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 The WCU defense, which made two critical stops on The Citadel's final two possessions a week ago, will face Wofford's wingbone option attack which ranks second in the nation in rushing yardage per game. |
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Oct. 22, 2009
Western Carolina vs. Wofford Game Notes
Cullowhee, N.C. - Looking to build off of its first win of the season, the Western Carolina Catamount football team caps a two-game home stand by hosting the Wofford College Terriers at 4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field as a part of a busy Family Weekend.
WCU rallied from a 10-point second half deficit with 14 unanswered points on touchdown runs by redshirt freshman Dion Wilson to upend The Citadel, 14-10, last Saturday on Homecoming. Wilson garnered Southern Conference Freshman of the Week plaudits for his performance. Wofford (1-5, 0-3 SoCon) remained winless in league play after nationally-ranked Appalachian State scored the game's final 24 points to erase a 14-point second half deficit to down the Terriers, 44-34, last week.
This Saturday's game will be broadcast by WMYA-TV, My 40 with a 3:30 pm air time for the pregame show. The Catamount Sports Network will also have coverage of the game with a 90-minute pre-game show beginning at 2:30 pm. Fans can hear the game on five stations across Western North Carolina including WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee; 680 AM WRGC in Sylva; 920 AM WPTL in Canton; 1480 AM WPFJ in Franklin; and 1600 AM WTZQ in Hendersonville.
Fans can also catch all of the play-by-play action online with streaming audio through Stretch Internet at www.CatamountSports.com.
The busy WCU Family Weekend gets underway on Friday as the Catamount Baseball team welcomes home its alumni and friends for a special golf tournament and alumni weekend. The four-person scramble golf tournament at the exclusive Old Edwards Club (www.OldEdwardsClub.com) in Highlands Cove beginning at 1:00 pm. Following the 18-holes of golf and fellowship, the party switches to O'Malley's in Sylva.
On Saturday, the alumni weekend continues with a morning team intrasquad scrimmage as a part of baseball's fall practice sessions and Fall World Series match-ups. Following the scrimmage will be a special treat as alum will be able to take a batting practice round on the field. The afternoon continues with a baseball-specific tailgate prior to WCU's home football game.
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Wofford claimed last year's meeting, 42-14, after scoring 42-straight points after the Catamounts had driven the opening kickoff 86 yards and taken an early 7-0 lead. In the most recent Cullowhee encounter, the Terriers raced to a 37-3 halftime advantage, but were outscored 41-10 in the second half as WCU rallied. Wofford held on for a three-point, 47-44, win before a Thursday night, ESPN-U audience.
The injury-ridden Terriers, which have seen at least eight season-ending injuries this season, boast the nation's second-best rushing attack, averaging over 257 yards per game on the ground. Their wingbone option attack presents challenges for the Catamount defense, which is coming off its best performance of the season after limiting The Citadel to a season-low 10 points, recorded a season-best three sacks and held the Bulldogs to an opponent season-worst, 256 yards.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm on Saturday.
Here is an excerpt of WCU head coach Dennis Wagner and Wofford head coach Mike Ayers from Tuesday's Southern Conference Head Coaches Teleconference:
Western Carolina Head Coach Dennis Wagner
Opening Statement:
"First of all, I am really proud of our team. Our guys have practiced and prepared hard. Things had not bounced our way (in the past few weeks). Finally, it felt like we got a bit of a break. We still did some things by handing the ball right back to (The Citadel), giving them a chance. I am proud in the fact that our kids believed that they could get this done. They deserved the win because they worked hard. Now, we've got to build from that."
"We have Wofford coming in here, whose record certainly doesn't indicate the type of football they have played against Appalachian State or Georgia Southern. They have had some good games where they couldn't outscore their opponent. They certainly have done some good things in regards of their offense in trying to get started in the right direction. I'm sure Coach (Mike Ayers) is frustrated with where they are at, just like we are. It's a big game for both programs in trying to stay on track and get another conference win."
On the enjoyment of Saturday's win:
"It finally feels good after a game to relax and enjoy the win on Saturday. When you come back on Sunday, it's right back to work. Our attitude in practice (Tuesday) was no different than the last five weeks. These kids have done a good job with that. I can't tell you that it didn't make a difference. It just uplifts everybody. It shows you there is a reason and a purpose. You practice hard all week and prepare for it on Saturday. The only way you have fun on Saturday, is if you win. If you lose, it shouldn't be fun. We've just got to learn to taste that experience and see how it tastes and not forget about and continue to do it."
On the team's first half offensive struggles:
"I would say that early in the season, it was because we didn't perform well. I would say the last three or four games, we have moved the ball, but when we get down there we do something to turn the ball over. We have taken the approach that we have to be able to run the football if we want to win the football game. The last two or three games we have been satisfied with running the ball two or three yards a play in the first half. If you can continue to do it, you'll eventually start to wear on your opponent. Then in the second half, those two yard runs start turning into five or six yard runs."
"It is a little bit of a combination of the fact that we are trying to stay the course of what we are doing. Right now for us, we felt that those three freshmen running backs are good football players. We've got to get the ball in their hands. We can get the ball to Marquel (Pittman), but we don't want to have Zack (Jaynes) feel like he has to do everything to win the game. Offensively, we have shifted gears since the Furman game in how we are going to approach things. I think what we have to do now is when we get an opportunity and you're knocking on the door at the 30-yard line, you've got to find a way to get points on the board. We are still in that situation where we had the door shut on us in the first half and we've got to break through it."
On the play of Quarterback Zack Jaynes:
"I think Zack (Jaynes) may have tried to do much and we may have given him too much. We've tried to step back on that a little bit. We've told him that we want him to micromanage the game with what he can do. When you can run the ball effectively, you can throw the football and use some play action. You can control that tempo, which makes it easier for him. We have been preaching to our guys all season long that we've got to make first and 10 down to second and six or less so that we control the next down. It can't be second and long all the time because the opposing defense pins their ears back and comes after you. I am pleased with his performance this last Saturday. There were no picks. I'm sure he can tell you that there are some things he can work on. He's going to have to continue to improve and play well for us to continue to win."
On the play of the defense in the game with The Citadel:
"I thought our defense did a better job in getting off the field on third down. There was some times where we got concerned in the second half with some of the longer runs (The Citadel) executed against us. They got the big plan when they needed it. They stopped (The Citadel) when they had to. Sometimes on defense you have to bend a little bit, so you don't break. There were several times on Saturday that The Citadel was able to move the ball. But once we got into the red zone, we took away the field goal or the six points from them, which kept us in the game."
On the challenges that Wofford presents:
"Offensively, they are going to run the option at you. They are the only team in the Southern Conference that is going to line up do that against you. There are some teams that run some read zones or read options, but not consistently over and over. It's a different type of preparation. Their defense runs an odd front. There are some other teams that mix some odd in, but they predominately an odd front. They are going to move. Their ends aren't as big as some of the other ends in the conference, but you've got to be able to block them. Those guys play hard. I have a lot of respect for those two ends at Wofford. Those kids are not very big, but boy they play hard. It's just a different preparation. You go into this game preparing for something that you haven't seen. There is no carry over from the weeks before."
Wofford Head Coach Mike Ayers
On facing Western Carolina:
"We face a Western Carolina team that quite frankly I think that are very similar to us. They had a win last week and that was the big difference. They have struggled with their offense in being able to score points and get the ball in the end zone. They are a young football team and they are growing. Defensively, they play well. They have some nice athletes that can run and strike you. They do some good things in the kicking game.
"They are a football team that is building and growing. They will be a challenge for us. It's always tough to play up there. We have a football team that quite frankly is doing everything to do to come up with a win. Our deal is to work as hard as we did last week for Appalachian State. Hopefully, bring the best football team that we have brought this year."
On the improved play of Western Carolina:
"I think when you look at them, their skill kids are really good. Their young backs have the ability to create problems for you if you let them get into space. I think their quarterback is getting better the more he plays. They have a big and physical offensive line, they are doing a nice job there. Their special teams personnel are really good. I think they do a nice job with their kicking game. It's a good football team. They are like us. They just happened to be in one of the best leagues in America. They played a tough schedule. We have a lot of things in common. It's going to be a great football game. I hope we go up there and play as well as we can play and see how it all turns out."
