Game #5: Samford

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Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 9:18:13 GMT -5 WesternFan, CharlotteCat, and 1 more like this

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Post by The Cats on Oct 1, 2018 9:18:13 GMT -5

Almost half way through the season, and for the fifth game, we'll look at the preseason #1 ranked Samford Bulldogs. The Cats travel to Homewood, AL for the second straight road game.

Since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Western is 3-12 against the Bulldogs after last season's four-point upset win over the #17 nationally ranked Dogs in Cullowhee.

Samford

When: Saturday, October 6 - Time 1:30 pm ET
Where: Seibert Stadium, Homewood, AL
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
- Talent: Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers; Color Analyst: Daniel Hooker; Host / Producer: Jeff Bryson
TV/video: ESPN3
Game Notes: WCU - Samford (when they become available)
Message Board: Bulldogs Unleashed

The Series: The Cats are 3-12 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 1-7 in games played in Birmingham.

Games played by the Dogs this season prior to the WCU contest: 5 games - At 1-4 so far, the Bulldogs do not have a DI win. The Bulldogs opened against Shorter College (home) for their only win, losses to Florida State, Mercer, Chattanooga and Kennesaw State followed.

Last game played vs. Samford: (Sept. 24th, 2017) - Catamount Score Thrilling Upset Win Over #17 Samford - Western Carolina tailback Detrez Newsome rumbled for a go-ahead touchdown, hitting the right pylon to put the Catamounts ahead with 93 seconds remaining in regulation on Saturday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. But it wasn't until a last-second pass deflection would allow what remained of 12,018 fans to unleash a post-game celebration that was over a decade in the making. Senior defensive back Keion Crossen batted away a pass attempt in the back of the end zone as time expired on the final play of the game as Western Carolina upset the 17th-ranked Samford Bulldogs, 38-34, in the Southern Conference opener for both squads. The victory was WCU's first over a nationally-ranked NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team since 2006, halting a 27-game slide.

Last Season's Record (Samford): 8-4 overall, 5-1 home, 3-3 away, 6-2 SoCon - conference losses to Western Carolina & Chattanooga - First round loss in NCAA FCS playoffs to #16 Kennesaw State

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 10 / 1
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 / 5
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 4 / 2
Lost from 2-Deep Roster - 13
Offensive Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: 4-3

Key losses: DT - Ke’Tyrus Marks, MLB - Deion Pierre, WLB - Shaheed Salmon, CB - Omari Williams, FS - Carter McManes, SS - Sam Pettway, WR - TD Marshall, P/KO - Austin Barnard

Top returnees: Preseason All-American and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year, Devlin Hodges; Preseason All-American and SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, Ahmad Gooden

Three national publications had the Bulldogs ranked in the top 15 nationally preseason, and had Samford as the favorite to win the Southern Conference title. Senior defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden was named to the preseason All-America team by Street & Smith's, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports. Senior quarterback Devlin Hodges earned preseason All-America honors from Street & Smith's and Lindy's Sports.

The Bulldogs lost two assistant coaches in the offseason, DL coach, Victor Cabral and running backs coach, Derrick Foster

2018 Samford Statistics (5 games):
Rushing Offense: 567 yards
Yards per game: 113,4
Yards per rush: 3,9 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 33
TDs rushing: 5
Passing Offense: 1647 yards or 329.4 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 83
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 165-242-8
TDs Passing: 13
Total Offense: 2214 yards or 442.8 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 7 - 4
3d Down Conversions: 28 of 68
4th Down Conversions: 10 of 15
Field goal attempts: 7 - 9
PAT-Attempts: 17 of 17 - 100%
Red Zone Scores: 21 of 24 - 88%
Red Zone Touchdowns: 15 of 24 - 63%
On-Side Kicks: 0 - 0
Penalties-Yards: 37 - 322 Avg. per gm 64,4
Punts-Yards: 37 - 322 Avg. per gm 64.4
Sacks: 2

Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 31% probability of winning (28-35) over the Bulldogs.

My prediction: According to Massey, Cats should be 3-2 after this game. I'm going to disagree, the Cats are 4-1 after this game.

Last Edit: Oct 4, 2018 18:33:16 GMT -5 by The Cats

"Go Cats"
- in honor of Catamount man / Pickens

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” —Thomas Jefferson

gocats18 Boomer Posts: 74	Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 9:24:44 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by gocats18 on Oct 1, 2018 9:24:44 GMT -5 If we play to our potential, we win the game. It's that simple. Go Cats!

tenNesseeCat
Freshman

Posts: 186

Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 9:27:12 GMT -5 gocats18 likes this

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Post by tenNesseeCat on Oct 1, 2018 9:27:12 GMT -5

We have to get pressure on Hodges. Sacks are great, but we at least need pressure him. I don't think their D is very good. It could be another shoot out like last year. Lets just hope it turns out the same way. Limit the bad mistakes, and we should be fine.

wcugrad95
Junior

Posts: 2,266

Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 9:54:25 GMT -5

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Post by wcugrad95 on Oct 1, 2018 9:54:25 GMT -5

Correction - their D is actually pretty good (they have the Pre-season Defensive Player of the Year in Ahmad Gooden). They gave up 24 to a top-10 team in KSU this past weekend, but they held them to 286 total yards. The only head-scratcher they have had was giving up 27 to Chattanooga, who I don't think are great on offense (the Mocs had 364 total yards but only 86 rushing against Samford).

Teams have been dropping 8 into coverage against them, trying to keep McKnight getting behind the coverage and keeping everything else well in front. That has limited the Bulldogs on offense, and actually led to them having more rushing attempts (36) than passing attempts (34) last week. I expect them to return to what they were doing earlier, and to put the ball in the hands of their best player (Hodges) - so 50 or 60 (or more) passes are probably on tap for Saturday against the Cats. They will take the VMI route to see how many points they can score, and we very well may have to do the same against a D much better than VMI's or Furman's.

tenNesseeCat
Freshman

Posts: 186

Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5

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Post by tenNesseeCat on Oct 1, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5

Yes, they are decent, but haven't shown me they are better than middle of the SoCon. Gooden has been limited from double teams. They also haven't faced Elon and Clemson. They did decent against KSU, except for the score. I have a feeling KSU was trying to keep the ball away from the samford offense. UTC is a solid team, but I don't think they are an offensive juggernaut. Mercer burned them for 470. I think the WCU offense is considerably better than UTC, and fairly better than Mercer. Even when they still had that really good FR QB.

Last Edit: Oct 1, 2018 10:50:06 GMT -5 by tenNesseeCat

Lenoir Cat Guest	Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 12:26:12 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lenoir Cat on Oct 1, 2018 12:26:12 GMT -5 That was our problem last year - we could not get to him... we somehow have to dial up some pressure from the LBs

mtncat1 Redshirt Freshman Posts: 321	Game #5: Samford Oct 1, 2018 18:55:23 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mtncat1 on Oct 1, 2018 18:55:23 GMT -5 ...and let's not forget how they nearly beat FSU. But all that is history, WCU needs to focus on WCU and beating ourselves and we will be fine.

wcugrad95
Junior

Posts: 2,266

Game #5: Samford Oct 2, 2018 13:43:30 GMT -5 via mobile catamountalum04, wcugamer2, and 1 more like this

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Post by wcugrad95 on Oct 2, 2018 13:43:30 GMT -5

Since the FSU game, they have had challenges against teams staying back in coverage. If we send LBs and leave the middle of the field open, in my opinion Hodges will pick us apart and easily move the ball up and down the field. I think we keep LBs 5 yards downfield, keep contain with an outside rush, and force pass plays to be short or see them do like last week and try to run the ball.

Regardless - we HAVE to tackle. It does no good to give up a 4 yard pass, miss the tackle, and still have it be a 15+ yard gain.

The Cats Legacy Posts: 24,905 Member is Online	Game #5: Samford Oct 2, 2018 19:33:01 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by The Cats on Oct 2, 2018 19:33:01 GMT -5 I don't know how good a 2 deep roster that was created the day after the last game is of any value..... but here it is......
	"Go Cats" - in honor of Catamount man / Pickens “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” —Thomas Jefferson

WesternFan Junior Western Fan Posts: 1,760	Game #5: Samford Oct 3, 2018 21:44:47 GMT -5 catamountalum04 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by WesternFan on Oct 3, 2018 21:44:47 GMT -5 To the Western Carolina football coaching staff: "How do you play well? You practice well. You prepare well." -Kirby Smart
	Life is Purple and Gold

Post by The Cats on Oct 1, 2018 9:18:13 GMT -5

Post by gocats18 on Oct 1, 2018 9:24:44 GMT -5

Post by tenNesseeCat on Oct 1, 2018 9:27:12 GMT -5

Post by wcugrad95 on Oct 1, 2018 9:54:25 GMT -5

Post by tenNesseeCat on Oct 1, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5

Post by Lenoir Cat on Oct 1, 2018 12:26:12 GMT -5

Post by mtncat1 on Oct 1, 2018 18:55:23 GMT -5

Post by wcugrad95 on Oct 2, 2018 13:43:30 GMT -5

Post by The Cats on Oct 2, 2018 19:33:01 GMT -5

Post by WesternFan on Oct 3, 2018 21:44:47 GMT -5