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
Records: North Greenville (1-0) at Western Carolina (0-2)
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Radio Announcers: Gary Ayers (PBP), Greg McLamb (color)
TV/video: ESPN+
-TV Announcers: Daniel Hooker (PBP), Color: Rik Richards; Sideline: Summer McMahan
Game Notes: WCU - NG - SoCon Notes
Live Stats: WCU stats
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
Starting QB for WCU: For the second consecutive game, redshirt sophomore Will Jones is expected to start at quarterback for the Catamounts as redshirt senior QB Tyrie Adams will remain on team suspension for a violation of team rules first set prior to the NC State game last Saturday in Raleigh.
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
Duel-threat quarterback redshirt senior London Johnson (Charleston Southern transfer) leads the Crusaders, to a season-opening win with a 17-7 victory over Newberry College of the South Atlantic Conference. True freshman running back Dre' Williams showed his big-play ability on Thursday night and was awarded Freshman of the Week honors by the Gulf South Conference. Williams put up the first 100-yard rushing performance for the Crusaders since the 2017 season, running it to the tune of 113-yards and a touchdown.
North Greenville was picked to come in seventh in the pre-season rankings of the Gulf South Conference in their second year of membership. Aaron Watson (DB) entered 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.
Following the 2018 season, the front five lost three starters on the OL, including left tackle Caleb Harris, right tackle Cam Stepp, and guard Guage Murphy. 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.
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.
2019 Crusaders Statistics (1 game):
Rushing Offense: 241 yards
Yards per game: 241
Yards per rush: 5.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 11
TDs rushing: 1
Passing Offense: 129 yards or 129 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 9.2 yards
Passing 1st downs: 6
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 8-14-0
TDs Passing: 1
Total Offense: 370 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 1-0
3d Down Conversions: 5 of 12
4th Down Conversions: 0 of 0
Red zone scores: 2 - 2
Res zone TDs: 1 - 2
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: 1-2
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-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
Duel-threat quarterback redshirt senior London Johnson (Charleston Southern transfer) leads the Crusaders, to a season-opening win with a 17-7 victory over Newberry College of the South Atlantic Conference. True freshman running back Dre' Williams showed his big-play ability on Thursday night and was awarded Freshman of the Week honors by the Gulf South Conference. Williams put up the first 100-yard rushing performance for the Crusaders since the 2017 season, running it to the tune of 113-yards and a touchdown.
North Greenville was picked to come in seventh in the pre-season rankings of the Gulf South Conference in their second year of membership. Aaron Watson (DB) entered 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.
Following the 2018 season, the front five lost three starters on the OL, including left tackle Caleb Harris, right tackle Cam Stepp, and guard Guage Murphy. 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.
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.
2019 Crusaders Statistics (1 game):
Yards per game: 241
Yards per rush: 5.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 11
TDs rushing: 1
Passing Offense: 129 yards or 129 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 9.2 yards
Passing 1st downs: 6
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 8-14-0
TDs Passing: 1
Total Offense: 370 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 1-0
3d Down Conversions: 5 of 12
4th Down Conversions: 0 of 0
Red zone scores: 2 - 2
Res zone TDs: 1 - 2
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: 1-2
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