2016 Football Preseason Preview: Gardner-Webb

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2016 football opponents. Today we look at the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs.

In the second game of the 2016 season, the 'Dogs travel to Cullowhee to meet the Cats for the first time since the 2010 football season.  The Cats won that game, 28-14 in Boiling Springs.






Gardner-Webb

When: Saturday, September 10th at 6:00 pm

Where: E. J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

Radio: Catamount Sports Network 

TV / video: The SoCon Digital Network

The Series:  The series stretches back to 1932, and is currently tied at 3-3. The Cats are 2-1 in Cullowhee against the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Last game played: Defense, Pittman Lead Western Carolina over Gardner-Webb, 28-14
Western Carolina converted two of its six defensive takeaways into 14 points, while senior Marquel Pittman and Michael Johnson both added offensive scores as the Catamounts rebounded Saturday night to upend the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, 28-14, at Spangler Stadium.

Head Coach: Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of ‘83) enters his forth season in charge of his alma mater’s football program in 2016. McCray is in the midst of a rebuilding effort that he embarked upon in 2013, adjusting the culture quickly in his first season and instilling pride into the program for which he once played.






Last Year's Record: 4-7 overall (home 3-3, road 1-4), 2-4 Big South Conference

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 5 / 6

Specialist - Returning/Lost: 5 / 0

Offensive Formation: Spread

Defensive Formation:  3-4


2015 Bulldog Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1739 yards
Yards per game: 158
Yards per rush: 3.6 yards
TDs rushing: 9
Passing Offense: 1086 yards or 99 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 115-250-11
Total Offense: 2825 yards or 257 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 51
Rushing 1st downs: 99
Fumbles-Lost: 19 - 9
Penalties-Yards: 57 - 540 yards
3d Down Conversions: 42 of 167  - 25%
4th Down Conversions: 10 of 21 - 48%
Red-Zone Scores: 16 of 23 (70%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 11 of 23  (48%)
Punts : 81 -  Avg. per punt: 38 yds
Sacks: 18
PAT-Attempts: 16 of 17 - 94%
Field Goals-Attempts: 7 of 12
Time of possession per game: 30:34

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