Thursday, June 22, 2017

2017 Football Preseason Preview: Davidson



Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2017 football opponents.

Today we look at the Davidson Wildcats.

For the second game of the season, the Catamounts open their home schedule in Cullowhee against former Southern Conference member the Davidson Wildcats in what will be this season's "Black-Out" game, with fireworks to follow the game.

Interestingly, the Cats and Wildcats have only met twice on the gridiron with Western holding a 2-0 record over Davidson.






Davidson

When
: Saturday, September 9 - Time 6:00 pm ET

Where: Bob Waters Field, Whitmire Stadium - Cullowhee, NC

Radio: Catamount Sports Network

TV/video: SoCon Digital Network

The Series: The Cats have won the only two games played between these two teams.


Head Coach: Paul Nichols  -  Paul Nichols ’03 enters his fifth season as the head coach of his alma mater in 2017. He was named to the post by Director of Athletics Jim Murphy on Dec. 21, 2012, and is the program's 27th head coach. In 2015, the Wildcats finished 2-9 overall and 1-7 in the Pioneer Football League, marking the first time since 2012 that the 'Cats recorded multiple victories. The program landed seven Wildcats on the 2015 All-Pioneer Football League teams, including standout wide receiver William Morris earning his second-straight All-PFL First Team honor.


Last year’s record (Davidson): 2-9 overall, 0-8 conference, 1-5 away

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4

Key losses:  WR Erik Matson, C Travis Stubblefield, DT Alex Behrend, DT Grant Polofsky, LB James Gessner, CB Ryan Leak, P John Cook
Top returnees: QB Stockton McGuire,  K/P Trevor Smith, WR Kahleel Shaw, DE Thomas Kykes. LB Hunter Murphy.

The Wildcats finished in 8th place in the Pioneer League in scoring defense, giving up an average of 29 points per game, and finished last (11th) in scoring offense with an average of 17 points per game.

2016 Wildcats Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1274 yards
Yards per game: 116
Yards per rush: 3.5 yards
TDs rushing: 10
Passing Offense: 1917 yards or 174 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 149-336-12
TDs passing: 12
Total Offense: 3191 yards or 290 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 77
Rushing 1st downs: 63
Fumbles-Lost: 10 - 4
3d Down Conversions: 55 of 167 or 33%
4th Down Conversions: 3 of 16 or 19%
Field Goals - Attempts: 8 of 16
Red-Zone Scores: 20 of 32 (63%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 13 of 32 (41%)
Punts (No. Yards): 74 (2752 yds) Avg. per punt: 42 yds
PAT-Attempts: 23 of 24 - 96%
Field Goals-Attempts: 9 of 12
On-Side Kicks: 0 of  0





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