GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Returns Home To Host ETSU Saturday Afternoon (BSN)
November 11, 2015 | Football
GAME NOTES (PDF) | @GWUFootball | @BigSouthFB
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb will play the first of a two-game homestand on Saturday, as ETSU rolls into Boiling Springs for a 1:30 pm kickoff. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller calling the action. Brendan Boylan and Alex Guest will provide the radio call on wgwg.org.
SERIES NOTES
Saturday will mark the third meeting between ETSU and Gardner-Webb, but the first since 2002 ... The Buccaneers disbanded their football program following the 2003 season and revived football for the 2015 campaign ... ETSU pulled away in the first meeting on September 8, 2001, winning 30-17 in Johnson City, Tenn., behind two touchdowns from current Senior Associate Athletics Director Scott Carter ... Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the last meeting in Spangler Stadium on September 14, 2002 and held on for a 13-10 win ... That game was delayed nearly two hours in the second half by heavy rains and lightning associated with Tropical Storm Hanna ... It was the second win for GWU in a season that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs finish with a 9-1 mark, capture the inaugural Big South Conference football crown and earn a final top-20 Division I-AA national ranking ... Each of the first two meetings has featured a red-hot start from a quarterback ... In 2001, ETSU's Matt Wilhjelm – currently the team's radio analyst – connected on his first 11 attempts ... In 2002, Gardner-Webb's Jeremy Martin completed 13 consecutive passes to start the game ... GWU outgained the Buccaneers 353-229 in the 2002 meeting, limiting ETSU to 79 yards rushing on 38 carries ... Gardner-Webb had one student-athlete transfer over from ETSU when the Bucs' program ended in 2003 ... Cornerback Allen Davis (Mullins, S.C. / Mullins HS) transferred as a graduate student for his final season of eligibility and starred at the position for the Runnin' Bulldogs ... Davis finished that season as a first-team All-Big South selection and earned second-team I-AA All-America honors after leading the nation with 17 pass break ups.
HOME FIELD SUCCESS
Gardner-Webb is 10-5 over its last 15 home games, dating back to 2013. The Runnin' Bulldogs have also won 13 of their last 19, dating back to 2012. GWU went 5-1 at home in 2013, with wins over Furman, #11 Richmond and #12 Charleston Southern. Notable wins in Spangler Stadium last season came vs. Wofford (43-36) and Charlotte (27-24). The Runnin' Bulldogs play six of their 11 games this season in Spangler Stadium – the second time in three seasons that the home crowd has been treated to a six-game home slate. The 'Dogs are 2-2 at home so far this season.
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged an 14-19 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. ETSU head coach Carl Torbush (Carson-Newman '74) is in his first season in charge of the Buccaneers' rebirth as a football program. Torbush also has previous head coaching experience at North Carolina and Louisiana Tech.
MAU WOW
Gardner-Webb nose guard OJ Mau (6-2, 319, Sr.) has continued to provide headaches for opposing offenses in 2015, ranking among the Big South defensive line leaders with 47 hits (23 solo). Mau has recorded 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in nine games, despite consistent double teams in the middle. He managed eight stops and a sack in the win at Presbyterian (10/31), providing excellent pressure up the middle and on the edge. The Masefau, American Samoa, standout blocked the second field goal of his career in the win over #15 Liberty (10/10) and has managed 29.5 tackles for loss in his 40 games played – with 28.0 coming over the last 31 games. Mau was named to the STATS FCS All-America Team in July and is also a member of the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. The preseason Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year has twice earned postseason All-America honors (2013, 2014). Mau was also named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Defensive Awards Watch List in early November along with GWU linebacker Chad Geter. Mau is set to graduate from Gardner-Webb in December (Sociology) – just 3.5 years after arriving on campus at age 17.
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE
Gardner-Webb has fared well on third down defensively for much of the 2015 season, limiting opponents to a 28.8 percent success rate on third down through nine games. That 36-for-125 effort ranks No. 7 nationally among 123 FCS programs and leads the Big South Conference. That third down effectiveness has also helped Gardner-Webb rank 16th nationally in first downs allowed – 144 through nine games.
FOUR ACES
Gardner-Webb's starting foursome at linebacker – Tanner Burch (6-3, 248, R-Sr.), Aaron Cook (6-1, 233, Jr.), Chad Geter (6-2, 242, R-Jr.) and Azziz Higgins (6-2, 230, Sr.) – were projected to be a strength for a veteran defensive unit and have lived up to those expectations. Through nine games, each of the quartet has at least 69 tackles, with Geter (80 hits) and Higgins (77 hits) leading the way. All four men rank in the top-6 in the Big South in tackles per game through nine contests and each of the four have multiple games this season with double figures tackles. Higgins topped the 200-tackle mark for his career at #8 Coastal Carolina, joining Burch (309 tackles) and Geter (215 tackles) in that club. Cook (184 tackles) should be the next man to top the 200-tackle mark – and could do so by the end of the 2015 campaign. The quartet has combined for 910 career stops.
BIG DAY JEBRAI
Former linebacker Jebrai Regan (6-2, 263, Sr.) has flourished at defensive end in 2015, his second full season at the position. Regan is tied for the lead among Big South defensive linemen with 47 total tackles and ranks No. 7 in the league overall with 8.5 tackles for loss. The Woodstock, Ga., native entered his final campaign with 36 career tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss and surpassed that production in just eight games. Regan's previous top season came in 2014 with 26 stops and 5.0 tackles for loss. He spent his first two seasons as a reserve linebacker.
MIKE CHECK
Tight end Mike Estes (6-4, 240, R-Jr.) continues to work himself higher in the Big South Conference and Gardner-Webb record books. The All-America candidate leads the team with 20 catches for 297 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 2015 and has caught four passes for 125 yards and two scores over the past two games combined. Estes is already the Big South's career leader in tight end receiving yardage (929) and needs just 19 more receptions to pass former teammate Seth Cranfill for first in career receptions. His 72 catches ranks third in Gardner-Webb history, behind Cranfill (90) and former All-America tight end Jason Bright (80). Bright, who played only one season in the Big South (2002), also ranks first in career yardage (1,050) and touchdowns (8) for a tight end at GWU.
HENDU
Receiver Jacob Henderson (5-10, 184, So.) has made three consecutive starts with Ralph Jolly and Kyle Horton each out for the season at the position. The Waxhaw, N.C., native made the most of his time at Presbyterian (10/31), catching all three of his targets on third down – and converting all three into first downs. Two of his catches came in the fourth quarter and went for 12 and eight yards. That drive saw GWU trim 6:53 off the game clock while clinging to a 14-10 lead. Henderson has nine catches for 122 yards in eight games played in 2015.
THE GETER METER
Outside SPUR linebacker Chad Geter (6-2, 242, R-Jr.) has been a force on the edge and in coverage for the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2015, returning to full steam after missing the final nine games of the 2014 campaign with an injury. The Irmo, S.C., native ranks third in the Big South Conference with 80 total tackles (50 solo) and is only two hits shy of equaling his career-best total (82 in 2013). Geter has already posted new career-best marks in tackles for loss (12.0 for minus-52 yards) and sacks (4.0) – and has tied his previous career-high with 50 solo stops. He has four games this season with at least 10 stops and six with at least nine hits. Geter, who came to Gardner-Webb as a 195-pound safety, has totaled 215 career tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks and 12 pass break ups during his time in Boiling Springs. He has 23.5 tackles for loss in his last 23 games played. His 12 hits behind the line in 2015 lead the Big South Conference.
AGAINST THE SOCON
Gardner-Webb has fared well against the Southern Conference over the past three seasons, posting a 4-3 mark against the league since 2013 – with two wins vs. Wofford (2-1) and single wins over Furman (1-1) and VMI (1-0). GWU lost its 2014 meeting at The Citadel. ETSU will begin play in the SoCon in 2016. GWU will host The Citadel and play at Western Carolina in 2016.
MAD MAX
Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 213, So.) enjoyed the best game of his career in Gardner-Webb's upset of No. 15 Liberty on October 10, dashing and darting for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries and completing 10-of-14 passes for 105 yards and another score. He had 100+ yards rushing and 100+ passing by halftime on just 17 snaps and finished the night by accounting for 75 percent of Gardner-Webb's offensive total and directly accounting for 16 of the team's 17 first downs. Maxwell's rushing total broke Gardner-Webb's single-game mark for a quarterback and ws the second-best performance in that category in Big South history. His three touchdowns tied the single-game rushing mark for Big South quarterbacks. Maxwell was properly awarded for his performance, earning Choice Hotels Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades in addition to being named honorable mention STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week.
THIS WEEK AROUND THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
Saturday, November 14
Presbyterian at Monmouth, 12:00 noon (Big South Network)
ETSU at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 pm (Big South Network)
Liberty at #8/11 Charleston Southern, 2:00 pm (ESPN3)
Kennesaw State at #4/4 Coastal Carolina, 2:00 pm (Big South Network)
THE SAN DIEGO KID
Safety Spencer Havird (6-2, 192, R-So.) has come into his own in his second season as a starter, ranking among the Big South's best defensive backs in tackles (51) and ranks second the league with 10 passes defended (nine PBU, one INT). The former Valhalla (Calif.) High All-State selection also ranks among the Big South's best in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (2.0). Havird, who collected a career-high 60 total tackles last season, is on pace to shatter that mark in 2015. He earned All-State honors in California after a spectacular senior season in 2012, recording 163 total tackles (112 solo), 11 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Havird also starred for Valhalla High in basketball (16.8 ppg) and volleyball. He played in the same prep conference as former Gardner-Webb All-America and NFL Draft pick Brian Johnston (Madison HS) and current NFL players Reggie Bush (Helix) and Alex Smith (Helix).
ROOKIE ROAD GRADERS
Left tackle Will Millikan (6-4, 288, Fr.) has started all but one game at arguably the toughest position on the field in his first season on a college campus. Millikan, an All-Area tackle at Pinecrest (N.C.) High, is the first true freshman to start at left tackle since Jamie Dunaway did so in 2009. Dunaway became a four-year starter and earned FCS All-America honors at guard following the 2013 season. Millikan was joined by redshirt tackle Charlie Eudy (6-2, 267, R-Fr.) in the starting lineup midway through the season. Eudy has made six consecutive starts at right tackle since entering the lineup at Wofford (9/26). He moved over from defensive end two days into 2015 preseason camp.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will honor 13 seniors next Saturday, closing out the 2015 season at home vs. Monmouth on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium and will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller will call the action on BSN, with Brendan Boylan and Alex Guest providing audio on wgwg.org that afternoon. It will be the second meeting between the Hawks and Runnin' Bulldogs, with Monmouth capturing last season's finale on the Jersey Shore. It is the first time Gardner-Webb has closed out a season with two consecutive home games since 2006. †
