Game #8: at #25 ETSU

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For the eighth game of the season, the Cats travel to Johnson City to face the #25 nationally ranked Bucs of East Tennessee State University for the first time in the new William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. This game is now known as the annual Blue Ridge Border Battle.

Two seasons ago, Western and the Bucs revived the series that started back in 1932, but abruptly ended in 2003 when the Bucs eliminated college football.

Adding to the newfound rivalry between the two mountain teams, the Bucs upset the Cats at the Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016 in their first season back in the SoCon.

ETSU

When: Saturday, October 27 at 3:30 pm
Where:  William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium, Johnson City, TN
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
- Talent: Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers; Color Analyst: Daniel Hooker; Host / Producer: Jeff Bryson
TV / video:  ESPN+
- Talent:Jim Noble / Thom Henson / Van Hipp
Game Notes:  WCU  -   ETSU  (once available)
Message Board:  Buccaneer Nation
The Series: This series stretches back to 1932, with the Cats holding a slim 24-22-1 lead over ETSU.

Games played by the Bucs this season prior to the WCU contest:  (8 games, the Bucs are 6-2 overall) ETSU kicked off their season at home against DII, Mars Hill with a 28-7 win. ETSU then travel to Knoxville to play the Volunteers a week later, losing 59-3. In week three of the season, the Bucs remained on the road as they travel to Lexington, VA to meet the Keydets, picking up a close road win, 27-24. Returning home to host the Paladins.the Bucs picked up an even closer win, 29-27. The Mocs then visited Johnson City and ETSU picked up their third conference win 17-13. Big South foe Gardner-Webb then visited the Bucs for game six, and the Bucs rolled to a 45-0 victory.  ETSU then went on the road for two games prior to Western's visit, traveling to the Citadel and winning 26-23, ETSU then visited Wofford, where they picked up their first conference loss, 17-30.

The last game played vs. ETSU:  October 14, 2017  - Defense, Spencer Key Strong Second Half in WCU's 49-10 Win over ETSU  - Redshirt freshman tailback Donnavan Spencer scored four rushing touchdowns while the defense and special teams units tallied scores of their own as No. 25/21 Western Carolina stormed past upset-minded East Tennessee State in the second half, winning 49-10, in Southern Conference action on Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Western Carolina (5-2, 3-1 SoCon) created three takeaways including two John Brannon III interceptions - one returned for a touchdown with the second return setting-up WCU with a first-and-goal situation - with the third turnover coming on a muffed kickoff fumble recovery. WCU also blocked an ETSU punt with Tyran Reynolds scooping-and-scoring from 35 yards out as a part of a 42-point second half.-

Last Season's Record (ETSU):  2017 record -  4-7 overall,  4-2 home,  0-5 away,  2-6 SoCon
This Season's Record (ETSU):    2018 record -  6-2 overall,  4-0 home,  2-2 away,  4-1 SoCon


Offensive Formation: Spread
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Starters returning/lost: 18 /4
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 9  /  2
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 9  /  2

Specialist - Returning/Lost: 7  /  0
 Losses on 2 deep roster:  6

Significant losses:
Offense:  TB - Falon Lee; RT  Alex Rios
Defense: CB - Daren Ardis; SS - Paul Hunter

Top Returners:  QB Austin Herink, RB Jajuan Stinson


New head coach Randy Sanders returns a wealth of experience as the Bucs look to improve on a 4-7 record from last season. The Buck lost only 4 starters from the 2017 team. Sanders hired former Bucs wide receiver Marcus Satterfield as his offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Steve Brown his defensive backs coach and Matt McCutchan to oversee the offensive line. Sanders retained Billy Taylor (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers), Mike Rader (Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator), Gary Downs (Running Backs), Daryl Daye (Defensive Line/Special Teams), Dylan Lewellyn (Outside Linebackers) and Al Johnson (Strength and Conditioning) from the previous staff.

The Bucs are tied for 8th place in scoring offense, putting up 24 points per game (WCU is 3d  at 33 ppg), ETSU is third in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 23 points per game (WCU is 8th at 40 ppg). ETSU comes in at 7th place in rushing offense, averaging 130 ypg (WCU is 3d at 218 ypg) and ETSU comes in 2d place in rushing defense, holding opponents to 115.2 ypg (WCU is 6th at 184.4 ypg).  In passing offense, the Bucs are in 6th place at 197.6 ypg (WCU is 3d at 267 ypg) and the Bucs are in 3d place in the pass defense, holding opponents to 197.6 ypg (WCU is 8th at 297.3 ypg).


2018 ETSU Statistics (8 games)
Rushing Offense: 1040 yards
Yards per game: 130
Yards per rush: 3.9 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 55
TDs rushing: 13
Passing Offense: 1581 yards or 197.6 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 70
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 129-334-9
TDs Passing: 6
Total Offense: 2621 yards or 327.6 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 7-6
3d Down Conversions: 36 of 109 (33%)
4th Down Conversions: 5 of 9 (56%)
Field goal attempts: 12 - 15
PAT-Attempts: 22 of 22
On-side kicks: 01-1
Red Zone Scores: 26 of 28 (93%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 16 of 28 (57%)
Punts-Yards: 45 - 1728 - Avg per punt: 36


Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 27% probability of winning (28-35) over the Bears.

According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 3-5 after this game. I'm going to disagree, the Cats are 4-4 after this game.


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