Football - Presbyterian College Blue Hose

On October 4th, the Catamounts travel back to the Palmetto state for the second straight week, this time, traveling to Big South Conference member, Presbyterian College.  This game will mark the 18th all-time meeting between Western Carolina and Presbyterian.

The Cats currently lead the series 9-8 and are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak in the overall series. The Blue Hose have not defeated the Catamounts since 1969 when they downed the Cats 28-17 in Cullowhee.  The series between WCU and PC began in 1950 and the Blue Hose won all eight of the first eight contests, before WCU began its current nine-game winning streak in 1970.

The two team last played in 2008 in the most recent home and home series and both games were won by the Catamounts.

Currently sitting at 2-2 overall, PC will be coming off a bye week on game day, after a 42-0 thrashing at the hands of NC State in their last game.  The Blue Hose have a home game, narrow 3-point win over the Furman Paladins, and a blowout victory against NAIA's Bluefield College, 69-14.  The Blue Hose were on the receiving end of another one of those blowouts, in their opening game loss, to the Northern Illinois Huskies, 53-3.  The Blue Hose present a some-what balanced attack, averaging 207 yards on the ground, and 106 yards in the air, passing.

When: October 4th, 2014 at 2:00 pm (EST)

Where: Bailey Memorial Stadium, Clinton, SC

Radio:  Catamount Sports Network

TV/Video:  Big South Network 

Their coach: Harold Nichols - Nichols is entering his 5th season as PC's head coach.

Last year’s record: 3-8 overall, 1-4 Big South

The last game vs. Presbyterian: September 21, 2008 - Red-shirt sophomore Marquel Pittman hauled in an acrobatic four-yard scoring strike with just over three minutes showing on the Bailey Memorial Stadium clock Saturday afternoon. But it wasn't until Presbyterian's Cam Miller hooked a 23-yard field goal wide left that the Catamounts were able to celebrate their first road win since late October, 2005, downing the Blue Hose, 23-21.

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 - 3

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 9 - 2

2014 Statistics:
Scoring: 20.5 points per game
Rushing Offense: 207 yards per game
Passing Offense: 106 yards per game
Total Offense: 312.2 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 8 - 5
Penalties-Yards: 19 - 182.5 yards per game
3rd Down Conversions: 16 - 51 (31%)
4th Down Conversions: 3 - 5 (60%)
Field Goals - Attempts: 2 - 3
Red-Zone Scores: 8 - 10 (80%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 6 - 10, (60%)

Losses/Weaknesses:
Key Losses - RB Demarcus Rouse, RB LaQua Mayers, WR Jeremiah McKie, YR Tobi Antigha,

Strengths: Tobi Antigha earned a spot on the 2014 CFPA Wide Receiver Watch List
Returning Leaders: RB Blake Roberts, QB Heys McMath, QB Kaleb Griffin

Presbyterian is a young team that lost only 9 seniors from the 2013 team. The 2014 Blue Hose team has 38 either true or redshirt freshmen, 25 either true or redshirt sophomores, 23 juniors or redshirt juniors, & 12 seniors.

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