A preseason preview of the Catamount's ninth opponent of the 2011 football season, the Wofford Terriers.
The Wofford Terriers travel from Spartanburg, South Carolina on November 5th, up the mountains to Cullowhee's E.J. Whitmire Stadium for the Catamount's ninth game of the season, and is the seventh Southern Conference opponent of the year.
The Catamounts and Terriers first met on the football field in 1957, and have played a total of 33 times. Western trails the Terriers 12-21-0 overall, and have lost 5 straight to Wofford. However, the Catamounts lead the series 9-7 in games played in Cullowhee.
Entering his 24th season at Wofford, head coach Mike Ayers will bring his Wingbone offense to Bob Waters Field for the Cats' fourth look at the triple option offense this season. Of the three prior games against the triple option, I've projected a 1-2 record, predicting a win against the Citadel, and losses against Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern.
The SoCon co-Champion Terriers are returning a total of 42 lettermen from the 2010 season, that ended with a 7-1 conference record. Overall all. Wofford returns 15 starters, 5 on offense, 8 on defense, and 2 on special teams. Among those returning for the Terriers is senior quarterback Mitch Allen, who very ably runs Ayers' wingbone offense. Allen is also a legit rushing threat with over 797 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns last season. Running back Eric Breitenstein rushed for 1664 yards and 22 touchdowns and is the main workhorse in the Terrier rushing game.
To be effective, a triple option offense has to have a valid passing threat, and Allen has a 54% pass completion rate, that averaged 67 yards passing per game last season, with 8 touchdowns scored. Senior wide receiver Brenton Bersin remains Allen's favorite target, with over 700 yards last season, for a 67 yard game average.
The Terriers' offense will have a decent to good game against the Catamounts, I also believe the Catamounts will have a good offensive game against the Terriers, so the game will play out on the defensive line, where Wofford has the edge. If the Catamount offensive line has a big night, and the Cats can limit the Breitenstein's running game, the Cats have a chance.
Prediction: WCU - 24 Wofford - 28
WCU Record: 6 - 3
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