Eagles Travel to Wofford for Key SoCon Football Game
10/31/2007 4:14:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern Football faces another key Southern Conference game this Saturday afternoon (Nov. 3), traveling to league-leading Wofford. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Every Eagle Football game can also be heard on the Georgia Southern Radio Network (flagship station 102.9 FM in Statesboro). Chris Blair, Terry Harvin and Ryan Chambers will call the action as the pregame broadcast begins at 11:30 a.m. Fans in attendance at Gibbs Stadium can tune into 91.9 FM and listen to the Georgia Southern Radio Network broadcast.
For the third straight week Georgia Southern will battle a nationally-ranked opponent, having defeated fifth-ranked Appalachian State and 25th-ranked The Citadel in consecutive games.
The 17th-ranked Eagles (6-2 overall, 3-2 SoCon) stand one game back of the league lead, and Saturday will face one of the co-leaders, the 10th-ranked Terriers. Georgia Southern holds a 7-5 edge in the overall series but has lost four of the last five meetings. The last time GS won in Spartanburg was a 48-10 decision in 2001. The game also features the top two rushing teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Georgia Southern continues to lead the nation averaging 330.8 rushing yards per game. The Eagles also rank sixth in total offense (458.6), ninth in scoring (38.5 points), and 20th in turnover margin (1.00).
Walter Payton Award candidate Jayson Foster (Canton/Cherokee County) continues to rank among the nation's best in several offensive categories. The senior quarterback enters the game: third in rushing (161 ypg), 16th in total offense (267.1 ypg), third in scoring (13.8 ppg), 12th in all-purpose yards (178.6) and 65th in punt returns (6.6 yards). His two fourth-quarter touchdown runs (15 and 80 yards) keyed the Eagles' 21-17 come-from-behind win last week against The Citadel.
Senior running back Lamar Lewis (Jacksonville, FL/First Coast) is tied for second in the SoCon and 39th nationally compiling 94 rushing yards per game.
Junior Jesse Hartley (Tallahassee, FL/Lincoln) leads the league converting 1.8 field goals per game (14-of-18) and is tied for fourth nationally in that category. Hartley, who has hit 36-of-36 extra points, averages 9.8 points per game, third in the league and 12th nationally.
Junior defensive end Larry Beard (Fairburn/Sandy Creek) leads the SoCon with three fumble recoveries and is tied for sixth registering 3.5 sacks. Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) is tied for second in the league and 38th nationally recording three interceptions. The junior safety also leads the team averaging six tackles per game. Fellow junior defensive back Brandon Jackson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Plantation) leads the team with nine pass break-ups, good for the third-highest per game average in the Southern Conference.
The Terriers (7-2, 4-1) enter the game second in the nation averaging 312 rushing yards per game. Wofford also holds a ?Top 20' national ranking in: total offense (12th, 435.8 ypg), scoring offense (11th, 37.1 ppg) and rushing defense (17th, 117.3). Kevious Johnson leads the option rushing attack with 92 yards per game. Chris Tommie ranks 47th nationally averaging just under 40 yards per punt. Kicker Patrick Mugan is 62nd in the nation accounting for 7.1 points per game and Johnson is tied for 83rd at 6.7 ppg. Seth Goldwire leads the defense averaging nearly eight tackles per game.
