Football Travels to Western Carolina Saturday

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Football continues Southern Conference play this Saturday (Oct. 25), traveling to Western Carolina. Kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

This marks only the third road game for the Eagles this season (lost 45-21 at then No. 1 Georgia, defeated Chattanooga 52-28). Georgia Southern (3-4 overall, 1-3 SoCon) owns a 16-2 edge in the all-time series, including 13 straight wins. Western’s last win in the series was October 1994, a 35-31 decision at Whitmire Stadium.

Every Georgia Southern Football game can be heard on the 19 station Georgia Southern Radio Network (Eagle 102.9 FM the flagship station) and on the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. Chris Blair (play-by-play), Terry Harvin (color analyst) and Ryan Chambers (sidelines) will call the action. Fans at Whitmire Stadium can listen to the Georgia Southern radio broadcast by tuning into 88.3 FM.

The Eagles’ offense currently ranks 20th in the nation averaging 33.4 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Antonio Henton (Fort Valley/Peach County) stands third in the SoCon and 32nd nationally averaging 238.9 yards of total offense per game. He is coming off a 391-yard performance against Appalachian State, including 292 passing yards which ranks as the sixth-highest total in program history.

Henton also ranks in a tie for 27th nationally, responsible for 13.7 points per game. He continues to close in on season passing records, actually ranked in four different categories. On the ground, Henton leads the Eagles averaging 64 yards per game (70th nationally).

Senior Raja Andrews (Swainsboro/Swainsboro), the reigning SoCon ‘Special Teams Player of the Week’, needs two more receptions to match the program’s all-time record of 93. Thanks to his career-high 103 punt returns yards last week against App State (including an 84-yard return for a touchdown) Andrews leads the SoCon and ranks second nationally averaging 21.8 yards per return. His touchdown punt return versus ASU was the second of his career, tying him for the program’s all-time record. The other return for a TD in his career came last year at home versus Western.

Senior Quentin Taylor (Apopka, FL/Apopka) continues to lead the Southern Conference and moved into ninth place nationally averaging 11.1 tackles per game. Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) is right behind Taylor in second place with 9.6 tackles per game. He leads the defense with five sacks – three coming against App State – and the conference with 9.0 tackles for a loss. Carson Hill (Milledgeville/Baldwin County) is tied for 12th nationally averaging 1.4 pass break-ups per game to go with his 34 tackles.

Redshirt-freshman punter Charlie Edwards (Tifton/Tift County) continues to lead the SoCon averaging 41.7 yards per punt, which also puts him 24th nationally.

Under first-year head coach Dennis Wagner, Western Carolina (2-6, 0-4) is looking to snap its current four-game losing streak, all to conference teams. The Catamounts are coming off a 42-14 loss at Wofford last Saturday.

Western ranks 43rd in the nation averaging 224.5 passing yards per game, while only allowing a SoCon-best 166.5 passing yards.

Marquel Pittman leads the team with 39 receptions totaling 573 yards and four TDs. He ranks 57th nationally in receptions per game and 46th in receiving yards.

Andy Horn has completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,066 yards and seven TDs while Zack Jaynes has thrown for 628 yards and four touchdowns. Quan Warley leads the rushing attack rolling up 558 yards. Blake Bostic has converted 6-of-10 field goals and 12-of-14 extra points for a team-leading 30 points.

Defensively, Chris Collins has made a team-leading 58 tackles and forced three fumbles. Adrian McLeod is close behind with 51 stops and shares the team lead with five tackles for a loss.

Category: Football

Published on Wednesday, 22 October 2008 00:12