-0) so far in 2014.
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) each missed the VMI game. All told, Gardner-Webb has lost 125 combined quarters of action from starters in 2014, with 71 of those coming from All-Big South Conference selections.
COOKING WITH KENNY
Gardner-Webb All-America receiver Kenny Cook (6-4, 218, RSr.) was back to form in the 47-41 win at VMI on October 18. The Cross Hill, S.C., native hauled in a career-best 12 passes for two touchdowns, and broke school, conference and facilty records for receiving yards with 251 that afternoon. He had catches of 49 yards, 80 yards (TD), 23 yards and 25 yards (TD) – with his 25-yarder in the second overtime winning the game. Cook was named FCS National Receiver of the Week by College Football Performance Awards and FCS National Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network. His yardage total is the top mark in all of FCS this season. Cook has enjoyed success against Coastal Carolina individually over the past two seasons, catching a combined 15 passes for 219 yards and two scores (109.5 yards per game). Both of his touchdown catches came in a 55-33 loss on November 3, 2012 in Spangler Stadium.
THE OTHER COOK
Gardner-Webb has a fast-rising star in linebacker Aaron Cook (6-1, 218, So.), who has emerged as an All-Big South candidate at the position with the season-ending injuries to standouts Chad Geter (6-2, 238, Jr.) and Tanner Burch (6-3, 250, Sr.). Cook emerged during spring practice as a starter at the Bandit position outside, and has split time between that post and Geter's old Spur position over the past five games. The results have been promising – 57 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, one sack and two pass break ups.
LOCKED AND LOADED
Quarterback Lucas Beatty (6-2, 210, RSr.) had a rough outing in terms of yardage at Liberty, but has been strong so far in 2014 overall. Beatty has completed 151-of-237 passes for 1,686 yards, 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions in eight starts – going for a Big South-record 430 yards and five touchdowns in GWU's 47-41 win at VMI on October 18. It was his second 300+ yard passing effort in a row. In 34 career starts, Beatty has passed for 7,297 yards and 38 touchdowns – which ranks second in Big South history and fourth in Gardner-Webb history.
UNDER THE RADAR
Defensive end Tyler Hough-Jenkins (6-4, 274, RSr.) has proven to be a solid addition to the starting lineup in his first season in that role full time. The Charlotte, N.C., native has batted down two passes, recovered a fumble – and ranks third on the team with a career-best 42 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. A converted offensive lineman – who blocked for GWU quarterback Lucas Beatty at Olympic (N.C.) High – Hough-Jenkins had a career-high 11 stops in Gardner-Webb's game at Wake Forest on September 6, 2014.
MAU WOW
Buchanan Award candidate and All-America nose guard O.J. Mau (6-2, 308, Jr.) is enjoying a productive second full season as a starter up front – totaling 39 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss (minus-19 yards), 2.0 sacks (minus-11 yards) and six quarterback pressures inside. He was particularly active in the win over Charlotte (10/4), shutting off the middle run game and collecting a career-best 11 total hits in the process.
IVAN'S ISLAND
Cornerback Ivan Toomer (6-1, 203, RJr.) has been tasked with anchoring an inexperienced secondary in 2014, and has been up to the challenge. The former Homestead (Fla.) High standout has posted 40 total tackles (26 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and has a team-best seven pass break ups while drawing man coverage on the opposition's top receiver most games. Toomer also has an interception, which he returned 25 yards for a touchdown in Gardner-Webb's home opener.
RANK AND FILE
Gardner-Webb is 0-1 against nationally-ranked teams so far this season, falling 13-3 in the season opener at #18/21 Furman (8/30). GWU was 3-1 last season against nationally-ranked teams, with its lone loss coming on October 12 at #6/8 Coastal Carolina (42-7). GWU posted a 2-0 mark against top-25 teams last season in Spangler Stadium, beating #11/15 Richmond by a 12-10 score on September 14 and turning away #12/13 Charleston Southern, 27-10, on November 16. Gardner-Webb's defense allowed just one offensive touchdown in those two home wins.
FORGET AND MOVE FORWARD
Gardner-Webb could not produce enough offense to hang around with Big South nemesis Liberty on Saturday afternoon in Lynchburg, Va., falling behind 20-0 at the half and losing 34-0 in the Big South Conference opener for both teams. It marked the eighth loss in a row for GWU to the Flames, with each of the last two being shut outs. The Runnin' Bulldogs managed just 56 total offensive yards on 55 plays – including a Big South-record for fewest rushing yards (minus-17) in the game. It marked the first time this season that Gardner-Webb did not visit the red zone offensively and saw GWU go 3-and-out a season-worst eight times on 15 drives. GWU did force a pair of turnovers in the second half, getting a fumble recovery by Tyler Hough-Jenkins and an interception from Steven Cristobal – with both coming inside the GWU red zone.
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 28 receptions for 274 yards and those two scores. For his career, the Sherrill's Ford, N.C., native has caught 81 passes for 772 yards and four touchdowns. He needs just two more catches to pass former All-Big South and All-America tight end Jason Bright for first in Gardner-Webb history. Bright played just one season (2002) in the Big South Conference.
THIS WEEK'S BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE GAMES
Saturday, November 1
Charleston So. at Monmouth, 1:00 pm
Liberty at Presbyterian, 2:00 pm
#2/3 Coastal Carolina at GWU, 3:30 pm
#TURF
Since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000, Gardner-Webb has played 39 games on artificial turf. The Runnin' Bulldogs have not fared well in those games, going a combined 12-28 on the faux green. With the installation of its own new artificial surface in place, Gardner-Webb's first four games in 2014 were on turf – and eight total games (3-3 so far in 2014). GWU is 1-1 on natural grass so far this season. Three of the team's final four games will be played on turf this season.
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. Hubbard has returned 93 career kickoffs for 2,159 yards (23.2 yards per return) and has totaled 3,224 career all-purpose yards with 12 total touchdowns (5 rushing, 4 receiving, 3 kickoff return).
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.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb travels to Charleston, S.C., for the second time this season – this time for an 11:00 am kickoff at Charleston Southern (ESPN3). †
