Football Southern Conference

Wofford Downs Western Kentucky, Advances To Semifinals

SPARTANBURG -- Wofford quarterback Jeff Zolman rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns as the Terriers defeated defending national champion Western Kentucky, 34-17, at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C., to advance to the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs.

Wofford will travel to Delaware next Saturday in a 1 p.m. game to be televised on ESPN2, which will regionalize and broadcast both semifinal games at the same time. All of South Carolina, however, will see the game uninterrupted on ESPN2.

In winning their 12th straight game, the Terriers (12-1) have set a single-season school record for victories.

Western Kentucky (9-4) took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening play as quarterback Justin Haddix hit Shannon Hayes on an 82-yard touchdown pass.

The Terriers answered with touchdown drives on their next three series to take a 21-7 lead with 2:58 remaining in the first quarter.

"We played a great team in Western Kentucky," Wofford coach Mike Ayers said. "The kids didn't get down after the first touchdown.

"We've been a Cinderella all year. The Cinderella story lives. I believe in our kids and I believe in our coaches. (Offensive Coordinator) coach
(Wade) Lang and (Defensive Coordinator) coach (Nate) Woody did a great job with the game plan.

"We knew it was going to be a physical game. Our kids never blinked. They played hard and they played extremely smart football. We stayed consistent, we implemented the game plan, everybody played hard, and it worked."

A Zolman 5-yard scoring run capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive that pulled Wofford within 7-6. Freshman Nick Robinson, who had been 46-of-46 on PATs, missed his first extra-point attempt of the year as his kick hit the right upright.

On the third play of the Hilltoppers' ensuing series, Jimmy Freland forced a fumble by Haddix that was recovered by Josh Smith at the Western Kentucky 32. Smith was starting in place of Timmy Thrift, Wofford's second-leading tackler with 117 stops, who missed the game due to injury. He is listed as probable for the Delaware contest.

Following Smith's recovery, the Terriers drove seven plays in 32 yards to take a 12-7 lead. A 2-point rush by Kevious Johnson increased Wofford's lead to 14-7 with 6:57 left in the first quarter.

Zolman's second touchdown of the day on a 1-yard sneak capped a 48-yard scoring drive that put the Terriers on top 21-7. Zolman had a 28-yard run to key the drive.

The Hilltoppers had a 4th-and-goal at the Wofford 1-yard line in the second quarter. With Western Kentucky set to go for the touchdown, a false start pushed the ball back to the 6-yard line. Matt Lange then kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:58 left in the first half to cut the Wofford lead to 21-10 at the intermission. The Terriers have now won 45 consecutive games when holding a halftime lead.

Wofford extended its lead to 27-10 with a season-best 8:05 scoring drive that was capped by a 1-yard Zolman run with 13:32 remaining. It capped a 16-play, 72-yard possession.

Western Kentucky answered with a 79-yard drive with Lerron Moore scoring from a yard out to cut the Terrier lead to 27-17 with 7:30 remaining.

Following a failed onside kick, the Terriers took possession at the Hilltopper 43. With Wofford facing a 4th-and-1 at the Western Kentucky 26, wide receiver Curtis Nash took a pitch on a reverse and raced into the end zone untouched. Wofford was 3-of-4 on fourth-down conversions in the game. Its only failed attempt came late in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.

McNair had 88 yards rushing while SoCon Freshman of the Year Kevious Johnson added 86 yards as the Terriers ran for 311 yards. Wofford added 20 yards passing on 2-of-4 attempts for 331 in total offense. The Terriers defeated North Carolina A&T, 31-10, last week without completing a pass on just two attempts.

Western Kentucky had 345 yards total with 125 on the ground and 145 in the air. Haddix was 15-of-35 passing but was picked off three times. Justin Franklin, Craig Thomas, and Alex Love had interceptions for Wofford.

"We have a tremendous amount of respect for what they (the Terriers) did," Hilltopper coach David Elson said. "That is the most well-coached team that I have faced in 10 years of I-AA football and I mean that with all sincerity.

"Give credit to them. They just kept coming. They're at their best when they can get a lead and eat the clock. It took us longer to get adjusted to the speed of their offense. When you look up, it's 21-7 and they got you where they want you."

Casey Rooney had eight receptions for 70 yards while Moore was the Hilltoppers' top rusher with 77 yards on 21 attempts.