F O O T B A L L. Georgia Southern at Elon. Game Preview, 2 How They Match Up, 5 GSU Roster, 6 Around the SOCON, 10. September 26, 2009

Transcription

1 Georgia Southern at Elon September 26, 2009 Game Preview, 2 How They Match Up, 5 GSU Roster, 6 Around the SOCON, 10

2 GAME PREVIEW Georgia Southern at Elon September 26, 2009 GSU looking to keep momentum going against Elon STATESBORO Two weeks ago, Georgia Southern equaled its worst regular-season loss to a Football Championship Subdivision team. A week later, the Eagles defense played one of its best games in years. So GSU rollarcoasters into Elon on Saturday hoping to be on the top loop for what coach Chris Hatcher calls, a huge game in the conference even though we re just in Week 4. The Eagles (2-1, 1-0 Southern Conference) has league-toughies Appalachian State, Elon, Wofford and Samford all on the road this season. All four beat GSU last season. The first three are ranked this season. A year ago, two conference teams advanced to the playoffs. It doesn t take an Elon grad to figure out what the Eagles need to do to make the FCS postseason field. Of course, who was thinking postseason just a couple of weeks ago when Southern scraped bottom during a 44-6 loss to South Dakota State? Last week, the young Eagles with 30 freshmen or sophomores on the two-deep offensive and defensive depth charts proved to be resilient by holding Western Carolina to a minus 12 rushing yards during a 27-3 victory. I think we played a team that was a little wounded like us, but we played to our level and dominated from start to finish, Hatcher said. It was good to see us do that for a change. Week 4 Who: Georgia Southern Eagles (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) at Elon (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) Where: Rhodes Stadium, Elon, N.C. Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Television: None GSU Radio: 1290 AM, WTKS (Savannah); FM, WPMX (Statesboro) Date Opponent Time/ Result Sep 5 ALBANY (N.Y.) W, Sep 12 at South Dakota State L, 6-44 Sep 19 WESTERN CAROLINA * W, 27-3 Sep 26 at Elon * 1:30 p.m. Oct 3 at Wofford * 1:30 p.m. Oct 10 at North Carolina TBA Oct 17 CHATTANOOGA * 6 p.m. Oct 24 at Appalachian State * 3 p.m. Nov 7 at Samford * 3:30 p.m. Nov 14 FURMAN * 2 p.m. Nov 21 THE CITADEL * 2 p.m. * Southern Conference game 2

3 GAME PREVIEW It s hard to tell Elon s level. The Phoenix, picked to finish second in the conference by the league s media in the preseason, enters with a 2-1 record after losing to Wake Forest 35-7 last Saturday. Season-opening wins against a couple of softies Davidson and Presbyterian have Elon s statistics in the ungodly range. The Phoenix average 484 offensive yards a game to rank fourth in the FCS. Defensively, they allow 207 yards a game which is fifth nationally. I think we re still in the process (of finding out how good we are) and that s OK with me, Elon coach Pete Lembo said. I think the goal is to improve every day and control what you can control regardless how strong or weak that (opponent) might be. Opponents know the strength of the Phoenix passing game. Senior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins already holds two all-time Southern Conference pass receiving marks with 303 catches for 4,020 yards. With a big game against GSU, Hudgins could top the NCAA career reception mark of 317 set by Florida A&M s Jacquay Nunnally ( ). With at least eight games left, Hudgins has a pretty good chance of breaking Jerry Rice s career yardage mark of 4,693. Rice played at Mississippi Valley State ( ). This season, Hudgins and junior quarterback Scott Riddle have hooked up 31 times for 403 yards and five touchdowns. Riddle has 867 passing yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions in three games. Last season, Hudgins caught 13 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown and Riddle threw for 308 yards in a win over Georgia Southern. But stopping the passing game isn t the only problem Elon poses. Those guys are great players, but their defense is what they win with, Hatcher said. The Phoenix had four defensive players on the preseason All-Southern Conference team. Last season, Elon ranked second in both total defense and scoring defense. The Eagles used a perfectly balanced attack (42 runs, 42 passes) to dent Western Carolina s defense during a 27-3 win a week ago. Sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple has thrown for yards a game which is third in the conference and 22nd in the nation. GSU s run game provided a new wrinkle for the offense. Adam Urbano and Darreion Robinson combined for 154 rushing yards against the Catamounts. Southern had just 69 rushing yards in the first two games. We scaled (the passing game) back in the third game, Chapple said. We felt that was better for our style of offense, but whatever works, we ll run. Don Heath, Savannah Morning News donald.heath@savannahnow.com 3

4 GSU PROBABLE LINEUP OFFENSE Pos. No. Name LT 51 William Maxwell (6-1, 294, So.) LG 65 Jared Flowers (6-5, 325, So.) C 69 Trey Dunmon (6-3, 300, Sr.) RG 61 Jonathan Loving (6-1, 280, Sr.) RT 70 Cole Fountain (6-3, 305, Sr.) QB 14 Lee Chapple (6-1, 200, So.) RB 6 Adam Urbano (5-8, 190, So.) RB 7 Darreion Robinson (5-9, 172, Fr.) WR 83 Garryon Taylor (5-11, 184, Sr.) WR 88 Tyler Sumner (6-2, 210, Fr.) WR 28 Jamere Valentine (6-1, 200, Fr.) DEFENSE Pos. No. Name DE 47 Harland Bowers (6-2, 250, Sr.) NT 97 Neil Harrell (6-3, 311, Jr.) DT 66 Brent Russell (6-2, 300, Fr.) LB 11 Tavaris Williams (5-11, 200, So.) LB 33 Dion DuBose (6-0, 217, So.) LB 22 Terrione Benefield (6-0, 210, Sr.) RO 13 Darius Eubanks (6-0, 190, Fr.) FS 4 Derek Heyden (6-1, 175, So.) BA 30 K.R. Snipes (5-9, 175, So.) CB 34 Laron Scott (5-9, 171, Sr.) CB 9 Darrell Pasco (6-0, 170, Sr.) SPECIAL TEAMS Pos. No. Name KO 59 Tyler Rhodes (5-9, 196, Fr.) PR 28 Jamere Valentine (6-1, 200, Fr.) KR 9 Darrell Pasco (6-0, 170, Sr.) KR 23 Ronnie Wiggins (5-8, 170, Sr.) SN 89 Carter Jones (5-11, 210, So.) HO 16 Russell DeMasi (6-0, 171, Fr.) P 48 Charlie Edwards (5-11, 205, So.) PK 45 Adrian Mora (5-11, 210, So.) Unusual Abbreviations RO (rover); BA (bandit), SN (long snapper), HO (holder) 4

5 HOW THEY MATCH UP Offense Defense Intangibles The Phoenix s 484 offensive yards a game rank fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision. Their big-play attack features junior quarterback Scott Riddle and senior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins who have hooked up 31 times in three games this season for 403 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Jamal Shuman, who has averaged 120 rushing yards, balances the offense. The Eagles have struggled at times while averaging just under 21 points a game. Sophomore Lee Chapple and freshman wideout Jamere Valentine are players to watch. Elon ranks fifth in the FCS in total defense, allowing only 207 yards a game. Four Phoenix defenders earned All-Southern Conference preseason honors first-teamer Eric Ludwig and second-teamer Brandon Ward are on the defensive line. The Eagles used their excellent team speed to bottle up Western Carolina a week ago, but gave up 44 points in their previous outing against South Dakota State. GSU s top five tacklers are either freshmen or sophomores. Sophomore middle linebacker Dion DuBose leads the unit with 26 tackles. During the preseason, Southern Conference media picked Elon to finish second in the league. The Phoenix are ranked No. 13 nationally in The Sports Network s Top 25 poll. Elon s special teams have been the difference against GSU the last two seasons. Both years, the Phoenix kicked five field goals. Last season, Eagles coach Chris Hatcher took a successful field goal off the scoreboard and then failed to get points early in the game. Elon went on to win Advantage: Elon Advantage: GSU Advantage: GSU BOTTOM LINE: Elon 28, Georgia Southern 17 5

6 GSU ROSTER No. Name Position Height Weight Year Hometown (Previous School) 1 E.J. Webb LB Jr. Roanoke, VA (Fork Union Military) (Fleming) 2 A.J. McCray DB So. St Marys, GA (Camden County) 4 Derek Heyden DB So. Atlanta, GA (Marist) 5 Chris Teal RB So. Cairo, GA (Cairo) 6 Adam Urbano RB So. Calhoun, GA (Calhoun) 7 Darreion Robinson RB Fr. Athens, GA (Clarke Central) 9 Darrell Pasco DB Sr. Clearwater, FL (GMC) (Countryside) 10 Josh Rowe LB Fr. Opelika, AL (Opelika) 11 Tavaris Williams LB So. Valdosta, GA (Lowndes County) 12 Kyle Collins QB Jr. Atlanta, GA (Lovett) 13 Darius Eubanks DB Fr. Harlem, GA (Thomson) 14 Lee Chapple QB So. Alpharetta, GA (Greater Atlanta Christian) 15 Leander Barney WR So. Irmo, S.C. (Irmo) 16 Russell DeMasi QB RFr. Savannah, GA (Savannah Christian) 17 Drexel Copeland WR Fr. Riverdale, GA (Mt. Zion) 18 Brent Osborn QB Fr. Valley, AL (Valley) 19 JJ Wilcox WR Fr. Cairo, GA (Cairo) 21 Hudson Presume DB So. Bradenton, FL (Southeast) 22 Terrione Benefield LB Sr. Conyers, GA (Heritage) 23 Ronnie Wiggins DB Sr. Summerville, GA (Chattooga) 24 Carson Hill DB Sr. Milledgeville, GA (Baldwin County) 25 Calvin West LB Jr. Mableton, GA (GMC) (Pebblebrook) 26 Zeke Rozier RB So. Cochran, GA (Bleckley County) 28 Jamere Valentine WR Fr. Myrtle Beach, SC (Myrtle Beach) 29 Chris Burnette RB Sr. Jacksonville, FL (Fleming Island) 30 K.R. Snipes DB So. Opelika, AL (Opelika) 31 Lamar Brown RB RFr. Louisville, GA (Jefferson County) 32 Brandon Nolley RB Jr. Sparta, GA (GMC) (Hancock County) 33 Dion DuBose LB So. Norcross, GA (Norcross) 6

7 GSU ROSTER No. Name Position Height Weight Year Hometown (Previous School) 34 Laron Scott DB So. Warner Robins, GA (Butler CC) (Warner Robins) 35 Lee Banks DB Jr. Augusta, GA (Augusta Christian) 36 Brett Layson DB So. Macon, GA (Tattnall Square Academy) 37 Jordan Walker DB RFr. Statesboro, GA (Bulloch Academy) 38 Kyle Oehlbeck DB Fr. Gainesville, FL (Buchholz) 39 Evan Mattingly LB Jr. Marietta, GA (Walton) 40 J.B. Shippy LB So. Gaffney, S.C. (Gaffney) 41 John Stevenson DB RFr. Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson) 42 Brent Gordon LB So. Fitzgerald, GA (Fitzgerald) 43 Christian Jordan DB So. Stone Mountain, GA (Shiloh) 44 Tobi Akinniranye RB Sr. Atlanta, GA (Centennial) 45 Adrian Mora PK So. Dalton, GA (Dalton) 46 Justin Wilson LS RFr. Tifton, GA (Tift County) 47 Harland Bower DL Sr. Edison, N.J. (East Ridge) 48 Charlie Edwards P So. Tifton, GA (Tift County) 49 Brett Moore LS Jr. Warner Robins, GA (Northside) 50 Matt Simons DL Fr. Statesboro, GA (Bulloch Academy) 51 William Maxwell OL So. Quitman, GA (Brooks County) 52 Javon Mention DE Fr. Tampa, FL (Plant) 53 David Lewis LB Sr. Fairburn, GA (Creekside) 54 Christopher Rogers PK So. Dublin, GA (Trinity Christian) 55 Jack Whittle DE Fr. Dublin, GA (Dublin) 56 Brent Thomas LB So. Tampa, FL (Plant) 58 Justin Krueger LB So. Kennesaw, GA (Kennesaw Mountain) 59 Tyler Rhodes PK Fr. Tampa, FL (Plant) 60 Chris Gray OL RFr. Landrum, SC (Landrum) 61 Jonathan Loving OL Sr. Fayetteville, GA (Fayette County) 62 Graden Bozeman PK Fr. Statesboro, GA (Statesboro) 63 Brandavious Mann OL So. Forsyth, GA (Mary Persons) 7

8 GSU ROSTER No. Name Position Height Weight Year Hometown (Previous School) 64 Chris Williamson P Fr. Roswell, GA (Marist) 65 Jared Flowers OL So. Stillmore, GA (David Emanuel Academy) 66 Brent Russell DT RFr. Comer, GA (Madison County) 67 Bryant Meeks OL Fr. Blue Ridge, GA (Fannin County) 68 Paul Gourdeau OL Jr. Lawrenceville, GA (Peachtree Ridge) 69 Trey Dunmon OL Sr. Lilly, GA (Hawkinsville) 70 Cole Fountain OL Sr. Cartersville, GA (Woodland) 71 Jake Gambino OL Fr. Coral Springs, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) 72 Jamical Tatum OL RFr. LaGrange, GA (GMC) (Troup) 73 Daniel Few OL RFr. Atlanta, GA (Grady) 74 Hunter Poole OL Fr. Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln) 75 Garrett Smith OL Fr. Milledgeville, GA (John Milledge Academy) 76 Josh Barker OL Sr. Duluth, GA (Greater Atlanta Christian) 77 Blake DeBartola OL RFr. Fayetteville, GA (Starr s Mill) 78 Josh Petkovich OL So. Palm Harbor, FL (East Lake) 80 Jonathan Bryant WR Fr. Cairo, GA (Cairo) 81 Mitchell Williford WR Fr. Duluth, GA (Peachtree Ridge) 82 Nick Kyles WR Jr. Milledgeville, GA (Baldwin County) 83 Garryon Taylor WR Sr. Buford, GA (Buford) 84 Patrick Barker WR Fr. Ponte Vedra, FL (Nease) 85 Nico Hickey WR So. Columbus, GA (Pacelli) 86 Price Garrett WR Fr. Marietta, GA (Walton) 87 Cole Gordon WR Fr. Naples, FL (Naples) 88 Tyler Sumner WR RFr. Pooler, GA (Savannah Christian) 89 Carter Jones LS So. Moultrie, GA (Colquitt County) 90 Markeith Wylie DL Sr. Washington, GA (GMC) (Washington-Wilkes) 91 Kerry Bonds DL Sr. Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln) 93 Charwel Brown DL Sr. Brunswick, GA (Coffeeville JC) (Brunswick) 94 Roderick Tinsley DE So. Soperton, GA (Treutlen) 8

9 GSU ROSTER No. Name Position Height Weight Year Hometown (Previous School) 95 Willie Burden DE Fr. Statesboro, GA (Statesboro) 96 James Arowoselu DL Sr. Roswell, GA (Northview) 97 Neil Harrell DL Jr. Tampa, FL (Plant) 98 Brandon Lampkin DL So. Tucker, GA (Tucker) 99 Andrew Power WR RFr. Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach) Alex Bell PK RFr. Blackshear, GA (Pierce County) Jermel Bennett DL So. Augusta, GA (Lakeside) Garrett Blaxton OL So. Reidsville, GA (Pinewood Christian) Alex Bradford WR So. Lincolnton, GA (Lincoln County) Jeff Brown PK RFr. Hartwell, GA (Hart County) Michael Butler DB So. Stone Mountain, GA (Shiloh) Jordan Haggerty QB So. Stuart, FL (South Fork) Kaleb Heninger OL So. Fitzgerald, GA (Fitzgerald) Brandon Lane DB RFr. Marietta, GA (Harrison) Elbert Lee DB So. Blakely, GA (Early County) Larry Murphy DB Fr. St. Petersburg, FL (Gibbs) Brice Oglesby WR Sr. Manchester, GA (Manchester) Christopher Pye QB So. Savannah, GA (Screven County) Zack Reckers LB RFr. Atlanta, GA (Pope) Boyd Sasser DB RFr. Millen, GA (Jenkins County) Wynn Stinespring WR So. St. Johns, FL (Bartram Trail) Mason Strickland DB So. Calhoun, GA (Calhoun) Garrett Sugar RB Jr. Alpharetta, GA (Milton) Darryl Walker DB Fr. LaGrange, GA (Callaway) Martin Weatherby WR RFr. Roswell, GA (Fellowship) Brandon Wilcher DB Jr. Dublin, GA (Dublin) Zach York LB RFr. Hartwell, GA (Hart County) 9

10 AROUND THE SOCON Southern Conference standings Overall standings Team W L Pct. PF PA Home Road Streak* W L Pct. PF PA Home Road Streak Furman W L1 Georgia Southern W W1 Elon L L1 Samford W W2 The Citadel W W1 Wofford W L1 Appalachian State W L3 Chattanooga L W1 Western Carolina L L5 * Streak numbers include games from SOCON SCHEDULE Saturday, Sept. 26 Georgia Southern at Elon, 1:30 p.m. Samford at Appalachian St., 3:30 p.m. Furman at Western Carolina, 6 p.m. Wofford at Chattanooga, 6 p.m. Presbyterian at The Citadel, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 Georgia Southern at Wofford, 1:30 p.m. Appalachian St. at The Citadel, 1 p.m. Elon at Furman, 3 p.m. Western Carolina at Samford, 3 p.m. LAST WEEK S SCORES Wisconsin 44, Wofford 14 Four turnovers dooms Terriers in loss. Chattanooga 29, Presbyterian 13 Fitzgerald runs for 2 scores, UTC now 2-1. No. 25 Missouri 52, Furman 12 Quick-strike Tigers build big lead at half. The Citadel 38, Princeton 7 Bulldogs score 38 unanswered, earn 1st win. Samford 31, Miles 12 Evans leads Bulldogs with 162 yards and TD. Wake Forest 35, Elon 7 Deacs limit Elon passing attack to win. Georgia Southern 27, Western Carolina 3 GSU allows four 1st downs and -12 yds rushing. 10

11 FCS TOP 25 GET THE PRE-GAME SCOOP Each Friday, our digital editions will preview and analyze the weekend s upcoming college football games... at savannahnow.com/sports Digitals Editions available for GSU, SSU and the University of Georgia. THE SPORTS NETWORK 1. Richmond (132) 3-0 3, Villanova (9) 3-0 3, Northern Iowa (6) 2-1 3, Montana 3-0 3, William & Mary (2) 3-0 3, New Hampshire (1) 2-0 2, James Madison 1-1 2, McNeese State 3-0 2, Southern Illinois 1-1 2, Appalachian State 0-2 2, Weber State 1-2 1, Central Arkansas 1-1 1, Elon 2-1 1, South Carolina State 2-0 1, Massachusetts 2-1 1, Cal Poly 1-1 1, South Dakota State 2-0 1, Wofford 1-2 1, Eastern Washington Eastern Kentucky Holy Cross Jacksonville State Texas State Eastern Illinois NR 25. Liberty NR Others receiving votes: Florida A&M 295, Delaware 218, Maine 215, Colgate 155, Grambling State 114, Youngstown State 89, Samford 73, Northern Arizona 72, Harvard 65, Penn 57, Montana State 56, Stephen F. Austin 52, Furman 50, Prairie View 46, Gardner-Webb 34, South Dakota 23, Albany 20, The Citadel 20, Tennessee State 18, Southern 14, North Dakota State 13, Tennessee-Martin 13, Butler 12, Georgia Southern 12, Hampton 12 11