2019 Football Preseason Preview: Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents.

In the Catamounts' fifth game of the 2019 season, the Cats return to Cullowhee to host the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs.

Western faces Gardner-Webb for the 10th time overall on the gridiron, the two teams first met in 1932.




Game #5 - Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

When: Saturday, October 5th at 3:30 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video: ESPN+

The Series: In the 10th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 6-3 record overall against the dogs and enter the contest on a 4 game winning streak.

Last Game vs. Gardner-Webb (September 14, 2018) - Ground Game, Defense Lead WCU to 28-10 Win at Gardner-Webb  - Boiling Springs, N.C. – Tyrie Adams accounted for 214 yards of total offense, tossing two touchdown passes including one to Connell Young who tallied a pair of scores as Western Carolina improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 with a 28-10 road victory over Gardner-Webb Friday night in nonconference action at Spangler Stadium. Young accounted for 171 all-purpose yards including a career-best 105 yards on the ground, bookending the Catamount scoring with touchdowns – a 33-yard receiving score and a 31-yard scoring romp in the fourth quarter. Adams also eclipsed the century mark with 106 on the ground as the Catamounts chewed up 325 rushing yards under windy conditions caused by the outer edges of Hurricane Florence.

Last Season's Record (2018 - GWU): 3-8 overall, 2-4 home, 1-4 away, 2-3 Big South  (wins over Limestone to open the season, Campbell and Presbyterian in the Big South).

Games that will be played by the Bulldogs this season before the WCU contest: 4 games - Gardner-Webb opens the season with two FBS games, first at Charlotte, then at ECU, then NC Central at home, before traveling to Wofford.

Head Coach: Carroll McCray - Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of ‘83) enters his sixth season in charge of his alma mater’s football program in 2017, with his Runnin’ Bulldogs poised to make a push back to the top half of the Big South Conference. McCray will continue a rebuilding effort that he embarked upon in 2013, mixing an infusion of youthful talent with veteran experience in 2018. During his time at GWU, McCray has adjusted the culture quickly along with instilling pride into the program for which he once played. McCray’s teams have proven to be giant slayers during his time in Boiling Springs, knocking off five teams ranked in the top-15 since 2013, including last season’s Big South Conference champion and eighth-ranked Charleston Southern on November 5. In its eight seasons at the Division I level before McCray’s return to campus, Gardner-Webb had won just twice against top-25 opponents.

Offensive Formation: Spread Option
-2018 Offense: 20.1 ppg. (102nd in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 3-4
- 2018 Defense: 37.0 ppg. (107th in FCS)
Lettermen Returning/Lost:  52 / 26
Starters Returning/Lost:  17  /  5
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8 / 3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 9 / 2

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The Runnin' Bulldogs were picked to finish 5th in the recent coaches poll (total of 7 football-playing members for 2019), North Alabama is added next season, and I think PC will drop out. With 17 starters returning from the 3-8 Bulldogs in 2018, Gardner-Webb could be a very improved team, however, their non-conference schedule is not very forgiving. To begin the year, the Runnin' Bulldogs face FBS trips to Charlotte and East Carolina, then face North Carolina Central before facing 2019 SoCon front runner Wofford.

In 2018, the Bulldogs finished 5th (out of 5 teams) in the Big South (BS) in scoring offense with 20.1 ppg and 6th in scoring defense, giving up 37 ppg. In the rushing game, the dogs were 5th with 136.4 ypg and in rushing defense GWU gave-up 287.5 yards per game for last place in the conference. In the passing game, GWU averaged 154.9 yards per game for 4th place, but defensively, they gave up 204.2 yards per game for 5th place in the conference.

Gardner-Webb has four named to the 2019 preseason all-conference team.  Center, Brandon Leahey, linebacker Darien Reynolds and defensive end John Singleton each earned first-team All-Big South honors. Veteran nose guard Josh Rameur was an honorable mention selection.

Leahey (6-3, 277, Gr.) enters his third season as a starter at center and has played in 22 consecutive games. Reynolds (6-0, 225, Jr.) was a second-team All-Big South choice in 2018 – The former Shrine Bowl standout has moved to middle linebacker for the 2019 season. Singleton (6-5, 234, R-So.) led the league's defensive linemen with 51 tackles and added 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in his first season on the field. Ramseur (5-11, 297, Gr.) returns for a sixth year as a graduate student after missing the 2018 campaign with an injury. Back at full strength, he and Singleton will anchor an experienced defensive front.

-TOP RETURNEE: Jr./LB Darien Reynolds (All-Big South - 75 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT).
-THE FOUNDATION: Soph./DE John Singleton - 51 tackles, 3 sacks); Sr./NG Josh Ramseur (6th year of eligibility after an injury last year - 2nd Team All-Big South in 2017); Sr./LB Devin Mines (63 tackles, 5 PBUs, 26 career starts); Soph./QB Jordan Smith (1,588 yards, 10 TDs); Sr./RB Jalyn Cagle (474 yards, 4 TDs); Jr./RB A.J. Moses (313 yards rushing, 3 TDs); Sr./OL Brandon Leahey (22 career starts); Jr./OL Jack Nichols (22 career starts); Jr./LB Shai Thomas (68 tackles, 8 TFLs); Sr./WR Chuma Awanna (Transfer who caught 66 passes for 867 yards and 5 TDs in 3 seasons at Norfolk State); Jr./OL Daniel Smith (16 career starts); Sr./CB A.J. Keene (51 tackles, 6 PBUs)
-TOP NEWCOMER: Fr./DB Jamari Brown - he is a South Florida de-commit who reported 6 FBS offers)


2018 Runnin' Bulldogs Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1500 yards on 407 attempts
Yards per game: 136.4
Yards per rush: 3.7 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 83
TDs rushing: 16
Passing Offense: 1704 yards or 154.9 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 5.7 yards
Passing 1st downs: 75
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 144-300-15
TDs Passing: 10
Total Offense: 3204 yards or 291.3 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost:  4 - 1
3d Down Conversions: 60 - 160  (38%)
4th Down Conversions: 5 - 13 (38%)
Field goal attempts:6 - 8
On-side kicks: 0-1
Red Zone Scores:24 of 30  (80%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 19 of 30 (63%)
PAT:   27 - 28 (96%)

Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 77% probability of winning (41-31) over the Runnin. Bulldogs.  I'm going to agree with that projection, and the Cat will have a 4-1 record as the Dogs leave Cullowhee.



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