GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hosts Virginia Union Saturday Night At 6:00 PM (BSN)
September 15, 2015 | Football
GAME NOTES (PDF) | @GWUFootball | @BigSouthFB
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb will host Division II (CIAA) member Virginia Union (2-0) on Saturday night as part of Military Appreciation Weekend in Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on wgwg.org and The Big South Network at 6:00 pm. Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller will provide the call on The Big South Network. Jared Pankhurst and Tyler Helms will call the action on wgwg.org.
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Virginia Union are tied in the all-time series, with each time winning once ... Gardner-Webb is 1-0 against hte Panthers in Spangler Stadium, taking a 22-20 win on a last-second score on October 14, 2000 ... Virginia Union took a 28-15 win over GWU on October 13, 2001 in Richmond, Va. ... Those two seasons were Gardner-Webb's first two transitional campaigns from Division II to NCAA Division I FCS ... GWU's last game against a CIAA opponent came against Virginia State on November 3, 2011 in Boiling Springs – the lone Thursday night game in Spangler Stadium history ... GWU held the Trojans to minus-25 yards rushing in a 34-13 win.
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged an 11-15 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Virginia Union head coach Mark James is in his second season in charge of his alma mater (Class of 2000) and has gone a sparkling 9-3 so far with the Panthers.
POSSESS THE PIGSKIN PLEASE
Gardner-Webb currently ranks No. 4 nationally in the FCS with an average of 36:27 in time of possession through two games. GWU held the ball for 38:53 at South Alabama in the season opener, helping keep the football away from the 85-scholarship Jaguars' high-octane offense in a close, 33-23, loss. GWU held a 34:01 to 25:59 edge in the Elon game, which included more than nine minutes (9:09) of offensive possession in the fourth quarter.
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE
One area Gardner-Webb has proven to be effective since defensive coordinator Randall McCray's arrival is on third down defensively. After ranking among the nation's best in 2013, GWU has performed well in that category again through two games in 2015 – leading the Big South by holding two opponents to an average rate of 30 percent. The GWU defense forced nine three-and-out possessions against Elon and saw the Phoenix produce 10 drives that gained less than 10 yards. The Runnin' Bulldogs have forced 14 drives so far that have gained five yards or less.
A FINE QUARTET
Gardner-Webb starting quartet at linebacker has been as impressive as expected through two games. The foursome of Tanner Burch (6-3, 248, RSr.), Aaron Cook (6-1, 233, Jr.), Chad Geter (6-2, 242, RJr.) and Azziz Higgins (6-2, 230, Sr.) have combined for 72 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks through two games. Each of the four men has at least one game with 10 or more tackles – with Burch (12 hits), Cook (10 hits) and Higgins (10 hits) doing so against Elon. Geter had nine tackles against the Phoenix after leading the team with 10 at South Alabama. Geter and Cook each sit atop the Big South tackling chart with 19 hits each so far this season. Burch and Higgins each have 17 tackles through two games.
TRIPLE OT
Gardner-Webb dropped its home opener in triple overtime, falling to Elon by a 21-13 score last Saturday night. Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell drove GWU 78 yards in 16 plays to tie the game late – hitting All-America tight end candidate Mike Estes for a 1-yard touchdown as the clock hit 00:00 in regulation. Paul Schmacher's PAT sent the game to overtime and – after each team hit field goals in the first two periods – Elon scored on its first play in the third OT on a 25-yard pass from Connor Christiansen to Corey Joyner. The two-point conversion was good, giving the Phoenix a 21-13 edge. Maxwell just missed Estes in the end zone on second down and was shaken up on the throw, and backup Chase Arrington was forced into action. Arrington was sacked on third down and Elon picked off his final attempt near the goal line to end the game. GWU held the Phoenix to only 209 yards of total offense (93 rushing) in the game. It marked the first triple OT game for Gardner-Webb since Samford came out on top with a 49-41 win on September 22, 2001.
THE OPENER
Gardner-Webb fought tooth-and-nail at FBS foe South Alabama on a muggy evening in Ladd-Peebles Stadium, but fell to the Jags by a 33-23 score. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored 16 unanswered points to span halftime – taking a 16-13 lead with 10:21 to play in the third quarter on Angel Guzman's 21-yard interception return for a score. Laron Glenn had trimmed the South Alabama lead to 13-9 just before halftime with a safety. South Alabama answered with 20 points in a row, getting scores of 56 and 92 yards from speedster Xavier Johnson to take control. The Jags used the big play effectively against GWU, scored all four touchdowns from at least 49 yards away – and totaling more than 60 percent of their offensive total on just those four plays.
HOME FIELD SUCCESS
Gardner-Webb is 8-4 over its last 12 home games, with its loss last week to Elon snapping a string of eight-straight wins over non-conference foes in Spangler Stadium. Samford (9/15/2012) was the last non-Big South team to win in Boiling Springs before the Phoenix escaped in triple OT. GWU was 3-2 at home last season and posted a 5-1 mark in 2013 – with notable wins over #11 Richmond and Furman. 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.
MIKE CHECK
Tight end Mike Estes (6-4, 240, RJr.) has been on fire through two games, already tying his previous career-high with three touchdown catches. He hauled in four passes for a career-best 89 yards and two scores in the season opener, with a 48-yard scoring catch from Tyrell Maxwell early in the second quarter providing an early highlight. He also had a diving grab for 24 yards and hauled in a five-yard touchdown on GWU's final drive. All four of his catches against the Jaguars went for first downs. Estes followed with five catches for 33 yards and the game-tying score vs. Elon with no time left in regulation. The Raleigh, N.C., native now has 61 career receptions for 808 yards and six touchdowns. Estes already ranks third in Big South history in career TE catches and career TE yardage.
MAU-WOW
Preseason All-America and STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List member OJ Mau (6-2, 319, Sr.) has been solid through two starts in 2015. Matched up against one of the top centers in the FBS in week one, Mau came away with two solo stops and a half tackle for loss. He followed with six hits and 2.5 tackles for loss in another strong performance against Elon. The Masefau, American Samoa, senior has collected 23.5 tackles behind the line for his career – and remains one of the top nose guards in the nation. He earned All-Big South first-team honors in both 2012 and 2013 and was named the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in July.
THE GETER METER
After missing the final nine games of the 2014 season with an injury, All-America candidate Chad Geter (6-2, 242, RJr.) was eager to impress in 2015. He made his presence felt very early at South Alabama, finishing with a team-best 10 total stops and a tackle for loss against the FBS Jaguars. He followed with nine stops, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in just more than three quarters of action against Elon. Geter collected 82 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss in his last full season (2013), earning second-team All-Big South Conference honors after helping Gardner-Webb rank No. 5 nationally in total defense. He led the team with 23 tackles through the first three games last season before going down.
CAPTAIN CLUTCH
New starting quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 213, So.) has proven worthy of his role through two games, engineering a pair of late Gardner-Webb scoring drives in each game. He marched his offense 70 yards on 19 plays (8:35) for a touchdown at South Alabama. He performed with great composure to lead a 16-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that coverered 2:35 in the closing moments vs. Elon. That drive saw Maxwell toss the game-tying score to Mike Estes with no time remaining on the regulation clock.
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.
BIG GAME FOR INSIDE BACKERS
All-America linebacker Tanner Burch (6-3, 248, RSr.) and inside running mate Azziz Higgins (6-2, 230, Sr.) each collected double figures in tackling against Elon, joining Aaron Cook (10 tackles) and Chad Geter (9 tackles) in what was an all-around productive night against the Phoenix for the linebacking corps. Each one of the quartet currently ranks in the top-5 among Big South tacklers through two games this season. Higgins had eight solo stops against the Phoenix to pace a defensive charge that allowed just 93 yards rushing on 43 carries – and allowed only one score in regulation.
THIS WEEK AROUND THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
Thursday, September 17
ETSU at Charleston Southern, 7:00 (BSN)
Saturday, September 19
Shorter at Kennesaw State, 1:00 (BSN)
Western Illinois at #1/2 Coastal Carolina, 6:00 (BSN)
Virginia Union at Gardner-Webb, 6:00 (BSN)
Monmouth at Wagner, 6:00
#7/8 Montana at #14/15 Liberty, 6:00 (ESPN3)
Campbell at Presbyterian, 7:00 (BSN)
WELCOME TO COLLEGE
Gardner-Webb entered the 2015 with needs to replace its leading rusher, passer and receiver offensively due to graduation. The Runnin' Bulldogs had no returning letterwinners with starting experience at any of its offensive skill positions. Several true freshmen played vital roles in Saturday's season opener offensively – with left tackle Will Millikan (6-4, 288, Fr.) earning a starting nod. Receivers Kyle Horton (5-11, 171, Fr.) and Victor Harris (6-4, 201, Fr.) each worked with the first-team offense throughout the game as well. Millikan is the first true freshman to start the season at left tackle since Jamie Dunaway did so in 2009. Dunaway went on to play both tackle and guard for the Runnin' Bulldogs, earning FCS All-America honors twice before his career ended.
IVAN'S ISLAND
A returning stalwart for GWU in the secondary is cornerback Ivan Toomer (6-1, 199, RSr.), who enters his fourth season as the team's top coverman. The former Homestead (Fla.) High standout earned preseason All-Big South honors in July and is coming off a season that saw him register a career-high 54 total tackles and eight pass break ups. He also had the first interception return for a score in his career when he dashed 25 yards to paydirt against Virginia-Lynchburg. Toomer has posted 129 career tackles and 22 pass break ups during his time with the Runnin' Bulldogs and has started 33 games at corner. Had broke up three passes, caused and recovered a fumble vs. Elon. He pinned two punts inside the 20-yard line for GWU at South Alabama.
PLASTIC GRASS
Gardner-Webb will play its first three games – and eight of its 11 in 2015 – on artificial grass. Six of those will come in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, where APT installed a first-rate surface prior to the 2014 season. GWU will play on natural grass at Wofford (9/26), at Kennesaw State (10/17) and Presbyterian (10/31).
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will take the short ride down I-85 to face Southern Conference foe Wofford in Spartanburg. Kickoff in Gibbs Stadium is slated for 7:00 pm and will air live on The SoCon Digital Network (SoConSports.com). Fabian Fuentes will call the action as well on wgwg.org – the online audio source for Gardner-Webb athletics. †
