Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents.
In the Catamounts' third game of the 2019 season, the Cats return home to host the North Greenville University Crusaders in Cullowhee and Whitmire Stadium.
Western faces the Crusaders for the first time on the gridiron.
Game #3 - North Greenville Crusaders
When: Saturday, September 14th at 3:30 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video: ESPN+
The Series: This is the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
Conference: Gulf South Conference (GSC) - NCAA Div. II
Location: Tigerville, SC
Undergraduates: 2,260
Games that will be played by the Crusaders this season before the WCU contest: 1 game - This is the 2d game of the young season for NGU as the Crusaders open the season at home against Newberry College on September 5th.
Last Season's Record (2018 - NGU): 4-6 overall, 2-2 home, 2-4 away, 3-4 GCC (wins over Tusculum, Delta State, West Alabama, Shorter) (2019 is the second season in the GSC)
Basic Offense: Spread
-2018 Offense: 20.4 ppg. (126th in Div. II)
Basic Defense: Multiple
-2018 Defense: 26.6 ppg. (85th in Div. II)
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8 / 3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6 / 5
Special Teams Starters Returning/Lost: 3 / 1
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North Greenville was picked to come in seventh in the pre-season rankings of the Gulf South Conference in their second year of membership. The Crusaders rank just ahead of Mississippi College and Shorter who chime in at eight and nine in the rankings. Aaron Watson (DB) enters the 2019 season as the first player named to a Gulf South Conference preseason All-Conference team. Watson checked off several firsts for the program last season, garnering First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-Region after turning in one of the best seasons by a GSC defensive back. Watson was also named a Don Hansen All-American.
The Crusaders lost 13 seniors off their 2018 team, including 4-year quarterback starter, Will Hunter, as well as, all-conference Wide Receiver Demajiay Rooks and all-conference defensive lineman, Seth Laughter. The Crusaders are implementing a new offense for the second time in as many seasons as Brad Robbins took over the offensive coordinating duties in the offseason.
One of the positions that took the biggest hit is the offensive line. Following the 2018 season, the front five lost three starters including left tackle Caleb Harris, right tackle Cam Stepp, and guard Guage Murphy. The battle for these positions looks to be wide open. While NGU lost their longtime QB, they did sign a former 4 star QB transfer during the early signing period in Logan Byrd, of Warner Robins, Georgia. Byrd, a 6-3, 230-pound signal-caller was ranked the number 15 pro-style quarterback coming out of high school in 2016 and originally signed with the University of North Carolina. Byrd threw for 3,902 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for another 930 yards and 15 scores while at Veterans High School. However, Byrd is not a shoo-in for the job, the decision will not be an easy one, as Byrd was taking second-team reps at times during the spring, as he learns from program veteran Donnie Baker. Baker has backed up Will Hunter for the previous three seasons and looks to take the next step.
NGU averaged just 82.6 yards per game last season on the ground, the lowest in more than 10-years of Crusader football. NGU rushed for 100-yards or more only four times and was 2-2 in those games. The passing attack last season was the lifeblood of the offense. The Crusaders averaged almost 250-yards through the air and 17-touchdowns. One area that needs improvement is pass protection as NGU quarterbacks were sacked 31-times through 10-games.
On special teams, Justin Gravely looked consistent during the spring after battling nagging injuries in 2018. Gravely holds several kicking records for NGU and should be the team’s starting placekicker n and could also take over the punting duties after the departure of Bobby Foos.
NGU's defensive front has the potential to be one of the best in the Gulf South in 2019. Defensive backs are arguably the deepest and most experienced group on either side of the ball. Returning 11 guys that combined to play in more than 133-games, All American defensive back Aaron Watson returns to anchor the group, while Johnny Worthy heads into his junior year as one of the teams top tacklers. Adrian McGee, Jermia Bogan, and Azende Dixon round out the players who have played in at least 19 games over their careers.
2018 Crusaders Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 826 yards
Yards per game: 82.6
Yards per rush: 2.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 50
TDs rushing: 7
Passing Offense: 2486 yards or 248.6 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.1 yards
Passing 1st downs: 103
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 198-350-16
TDs Passing: 17
Total Offense: 3312 yards or 331.2 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 16-9
3d Down Conversions: 54 - 154
4th Down Conversions: 8 -14
Red zone scores: 22 - 32 (69%)
Res zone TDs: 16 - 32 (50%)
Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 90% probability of winning (42-21) over the Crusaders. I'm going to agree, the Cats win and WCU's record after game three: 2-1
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