31 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #31 Jalin Virgo

It's now 31 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a defensive back

#31 Jalin Virgo

Class: Freshman

Hometown: High Point, NC
High School:  Southwest Guilford HS  
Height / Weight: 6-0 /  165
Position:  Defensive Back

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Credited with 150 career tackles including 89 solo stops and 22 tackles for loss with eight sacks … Two-time All-Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference selection as a sophomore and senior … A two-way player as a prep playing wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive back … Tallied 19 receptions for 314 yards and six touchdowns as a junior and senior … Four-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and wrestled in addition to playing football ... High school coach was Eric Rainey.

Personal: Is the son of Lavonda and James Brown III … Has two siblings, Skyy Little and Chayce Brown.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

32 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #32 Chris Campbell

It's now 32 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a linebacker

 #32 Chris Campbell

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Vanceboro, NC

High School:  West Craven HS  

Height / Weight: 6-1 /  235

Position:  Linebacker

2018 (Freshman): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played linebacker and defensive end as a prep, three-year varsity letter winner ... Started working on offense as a senior ... Took part in the Blue-Grey All-American Combine in Richmond, Va., in the summer of 2017 prior to his senior year where he was "without peer" and "nearly stole the show" ... High school coach was Michael Twichell ... Also played basketball as a prep ... Was an early enrollee, coming to Cullowhee in January.

Personal: Is the son of Ashley Sontag and Kenyatta Campbell.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

2019 Football Preseason Preview: Wofford Terriers

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

For the seventh game of the season, the Cats travel to Spartanburg, SC to face the Wofford Terriers.

Western faces the Terriers for the forty-fifth time since 1972.








Game #7 - Wofford

When: Saturday, October 19 at 1:30 pm
Where: Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg, SC  (natural grass)
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV / video: Nextar / ESPN3 or ESPN+

The Series: The Cats are 14-27 overall against the Terriers.in a series that started in 1952, The Cats & Terriers have played a total of 41 times, and Western has lost two in a row to the Terriers.

Games that will be played by the Bulldogs this season prior to the WCU contest:  (5 games) The Terriers open the season on the road in Orangeburg, SC against SC State, before returning home to open SoCon play against Samford in Spartanburg. The Terriers remain at home for the third game of the young season, as Gardner-Webb travels to Spartanburg. In games 4 & 5, Wofford returns to conference play on the road, facing VMI in Lexington then traveling to Johnson City to meet ETSU, before returning home to face the Cats in their Homecoming game.


The last game played vs. Wofford:  November 10, 2018 -  Wofford Survives WCU on Senior Day    Cullowhee, N.C. – Quarterback Tyrie Adams accounted for 396 yards of total offense and his eighth-rushing score of the season, but a late interception again thwarted an upset bid by Western Carolina against No. 14/15 Wofford. The Terriers rallied from a 20-7 first-half deficit, limiting the high-octane Catamounts to a fourth-quarter field goal in keeping their conference title and postseason hopes alive with a 38-23 victory to spoil WCU’s Senior Day at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Trailing by eight, 31-23, with under three minutes to play in regulation, Adams marched the Catamount offense 71 yards out of his own end zone in search of the equalizing score. However, miscommunication with a wide receiver on an scramble play resulted in Wofford’s George Gbesee jumping an errant throw, returning the pick 66 yards to set-up Andre Stoddard’s second – and game-sealing – rushing touchdown.

Head Coach:  Josh Conklin - Josh Conklin is entering his second season as head coach of the Wofford College football team. In his first season at the helm, the Terriers won the Southern Conference Championship and reached the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Wofford announced on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, the hiring of Josh Conklin as the head football coach. Conklin, who spent the previous three seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, was an assistant coach at Wofford from 2007-09 working with the secondary. Conklin has additional experience at Florida International, Tennessee, The Citadel and South Dakota State University, serving as the defensive coordinator at Pitt, Florida International, and The Citadel.

Last Season's Record (Wofford): 9-4 overall, 6-0 home, 3-4 away, 6-2 in the SoCon

Offensive Formation:  Triple Option
-2018 Offensive: 29.6 ppg. (45th in FCS)
Defensive Formation:   Multiple 50
-2018 Defensive: 19.0 ppg. (8th in FCS)
Starters returning/lost:    16  /  9
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:  9  /  2
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:  5 /  6
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 2  /  1
Lettermen - Returning/Lost:  47 /  18


Defending co-champion Wofford was picked by the SoCon's head coaches & media to finish first in the preseason polls. This is the second time that the Terriers have been picked first, as they were in 2017 when they won the title. Wofford has won the league six times and reached the second round of the FCS Playoffs in 2018.

Wofford led all SoCon teams with nine total preseason all-conference selections, putting three on the first teams and a league-best six on the second teams. Leading the Terriers on the first team were offensive linemen Justus Basinger and Michael Ralph, along with defensive lineman Thad Mangum. Second-team selections included safety Mason Alstatt, offensive lineman Justus Basinger, punter Luke Carter, cornerback George Gbesee, defensive lineman Mikel Horton and linebacker Jireh Wilson.

In 2019, on the offensive side of the ball, the Terriers have 9 starters returning, led by quarterback Joe Newman who started all 13 games last season. The Terrier backfield will have the only changes with the departure of starters fullback Andre Stoddard and halfback Lennox McAfee

The defensive side of the ball is where a weakness if any, may occur. The Terriers return only 5 starters on defense, having lost Miles Brown (DL), Brandon Zamary (DL), Billy Hinton (LB), Domo Lemon (CB), JoJo Tillery (S), and Devin Watson (CB)

2018 Wofford Statistics
Rushing Offense: 4052 yards
Yards per game: 311.7
Yards per rush: 6.1 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 159
TDs rushing: 38
Passing Offense: 1502 yards or 115.5 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.9 yrds
Passing 1st downs: 59
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 114-191-10
TDs Passing: 11
Total Offense: 5554 yards or 427.2
3d Down Conversions: 61-156
4th Down Conversions: 9-19
Field Goal: 12 of 16
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 39 of 48
Red Zone Touchdowns: 28 of 48
Avg per punt:  42 yrds


Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 13% probability of winning (24-42) over the Terriers.
According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 2-5 after this game. I'm going to agree on the possible loss in Spartanburg, however, the Cats depart Sparkle City with a 5-2 overall record after this game.


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33 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #33 Curtis Roach

It's now 33 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a linebacker


#33 Curtis Roach

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown: Cummings, GA

High School:  South Forsyth HS  

Height / Weight: 6-1 /  200

Position:  Linebacker



2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Limited during the season to just two games played due to injury … Did not record any statistics … Saw action in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) and at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Returned to the lineup during WCU’s annual Spring Drills ... Granted a medical hardship redshirt during the summer to regain the year.

2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in nine of the team's 12 games on the season, making his collegiate debut in the home-opener against Davidson ... Recorded a career-high two tackles - both solo stops - including a tackle for loss against Davidson ... Recovered a fumble in the road win at Chattanooga (Sept. 30).

2016 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Redshirted ... Credited with two tackles including one for a six-yard loss in WCU's annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was twice named first-team Forsyth County News All-County after both his junior and senior seasons ... Recorded 78 tackles with 47 solo stops including three tackles for loss, each coming as a sack as a senior ... Tallied eight passes defended with five interceptions ... Was a Class AAAAAA Georgia All-State honorable mention ... As a junior tallied 65 total hits with a sack, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions.

Personal: Is the son of Catamount Hall of Fame placekicker Kirk Roach, who was a four-time all-conference selection and three-time All-America honoree.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

34 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #34 Ezekiel Jennette

It's now 34 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight the defensive line


#34 Ezekiel Jennette

Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown: Durham, NC 
High School:  Southern Durham HS  
Height / Weight: 5-11 /  235
Other College:  NC State
Position:  Defensive Line

2018 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 11 games as a defensive reserve along the line, as well as on special teams … Finished with five tackle assists on the year … Made his WCU and collegiate debut in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) … Credited with his first career tackle against Chattanooga (Oct. 13) … Twice posted a career-high of two tackles at Mercer (Oct. 20) and against Wofford (Nov. 10) ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from North Carolina State during the summer of 2018 ... Did not see game action at NCSU in 2017; 

High School: Attended Durham Tech before N.C. State ... Was a Big 8 all-conference performer on defense as a prep ... Recorded 50+ tackles as a senior including a team-high eight sacks.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

35 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #35 Dorian Davis

It's now 35 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a defensive back


#35 Dorian Davis

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Shelby, NC 
High School:  Shelby HS  
Height / Weight: 6-0 /  180
Position:  Defensive Back


Prior to Western Carolina: Originally signed with James Madison in the early signing period before transferring to WCU … Must serve a year in residency before becoming eligible to compete … Was a two-year starter as a prep and a three-time state champion at Shelby High … Finished with 85 career tackles and 11 interceptions including five as a senior and six as a junior … Was a two-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection … Listed as a two-star product by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … Was a two-time Scholar-Athlete … Was also an all-conference selection in track, qualifying for the regional meet in the 110-meter hurdles.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

2019 Football Preseason Preview: The Citadel Bulldogs

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

For the sixth game of the season, the Cats travel to South Carolina's low country to face the Bulldogs of The Citadel.

Western faces the Bulldogs for the forty-fourth time since 1972.





Game #6 - The Citadel

When: Saturday, October 12at 2:00 pm
Where: Johnson Hagood Stadium (11,332), Charleson, SC
TV/video: ESPN3

The Series: Western trails The Citadel 17-25-1 overall in the series, after winning on the road in Charleston in 2017, breaking a two-game skid to the Bulldogs. The Cats dropped the homecoming game to the dogs in 2018 in Cullowhee. Coach Speir is 2-5 against the Citadel.

Games that will be played by the Bulldogs this season before the WCU contest: (6 games) The Bulldogs kick off the season by playing back to back CAA Football opponents. First, at home against Towson, followed by a road trip to former SoCon member Elon. The dogs then travel to Atlanta to meet Georgia Tech, before returning home to meet cross-town Big South member Charleston Southern. The Citadel opens conference play the next week in Birmingham against Samford, then back to Charleston to face arch-rival VMI.

Last Season's Game vs. The Citadel (Nov. 3, 2018) -  Second Half Surge Pushes the Citadel over WCU   Cullowhee, N.C. – The Citadel used a pair of third-quarter blocked punts to erase a 14-point halftime deficit and a defense that pitched a second-half shutout, forcing three turnovers as the Bulldogs upended the Western Carolina Catamounts, 38-24, to spoil Homecoming at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Back-up quarterback Brandon Rainey, who earned the starting nod for The Citadel on Saturday afternoon, rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs (3-5, 3-4 SoCon) while Clay Harris scored twice in rushing for 126 yards in the winning effort. All told, The Citadel ground out all 421 yards of total offense in the running game with four touchdowns, attempting just one pass which fell incomplete.

Last season's Record (The Citadel): 5-6 overall, 2-3 home, 3-3 away, 4-4 SoCon

Head Coach: Brent Thompson -  Brent Thompson was named The Citadel's 25th head football coach on January 19, 2016. In his first year, he led the Bulldogs to unprecedented heights while authoring one of the best seasons in Southern Conference history. Thompson’s first season in charge featured a program-record 10-game winning streak, a single-season school-record six road victories, only the seventh 8-0 conference record in 84 years of SoCon football, a second consecutive conference championship, a No. 6 national seed in the FCS Playoffs and the first home playoff game in 24 years. He was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year for the 10-2 campaign that resulted in the first time in program history with back-to-back playoff appearances.


Offensive Formation: Triple Option
-2018 Offense 29.8 ppg. (43rd in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 3-4 (new defensive formation)
-2018 Defense: 30.3 ppg. (76th in FCS)
Starters returning/lost:  20 /  7
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 10 / 3
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 3 / 0
Lettermen - Returning/Lose:  30 / 16

Picked to finish seventh in the 2019 season by both the coaches and media, the Bulldogs will enter the season with a chip on their shoulder, or at least the head coach will have a chip on his shoulder.  The local Charleston newspaper carried the following headline after the Dogs were picked to finish 7th - "Citadel coach: ‘Flat-out joke’ that Bulldogs are picked 7th in SoCon football".  “I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve taken away from today, is how little respect we have right now, and that’s OK with me." said head coach Brent Thompson. Hero Sports shares his opinion of the dogs, as their preseason rankings have the Citadel coming in at #25 in their poll.

The #7 pick in the SoCon polls has a total of six members selected for preseason All-Southern Conference honors. Joseph Randolph II, Willie Eubanks III, and Matthew Campbell were selected to the first team, while Haden Haas, Drew McEntyre and Jacob Godek were named to the second team. Eubanks was the top tackler last season as he finished with 80 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 4.5 sacks. He also added two interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles.

The Bulldogs return 20 starters from last season's 5-6 squad that finished 4-4 in the SoCon. Before rising junior Brandon Rainey took over as starting quarterback in the eighth game of the season, the Bulldogs’ triple-option offense averaged 264 rushing yards and 26.8 points while going 2-5, all against FCS teams. In their final three games against FCS teams, with Rainey at quarterback, the offense averaged 331.3 rushing yards and 41 points per game in victories over Western Carolina, Samford and Charleston Southern.

In 2018, the Bulldogs finished in 4th place in the SoCon in scoring offense with 29.8 points per game, and came in 6th place in scoring defense, giving up30.3 ppg. The Bulldogs came in second behind Wofford in rushing yardage with 283.6 ypg. and were 3d in rushing defense, only giving up 141.3 ypg. The Bulldogs finished in the last place in passing offense, averaging 83.7 yards per game and were 7th in pass defense, giving up 253.7 yards per game

Given their returning starters, I'd say the SoCon polls are probably wrong on the Bulldogs as well.

2018 The Citadel Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 3120 yards
Yards per game: 283.6
Yards per rush: 4,7 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 148
TDs rushing: 32
Passing Offense: 921 yards or 83.7 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 8.3 yards
Passing 1st downs: 36
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 50-111-5
TDs Passing: 5
Total Offense: 4041 yards or 367.4 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 21 - 10
3d Down Conversions: 76 of 181 (42%)
4th Down Conversions: 23 of 38 (61%)
Field goal attempts: 11 - 13
PAT-Attempts: 41 = 41 (100%)
On-side kicks: 0 - 1
Red Zone Scores: 29 of 33 (88%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 21 of 33 (64%)
Punts - Yards: 52 - 2264 - Avg per punt: 43.5


Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 25% probability of winning (31-40) over the Bulldogs.
According to Massey Rankings to date, Western Carolina should be 2-4 after this game, however, I'm going to disagree, the Cats win again in Charleston and come home with a 5-1 record after this game.



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36 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #36 Christian Yarborough

It's now 36 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another linebacker


#36 Christian Yarborough

Class: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Indian Trail, NC 
High School:  Metrolina Christian Academy 
Height / Weight: 6-0 /  200
Position:  Linebacker

2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Saw action in seven games, each as a defensive reserve and on special teams … Credited with one tackle on the year coming against The Citadel (Nov. 3).

2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in five games on the season mostly on special teams, making his WCU debut at VMI (Oct. 21) ... Was not credited with any official statistics.

2016 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Redshirted ... Named to the 2016-17 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner that played running back and free safety in high school while also returning kickoffs ... Missed four games of his senior season due to injury, rushing 72 times for 533 yards and five touchdowns ... High school was Thomas Langley ... Also ran track & field as a prep.

Career-Highs:

Tackles: 1, THE CITADEL (11/3/18)

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

37 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #37 Ty Harris

It's now 37 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another linebacker


#37 Ty Harris

Class: Junior
Hometown: Dacula, GA
High School:  Dacula HS
Height / Weight: 6-1 /  245
Position:  Linebacker

2018 (Sophomore): Started 10 of WCU’s 11 games on the year, missing the season-opener against Newberry … Finished the year ranked fourth on the Catamount defense with 87 total tackles including 46 solo stops and five tackles for loss with a pair of sacks … His 8.7 tackle per game average ranked him fourth in the Southern Conference … Tallied double-digit tackles four times on the season, credited with a single-game career-high 14 on the road at Samford (Oct. 6) … Had 11 stops against Chattanooga (Oct. 13), The Citadel (Nov. 3), and at North Carolina (Nov. 17) … Credited with three QB hurries … Also recorded a pair of interceptions coming in the road games at Furman (Sept. 29) and Samford (Oct. 6), returning both nine yards for a total of 18 yards on the year … Named to the Sophomore All-America team by HERO Sports.

2017 (Freshman): Saw action in all 12 of the team's games on the season on special teams and as a defensive substitution ... Recorded 18 tackles on the season including 12 solo stops with half a tackle for loss ... Made his collegiate debut on the road at Hawai'i (Sept. 2) with his first career tackle coming in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9) ... Posted a career-best three tackles twice - in the road win at Chattanooga (Sept. 30) and in the season-finale against FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18) ... Made two tackles including half a tackle for loss in the home win over nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 23).

Prior to Western Carolina: Was highly recruited, originally committed and signed with Army West Point ... Was a running back and outside linebacker as a prep ... Named Honorable Mention All-State in Georgia's Class AAAAAA as a senior ... Rushed for over 1,000 yards with eight touchdowns as a senior ... Also finished with 70 tackles including 43 solo stops as a senior with five tackles for loss including three sacks ... Was a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.

Personal: Full name is Paul Tyreon Harris ... Is the son of Kisemee and Paul Harris.

Career-Highs:

Tackles: 14, at Samford (10/6/18)

Tackles for Loss: 2.5, VMI (9/22/18)

Sacks: 1, twice (MR: VMI, 9/22/18)

Interceptions: 1, twice (MR: at Samford, 10/6/18)

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

38 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #38 Jarquavius Wortham

It's now 38 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC 

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a linebacker


#38 Jarquavius Wortham

Class: Senior
Hometown: LaGrange, GA
High School:  Callaway HS
Other College:  Georgia Military College 
Height / Weight: 6-1 /  225
Position:  Linebacker

2018 (Junior): Played in nine of the team’s 11 games with one start at linebacker … Recorded 19 total tackles including 14 solo stops with 3.5 tackles for loss including 2.0 sacks … Credited with three forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1), recording a solo stop in the win … Posted three tackles including 1.5 for loss with a forced fumble at Samford (Oct. 6) … Both of his tackles against Wofford (Nov. 10) were for loss, adding a forced fumble … Tallied a career-high five stops twice including at ETSU (Oct. 27) and in the season finale at North Carolina (Nov. 17), forcing a fumble against the Tar Heels.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transfer from Georgia Military where he played two seasons … In 20 career games, amassed 70 total tackles including 52 solo stops and 12.5 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks … Posted 44 tackles as a sophomore with seven tackles for loss … Had one interception and five pass break-ups.

Personal: Full name is Jarquavius Tremontae Wortham … Is the son of Angela and Alfred Wortham.

  

Career Highs:

Tackles: 5, twice (MR: at North Carolina, 11/17/18)

Tackles for Loss: 2.0, WOFFORD (11/10/18)

Sacks: 1.0, twice (MR: WOFFORD, 11/10/18)

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

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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