|
Post by The Cats on Jul 23, 2019 13:48:58 GMT -5
UTC is game #4 if I can use my fingers to count... B^) I finally found it. It was so big, I couldn't see the mistake?
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Jul 23, 2019 16:18:06 GMT -5
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: ESPN3 or 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 prior to 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) Starters Returning/Lost: 17 / 5 ----------------------------------- 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.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Jul 26, 2019 14:47:46 GMT -5
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 or ESPN+ 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 prior to 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 formation) -2018 Defense: 30.3 ppg. (76th in FCS) Starters returning/lost: 20 / 5 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. I guess Hero Sports shares his opinion of the dogs, as on their preseason rankings, they have the Citadel coming in at #25 in their preseason 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. Given their returning starters, I'd say the 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 2-3 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.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Jul 29, 2019 13:28:29 GMT -5
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 StatisticsRushing 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 4h 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 only 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.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 2, 2019 13:58:03 GMT -5
Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2019 football opponents. For the eighth game of the season, the Paladins travel up the mountain and into the valley to Cullowhee, NC in the 2019 football edition of The Battle for Purple Supremacy. The Cats have dropped three straight to the Paladins and are looking for a Homecoming victory. Game #8 - Furman Paladins When: Saturday, October 26 at 3:30 pm Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV / video: ESPN3 or ESPN+ The Series: The Cats are 12-31-2 overall against the Paladins in the series in a series that started back in 1972. The Cats have lost 3 in a row to Furman, with the last win coming in 2015 in Cullowhee, by a final score of 48-10. Coach Speir is 2-5 vs. the Paladins. The last game played vs. Furman: September 29, 2018 - Second Half Comeback Falls Short at Furman, 44-38 - Greenville, S.C. – Tyrie Adams tossed a career-high-tying five touchdown passes including two apiece to Daquan Patten and Owen Cosenke while accounting for 472 yards of total offense on Saturday afternoon, but Western Carolina was unable to overcome a 21-point halftime deficit, falling to the Furman Paladins, 44-38, in Southern Conference action at Paladin Stadium. Two fumbles inside the red zone thwarted would-be scoring drives for the Catamounts while the Paladins cashed in a 97-yard kickoff return for a TD and a blocked punt that led to a field goal in special teams in picking up their first victory of the season. Adams just missed his career-high with 424 passing yards on 25-of-36 passing, adding 48 rushing yards despite missing the closing drive of the first half due to injury. Games that will be played by the Paladins this season prior to the WCU contest: (7 games) The Paladins open the season at home against Big South foe, Charleston Southern, the play back-to-back FBS opponents. The Paladins travel to Atlanta to play Georgia State, then up to Blacksburg, VA to meet Virginia Tech. Furman opens it's conference season at home against Mercer in their game, then remain at home to meet ETSU in Travler's Rest. The Paladins then hit the road to Birmingham to play Samford before returning home to play the Citadel. Head Coach: Clay Hendrix - Introduced as Furman’s new head football coach on December 19, 2016, Clay Hendrix in two seasons has already reinvigorated a Paladin football program long accustomed to success. Hendrix, a former standout Paladin offensive guard and assistant coach who returned to his alma mater following a decade as an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy, directed Furman to an 8-5 campaign and Football Championship (FCS) playoff appearance in 2017, improving on a three-win 2016 season and defying a preseason No. 7 Southern Conference tab by playing for a share of league title in the regular-season finale en route to finishing a consensus No. 20 in two major FCS polls. Last Season's Record (Furman): 6-4 overall, 3-1 home, 3-3 away, 6-2 in the SoCon - In 2018, the Paladins had wins over WCU, Wofford, the Citadel, Chattanooga, VMI, & Mercer (winning last 4 games played giving the Paladins a share of the 2018 SoCon Championship) Offensive Formation: Multiple (option - flexbone look) -2018 Offensive: 27.2 ppg. (64th in FCS) Defensive Formation: 3-4 -2018 Defensive: 28.2 ppg. (61st in FCS) Starters returning/lost: 17 / 7 Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 Specialist - Returning/Lost: 2 / 0 Lettermen - Returning/Lost: 41 / 18 Defending co-champion Furman was the second-place pick in a pair of preseason polls by the SoCon coaches and media. In other honors, first-team all-conference tabs were redshirt junior offensive tackle Bo Layton, redshirt sophomore bandit Adrian Hope, and junior placekicker Grayson Atkins. Named to the second team were junior tailback Devin Wynn, redshirt senior offensive tackle Andy Godwin, senior wide receiver Thomas Gordon, and junior linebacker Elijah McKoy. The Paladins were picked #15 in the Hero Sports preseason FCS poll, and #17 in the AGS preseason top 25. On offense, with eight starters back, including all five linemen, the only question is, who will be their starting quarterback? The Paladins have 3 that will battle for that starting job, sophomore Darren Grainger has the most college experience as he saw action in four games and made one start (vs. Elon) in his first season in the program. Redshirt freshman Hamp Sisson saw some action in two late-season games as a reserve last year, and redshirt sophomore Jack Hardin has no playing time. As we know, the QB is the key in the triple-option attack, and by game 8 this battle should we well settled. Among the Paladins' key returnees on offense are redshirt senior All-SoCon offensive tackle Bo Layton, senior wide receiver Thomas Gordon (29 rec., 430 yds., TD in '18), and junior tailback Devin Wynn (113 att., 722 yds., 6 TDs in '18). Furman's defense is led by a pair of inside linebackers, senior Donavan Perryman (75 tackles, 3 TFL in '18) and junior Elijah McKoy (91 tackles, 2 sacks in '18), redshirt sophomore All-American bandit Adrian Hope (FCS leading 15.0 sacks in '18), and senior safety Bryan Okeh, whose 24 career starts top all defenders. On special teams, the Paladins junior All-American placekicker Grayson Atkins does it all (11x13 FGs, including four from 50+yards in '18), he also handles the punting (42.8 avg. in '18) and kickoff duties that saw him register a league-best 25 touchbacks in 2018. In 2018, the Paladins were 4th in the SoCon in scoring offense, putting up 29.8 ppg and finished 6th overall in scoring defense, giving up only 30.3 ppg. Furman finished in 4th place in rushing offense with 203.4 ypg, and 4th in rushing defense, giving up 157.8 yard per game. In passing offense, the Paladins finished in 7th place with 149.4 ypg, and in passing defense, they gave up 250.7 ypg for 6th place in the conference. 2018 Furman Statistics Rushing Offense: 2034 yards Yards per game: 203.4 Yards per rush: 4.2 yards Rushing 1st downs: 114 TDs rushing: 19 Passing Offense: 1494 yards or 149.4 yards per game Avg. per pass: 9.2 yrds Passing 1st downs: 65 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 105-162-4 TDs Passing: 14 Total Offense: 3528 yards or 352.8 ypg 3d Down Conversions: 55/134 4th Down Conversions: 9-13 Field Goal: 11 of 13 On-side kicks: 0-0 Red Zone Scores: 28 of 32 (88%) Red Zone Touchdowns: 23 of 32 (72%) Avg per punt: 42.8 yrds Fumbles-Lost: 20-10 Sacks: 27 Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 26% probability of winning (28-38) over the Paladins. According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 2-6 after this game. I'm going to disagree on the possible loss in Homecoming game in Cullowhee, the Cats end the day with a 6-2 overall record after this game.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 5, 2019 12:26:36 GMT -5
Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. For the ninth game of the season, the Cats travel to Lexington, VA to play the VMI Keydets. The Cats have won all five games against the Keydets since their return to the Southern Conference in 2014, can we make it six in a row on the road? Game #9 - VMI KeydetsWhen: Saturday, November 2 - Time: 1:30 pm EST Where: Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium (10,000), Lexington, VA Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV / video: ESPN3 or ESPN+ The Series: Western currently leads the series with VMI, by a 21-3 margin. The Cats and Keydets first played on the gridiron in 1978, and the Cats currently own a fifteen game winning streak over the Keydets, having swept the Keydets since their return to the Southern Conference. The last game played vs. VMI: September 23, 2018 - WCU wins Wild SoCon Opener, 52-50 over VMI Cullowhee, N.C. – Tyrie Adams rushed for a season-high 117 yards and his scored his fourth touchdown on the ground this season, adding three TD passes to help lead Western Carolina to a wild 52-50 victory over VMI in the squad’s Southern Conference season opener Saturday afternoon in front of 12,759 fans at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Leading by 15 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation after a Michael Murphy 46-yard interception return for a touchdown, the Catamounts had to hold-off a feverish Keydet rally as VMI scored two touchdowns over the final four minutes to pull to within two points. Javeon Lara hauled in a 10-yard strike from quarterback Reece Udinski at the 4:01 mark before Jakob Herres corralled a 12-yard strike to cap a 15-play scoring drive to make it 52-50. Head Coach: Scott Wachenheim - Scott Wachenheim enters his fifth season as VMI’s head football coach, and he continues to guide the program with a steady hand in one of the toughest conferences in FCS. The program continues to build a solid foundation with young personnel, and since his debut season in 2015, Wachenheim has transformed expectations and attitudes within the VMI football program and has shown that sustainable success can be attained with enthusiasm, hard work, resilience and dedication. Three years ago, the Keydet football program showed such potential in Wachenheim’s second season that the Keydets were significantly more competitive in a Southern Conference that produced four teams that reached the FCS playoffs. Overall, the scoring margin improved from -11.9 in 2015 to -7.3 and the Keydets started the season 3-2 for the first time since 2003 and in the process won back-to-back road games for the first time in 35 years. The three wins also were the most in a season since 2010. Last Season's Record (VMI): 2018 - 1-10 overall, 1-5 home, 0-5 away, 0-8 SoCon Offensive Formation: Air Raid -2018 Offensive: 23.4 ppg. (93rd in FCS) Defensive Formation: 3-4 -2018 Defensive: 48.2 ppg. (124st in FCS) Starters returning/lost: 19 / 8 Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3 Specialist - Returning/Lost: 3 / 0 Letterwinners Returning: 56 Key Personnel Lost - Offense (3) WR – Kris Thornton; OL – Cole Brummit; RB – Quan Myers Defense (3) DL- Zack Baker; OLB – Uzoma Kpaduwa; DB- Colin Loftis ---------------------- Four VMI football players were named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference teams announced by the league Monday afternoon at the 2019 SoCon Football Media Day in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Senior wide receiver Javeon Lara was named to the first-team offense while junior quarterback Reece Udinski was named to the second-team offense. On the defensive side, junior AJ Smith was named to the first-team defense and on special teams, senior Rohan Martin was named a second-team return specialist. The Kevdets were picked to finish 9th by both the coaches and Media in the SoCon polls. While the Keydets were shut out in conference play last season, they lost 4 conference games by a total of 14 points, losing by 2 points to both Western Carolina & the Citadel, by 3 to ETSU, and by 7 to Chattanooga. All four could have gone in the other direction. While the Keydets were young last season, they will return 19 starters, 8 each on offense and defense and 3 on special teams. This team could make some noise in the conference this season. Reece Udinski returns as the Keydet quarterback, but his number one receiver, Kris Thornton will not be in a Keydet uniform in 2019, but senior wide receiver Javeon Lara can feel the shoes of Thornton, the question will be, can one or two other receives step up to pull down the needed yardage to make this offense effective. Again the year, the Keydets will be unbalanced with their "Air Raid", but should be able to run just enough to keep most defensive units somewhat off guard. In 2018, the Keydets finished second in the SoCon in passing yards, with 310.1 ypg (just ahead of the Cats), while Western finished dead last in pass defense, giving up an average of 261.5 yards per game. Without improvement in the pass coverage for the Cat defense, this is an area of great concern against the Keydets. 2018 VMI StatisticsRushing Offense: 687 yards Yards per game: 62.5 Yards per rush: 2.2 yards Rushing 1st downs: 61 TDs rushing: 11 Passing Offense: 3427 yards or 311.5 yards per game Avg. per pass: 5.9 yards Passing 1st downs: 151 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 333-585-19 TDs Passing: 23 Total Offense: 4113 yards or 374 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 15-7 3d Down Conversions: 63 of 181 (35%) 4th Down Conversions: 21of 45 (47%) Field goal attempts: 4 - 7 PAT-Attempts: 23 of 29 (79%) On-side kicks: 1-2 Red Zone Scores: 28 of 39 (72%) Red Zone Touchdowns: 24 of 39 (62%) Punts - Yards: 62- 2307 - Avg per punt: 37.2 Game predictions: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 57% probability of winning (41-38) over the Keydets. I'll agrre with the victory. According to Massey, the Cats should be 3-6 after this game, however, my prediction is the Cats will depart Lexington with a 7-2 overall record after this game./div]
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 9, 2019 15:07:27 GMT -5
Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. For the tenth game of the season, the Cats host the Bucs of East Tennessee State University in the 2019 edition of The Blue Ridge Border Battle. Three seasons ago, Western and the Bucs revived the series that started back in 1932, but abruptly ended in 2003 when the Bucs eliminated football.Game #10 - ETSU Bucs When: Saturday, November 9 at 3:30 pmWhere: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NCRadio: Catamount Sports NetworkTV / video: Nexstar / ESPN+/3 The Series: This series stretches back to 1932, with the Cats holding a slim 24-23-1 lead. Since the return of football at ETSU, the Bucs hold a 2-1 lead going into the 2019 contest. Adding to the newfound rivalry between the two mountain teams, the Bucs pulled off a 2 point, 3 overtime win, 43-45 in the initial Blue Ridge Border Battle trophy contest held in Johnson City in 2018.Games that will be played by the Bucs this season before the WCU contest: (8 games) ETSU kicks off their season at home against DII, Mars Hill, then travel to Knoxville to play the Volunteers a week later. In week three of the season, the Bucs remain on the road as they travel to Lexington, VA to meet the Keydets, then return home to host the Paladins. The Mocs then visit Johnson City for the second of three straight home games, as Big South foe Gardner-Webb visits the Bucs for game six. After 3 home games, ETSU goes on the road for two games before Western's visit, as the Bulldogs of the Citadel host the Bucs followed by Wofford the next week in games 7 & 8.The last game played vs. ETSU: October 27, 2018 - Johnson City, Tenn. – Catamounts Drop Heartbreaker at ETSU, 43-45 in 3 OT. Redshirt junior QB Tyrie Adams became Western Carolina’s all-time touchdown pass leader on Saturday, tossing four TD passes in accounting for five total scores as the Catamounts’ upset bid against No. 25 ETSU came up two-points short, falling 45-43 in triple overtime on a rainy afternoon at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. Needing a two-point conversion following Owen Cosenke’s second receiving score of the game, Adams was pressured off the right side on the ensuing required two-point attempt. ETSU’s Austin Gatewood chased Adams out of the pocket to the right where his contested pass attempt to Daquan Patten short-hopped at the goal line, setting off a wild celebration for the Bucs who took possession of the trophy in the inaugural “Blue Ridge Border Battle.” Adams accounted for 397 yards of total offense including a game-high 168 yards rushing and 229 yards on 20-of-29 passing on Saturday in the loss. He currently has 53 career touchdown passes, by-passing former mentor Troy Mitchell (2012-15) who held the previous school benchmark with 50. Cosenke caught six passes for 66 yards and matched a career-high with two touchdown receptions while Donnavan Spencer rushed a touchdown and 76 yards in the loss. All told, WCU’s offense rattled off 502 total yards, its fourth, 500+ yard output of the season, despite only having one first quarter possession as ETSU consumed 13 minutes of the 15-minute frame. ETSU (7-2, 5-1 SoCon) overcame a 15-point fourth quarter deficit as the Catamounts pulled ahead, 30-15, on a highlight reel, one-handed 29-yard catch by Daquan Patten from Adams with the extra point making it 30-15 with 14:20 remaining in the game. However, the Buccaneers scored 15 points over the final five minutes, forcing overtime inside the game’s final 10 seconds by scoring at the end of a 15-play drive. Herink plunged in from five-yards out to make it a one-score game at the five-minute mark before connecting with Nate Adkins from a yard out on the final play of the 15-play march before again using his legs to tack on the game-tying two-point conversion.Head Coach: Randy Sanders - Sanders was named ETSU football head coach on Dec. 17, 2017, becoming the 18th head coach in program history. Sanders, a Morristown, Tenn. native, has spent the last 29 years coaching on the Football Bowl Subdivision level, which includes stints as offensive coordinator at Tennessee, Kentucky and most recently Florida State. Sanders was the offensive coordinator when Tennessee won the 1998 BCS National Title and the quarterbacks coach at Florida State when the Seminoles claimed the 2013 National Championship. Sanders played a part in either coaching or recruiting a pair of No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft – Peyton Manning (1998) and Jameis Winston (2015). In his 29 years of coaching, Sanders has coached in 26 bowl games and his teams hold a combined record of 258-105-2.Last Season's Record (ETSU): 201 record - 8-4 overall, 5-1 home, 3-3 away, 6-2 SoCon. The Bucs has conference wins over VMI, Furman, Chattanooga, the Citadel, Western Carolina, and Mercer.Offensive Formation: Spread Option-2018 Offense: 26.0 ppg. (75th in FCS)Defensive Formation: 3-4-2018 Defense: 26.4 ppg. (49th in FCS)The 2018 defending co-champion Bucs were selected to finish third in both the SoCon coaches and media polls for the first time since rejoining the conference in 2016. ETSU placed seven players on the preseason All-SoCon teams, led by Nasir Player (Columbia, S.C.) who was tabbed as the SoCon Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named to the first team. Joining Player on the first team is redshirt-sophomore running back Quay Holmes, redshirt-senior defensive lineman Jason Maduafokwa and junior defensive back Tyree Robinson. Tre’mond Shorts, Ben Blackmon, and Jeremy Lewis were each named to the second team.The big question mark for the Bucs is who's going to play quarterback? With the loss of QB Austin Herink who had started for ETSU since 2015, the job is wide open, but two transfers are in the mix to fill that position. Former Miami Hurricanes Cade Weldon, & former Coastal Carolina QB Chance Thrasher will be on ETSU's roster this fall, but both transferred after spring practice, so it's difficult to tell who the top candidate is at this time.Most of the line and key playmakers are back, n defense, this secondary is clearly one of the best in in the SoCon. All four starters from last year's playoff game with Jacksonville State were underclassmen and there is depth beyond even that with players like rising senior Artevius Smith.2018 ETSU StatisticsRushing Offense: 1846 yardsYards per game: 153.8Yards per rush: 4.5 yardsRushing 1st downs: 87TDs rushing: 23Passing Offense: 2482 yards or 206.8 yards per gameAvg. per pass: 6.5 yardsPassing 1st downs: 117Passing Comp-Att-Int: 211-379-14TDs Passing: 9Total Offense: 4328 yards or 260.7 yards per gameFumbles-Lost: 13-83d Down Conversions: 11 of 166 (32%)4th Down Conversions: 10 of 16 (36%)Field goal attempts: 19 - 23PAT-Attempts: 33 of 33On-side kicks: 1-1Red Zone Scores: 44 of 49 (90%)Red Zone Touchdowns: 29 of 49 (59%)Punts - Yards: 61 - 2377 - Avg per punt: 39Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 41% probability of winning (31-34) over the Bucs. I'll disagree with that prediction and the Cats pick up a win at home. According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 3-7 after this game. I'm going to disagree, and project the Cats will be at 8-2 after this game.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 16, 2019 16:31:22 GMT -5
Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2019 football opponents. For the eleventh game of the season, the Cats wrap up conference play with back-to-back home games, as the Bulldogs travel up the mountain to Cullowhee. Since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Western is 3-13 against the Bulldogs after last season's beat-down of the Cats by the Dogs in Birmingham, 28-66. Revenge is in order.
Game #11 - SamfordWhen: Saturday, November 16 - Time 2:00 pm Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: ESPN+ The Series: The Cats are 3-13 overall against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owned an eleven game winning streak against Western until 2015 when the Cats broke that streak in Cullowhee with a 56-36 win over the Dogs. The Cats are 2-5 against the Dogs in Cullowhee, and 1-8 in games played in Birmingham. Games that will be played by the Bulldogs this season before the WCU contest: The Bulldogs will have played 10 games before their visit to Cullowhee The Bulldogs open against Youngtown State on Aug. 24 in Montgomery, AL. The dogs then travel to Tenn. Tech and remain on the road the following week at Wofford to open their conference schedule. Samford then returns home to face Alabama A&M for the first of three home games. The Citadel visits the dogs, before the arrival of Furman in the 6th game of the season. Samford then plays at VMI before returning home for one game, as ETSU visits Homewood, then the Dogs play at Mercer before returning home for a visit by the Mocs of Chattanooga. Last game played vs. Samford: Oct. 6, 2018 - EARLY TURNOVERS PROVE COSTLY IN ROAD LOSS AT SAMFORD, 66-28 - Birmingham, Ala. – Three lost fumbles in the first quarter by Western Carolina aided a strong offensive output by Samford on Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs claimed a 66-28 victory over the Catamounts at Seibert Stadium. Samford cashed in the early takeaways that came on three of WCU’s first four possessions for a decisive 35-0 first-quarter lead in halting a four-game slide with the victory. Samford’s Devlin Hodges – the SoCon preseason Offensive Player of the Year – set or tied six school records and a pair of SoCon benchmarks in the win. Hodges set or tied school records for passing yards (562), total yards (586), touchdown passes (6), touchdowns responsible for (7), completions (44) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass. He set SoCon records for passing yards (562) and total yards in a single-game (586). Head Coach: Chris Hatcher. Chris Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. Now entering his fourth season at Samford, Hatcher boasts a career record of 140-72 in 18 years as a college head coach, having previously coached at Murray State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. Hatcher's 2018 team posted the program's eighth-straight winning season, the longest streak in program history. Also during the season, quarterback Devlin Hodges became the FCS' all-time leader in career passing yards. Hodges also earned the highest individual honor at the FCS level, winning the Walter Payton Award. In 2017, Hatcher led the team to a 7-5 record and a spot in the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs. The 7-5 record marked the program’s sixth-straight winning season, the longest streak in program history. Under Hatcher’s tutelage, Hodges set school records for single-season completions (375), attempts (530), passing yards (4,088) and touchdown passes (36). Hodges was named the SoCon’s Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American after the season. Last Season's Record - 2018 (Samford): 6-5 overall, 4-1 home, 2-4 away, 5-3 SoCon - The Bulldogs has wins over, Shorter, WCU, VMI, Furman, Wofford, & ETSU. Samford beat all three teams that tied for first place. Offensive Formation: Multiple -2018 Offense: 38.5 ppg. (9th in FCS) Defensive Formation: 4-3 -2018 Defense: 26.4 ppg. (48th in FCS) Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 / 5 Samford was picked to finish sixth in the league by both the coaches and media for the 2019 season and had four players named to the preseason All-SoCon teams. Offensive lineman Nick Nixon and place-kicker Mitchell Fineran were named to the first team, while defensive linemen Justin Foster and Nelson Jordan earned second-team honors. Gone is Devlin Hodges, the 2018 Walter Payton Award winner, gone is his #1 pass target, Kelvin McKnight, and gone is last year's defensive All-American, Ahmad Gooden....... and that probably changes everything. The Bulldogs play Youngstown State in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama on Aug. 24 and this game should tell us plenty about the 2019 Bulldogs, have they reloaded or are they seriously rebuilding?. While both teams are in what is normally considered a rebuilding cycle, the Penguins are a tough opponent for Samford to play kicking off the season. 2018 Samford Statistics
Rushing Offense: 1355 yards Yards per game: 123.2 Yards per rush: 4.2 yards Rushing 1st downs: 79 TDs rushing: 20 Passing Offense: 4320 yards or 392.7 yards per game Passing 1st downs: 200 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 394-561-16 TDs Passing: 34 Total Offense: 5675 yards or 515.9 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 12 - 7 3d Down Conversions: 70 of 150 4th Down Conversions: 14 of 25 Field goal attempts: 13 - 17 PAT-Attempts: 54 of 54 Red Zone Scores: 52 of 58 - 90% Red Zone Touchdowns: 42 of 58 - 72% On-Side Kicks: 0 - 0 Penalties-Yards: 67 - 638 - Avg. per gm 56 Punts-Yards:35 - 1279 - Avg. punt: 36.5 Sacks: 18 Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 25% probability of winning (31-41) against the Bulldogs. According to Massey, Cats should be 3-8 after this game. I'm going to disagree, the Cats win this home game and finish conference play with a 9-2 record.
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 20, 2019 14:05:34 GMT -5
Here's the final team preseason preview of the 2019 season. Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold has now previewed all of Western's 2019 football opponents. For the twelfth game of the season, the Cats end the regular season with an out-of-conference FBS opponent, and it just happens to be the #2 nationally ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The Cats will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to meet the Crimson Tide for the 5th time overall. The Cats last played in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 23, 2014, in front of 101,325 fans against the then nationally ranked #1 team, Alabama. Game #12 - Alabama Crimson Tide When: Saturday, November 23 - Time: TBA Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821), Tuscaloosa, Alabama Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: TBA Conference: Southeastern Conference (SEC) Students: 38,563 National Ranking: Ranked #2, behind Clemson The Series: The Cats first played at Alabama in 2004 and hold a 0-4 overall record against the Crimson Tide. Last game played vs. Alabama: Nov. 21, 2014 - Last game played vs. Alabama: Nov. 21, 2014 - Troy Mitchell Sets Total Yards Record in 48-14 Loss at No. 1 Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Junior quarterback Troy Mitchell set a Western Carolina school record for total yards in a single season, finishing with 204 combined yards on Saturday afternoon to eclipse the 3,000-yard plateau as the Catamounts closed the regular season with a 48-14 road loss at No. 1 Alabama. Mitchell, who finished the year with 3,096 total yards, delivered two first-half touchdown passes to redshirt sophomore Spearman Robinson as the Catamounts from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) played the top-ranked Crimson Tide close midway through the second quarter. Robinson's second TD reception pulled WCU to within three points at 17-14, but the Crimson Tide scored 31-unanswered points to pull away for a Homecoming victory in front of 101,325 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama running back Derrick Henry rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while adding a third score on a nine-yard, second-quarter reception for Alabama. Quarterback Blake Sims tossed a pair of scoring strikes among his 17 completions for 222 yards to pace the Crimson Tide (10-1). Receiver Chris Black led 11 different Alabama receivers with six catches for 101 yards. Games that will be played by the Crimson Tide this season before the WCU contest: Alabama kicks off the 2019 season in Atlanta against the Duke Blue Devils, then return home to host New Mexico State. The Tide then hits the road to Columbus, SC to play South Carolina before returning home for a two-game stretch. Southern MIss is the first to visit Tuscaloosa, followed by Ole Miss on Sep. 28 for game #5. Alabama then travels to Texas A&M, then returns home for three additional games. Tennessee first, followed by Arkansas, then LSU visits Bryant-Denny Stadium. Next Alabama travels to Mississippi State, before hosting Western. Head Coach: Nick Saban - A man of vision who has a proven record of championship success, head coach Nick Saban has returned the University of Alabama to the top of the college football landscape with his commitment to building the total program. After the victory over Georgia in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Saban joined Paul "Bear" Bryant as the only two coaches to win six national titles in the poll era of college football. Entering his 13th season in Tuscaloosa, Saban's uncompromising dedication to excellence in every phase of the program has resulted in five national championships since 2009. An eight-time National Coach of the Year, Saban has achieved resounding success as a head coach and has earned a reputation as an outstanding tactician, leader, organizer, and motivator. Those qualities have sparked impressive turnarounds at every stop of his career. Saban's consistent approach and disciplined leadership are the reasons his teams are known for exhibiting grit, determination, and resilience, often overcoming adversity to achieve victory. Last Season's Record - 2018 (Alabama): 14-1 overall, 7-0 home, 4-0 away, 3-1 neutral, 8-0 SEC - In 2018, Alabama won the SEC Championship beating Georgia, then won then beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, before losing to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Offensive Formation: Pro Style/Multiple -2018 Offense: 45.6 ppg. (3rd in FBS) Defensive Formation: 3-4 -2018 Defense: 18.1 ppg. (12th in FBS) Returning Lettermen/Lost: 43 / 13 Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 Special Teams - Returning/Lost: 3 / 0 The Crimson Tide returns 17 starters and 43 lettermen for the 2019 season. The AP, STATS, and Coaches polls have all ranked Alabama at #2 in their top 25 preseason polls, right behind the defending 2018 National Champs, Clemson. Alabama was selected as the favorite to win the 2019 SEC Championship, and the Crimson Tide landed a league-high 19 players on the All-SEC Teams. The 12 first-teamers include six players on offense, four on defense and one specialist. The Crimson Tide's 12 first-team selections include six on offense in juniors Tua Tagovailoa (quarterback), Najee Harris (running back), Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III (wide receiver), and Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills Jr. (offensive line). The four on defense are made up of seniors Raekwon Davis (defensive line) and Trevon Diggs (defensive back) along with redshirt senior Anfernee Jennings and junior Dylan Moses (linebacker). Sophomore Jaylen Waddle rounds out the first-team selections, landing two spots on the specialist list as an all-purpose player and as a return specialist. Waddle makes another appearance on the second team (wide receiver), in addition to sophomore Patrick Surtain II and junior Xavier McKinney (defensive back). Spotting the third team for the Crimson Tide is junior LaBryan Ray (defensive line), senior Shyheim Carter (defensive back), redshirt senior Matt Womack (offensive line), and redshirt juniors Terrell Lewis (linebacker), Miller Forristall (tight end) and Deonte Brown (offensive line). Alabama finished the year with the nation’s most efficient passing game and averaged 522 total yards and 46 points per outing. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has to stay healthy. Banged up last season with knee and ankle issues, he was knocked out of the SEC Championship against Georgia last season. 2018 Alabama StatisticsRushing Offense: 2976 yards Yards per game: 198,4 Yards per rush: 5.2 yards Rushing 1st downs: 155 TDs rushing: 33 Passing Offense: 4854 yards or 392.7 yards per game Passing 1st downs: 195 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 301-438-8 TDs Passing: 52 Total Offense: 7830 yards or 515.9 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 16 - 7 3d Down Conversions: 70 of 150 4th Down Conversions: 14 of 25 Field goal attempts: 15 - 20 PAT-Attempts: 83 of 92 Red Zone Scores: 65 of 79 - 90% Red Zone Touchdowns: 54 of 79 - 68% On-Side Kicks: 0 - 0 Penalties-Yards : 87 - 796 - Avg. per gm 53.1 Punts-Yards: 42 - 1502 - Avg. punt: 35.8 Sacks: 45 Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 0% probability of winning (3-59) against the Crimson Tide. According to Massey, the Cats should be 3-9 after this game. While this will be a difficult game for Western to win, with a loss in Tuscaloosa, the Cats will end the regular season with a 9-3 overall record, and head to the playoff for the first time since 1983.
|
|
|
Post by freecat525 on Aug 29, 2019 10:11:44 GMT -5
Looking forward to something other than "1st down-RB straight up the middle" calls.
|
|