No. 10/9 Wofford 35, No. 23/20 Furman 10
Final Stats
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Wofford College defeated Furman 35-10 on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium. The Terrier defense stopped the Paladins on fourth down five times and Ben Widmyer scored two rushing touchdowns and added a passing touchdown for Wofford.
The Terriers are 9-2 on the season (7-1 SoCon) and Furman is 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Conference. Wofford was led by Dane Romero with 97 yards and one touchdown, while Ben Widmyer had 80 yards rushing with two touchdowns, plus 125 yards and a touchdown passing. The Wofford defense had two sacks and Jason Leventis led the team with nine tackles. Furman was led by Jordan Sorrells with 226 yards on 25-of-39 passing.
“I thought our kids played really hard and really well,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “Furman is a very opportunistic team and offensively they will try to exploit you in different areas, but we were sound. I thought our defensive front did a great job against a big offensive line as far as creating pressure. Offensively we tried our best to keep the ball away from them. We went for it on fourth down and that is just part of our mentality. Being 9-2 with all of the kids that we lost last year, as a staff we kind of wondered what we would be like because you are replacing all those seniors with freshmen. We were blessed with a great group of freshmen coming in and they have played a ton of football for us and done a great job. It was a great game for us and I will take 9-2.”
The Paladins had the opening kickoff and put together a five-play scoring drive that included a 55-yard run by Mike Brown. Brantley Kendall capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run at 12:44 in the first quarter. The teams then traded three-and-outs with punts.
With the ball back, Wofford converted two fourth-downs on a drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run on a direct snap to Dane Romero. The score was tied at 7-7 at 2:30 in the first quarter. The Terrier defense forced the Paladins to punt after picking up just one first down on their next drive.
Wofford then was able to go 80 yards in twelve plays as Ben Widmyer found the end zone on a 19-yard run to take a 14-7 lead at 10:20 in the second quarter. Furman was able to drive to the Wofford four yard line, but on fourth-and-two, the Terrier defense stopped the rush.
With just three minutes to go in the half, Wofford drove 97 yards in 2:27 to score on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Ben Widmyer to Andy Strickland for a 21-7 lead. The Paladins had 36 second to work with in the half. They were able to score on a 32-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright and in by Matthew Cesari as time expired for a 21-10 score at the half.
The Terriers opened the second half with the ball. In nine plays, the Terriers scored with a four-yard run by Mike Rucker for a 28-10 lead. On the next drive by the Paladins, they were able to drive inside the 20, but turned it over on downs when James Mitchell and Layton Baker came up with a big stop.
Wofford was forced three-and-out on their next drive. Furman was then able to pick up a couple first downs, but once again were stopped by the Wofford defense on fourth-and-four and turned it over on downs. With the ball back, the Terriers were able to add to the lead with a four-yard touchdown run by Ben Widmyer at 11:44 in the fourth quarter.
Furman was able to drive inside the Wofford 20 again, but on fourth-and twelve the Paladins completed the pass but were stopped short and turned it over on downs on the four-yard line. With the ball back, the Terriers picked up one first down before having to punt and Furman got the ball back with 3:15 left in the game.
The Paladins moved the chains once before turning the ball over on downs again with 1:48 left in the game. After one first down by Mitch Allen, the Terriers were able to run out the clock for the 35-10 victory.
Wofford had 438 yards of total offense, while Furman had 365 total yards. Wofford had the ball for 31:17, while Furman had possession for 28:43. The Terriers were 3-of-3 on fourth down, while Furman was 1-of-6. Wofford was 4-of-4 in the red-zone.
Up next, the Terriers will await the NCAA FCS Selection Show on Sunday night at 7:00 pm on ESPNU. Wofford will watch the announcement in Leonard Auditorium in Old Main on campus.
Samford 30, Chattanooga 7
Final Stats
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- In a game of lasts, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1-11/0-8) football team dropped a 30-7 decision to Samford (6-5/4-4) at Finley Stadium. Not only was it Senior Day, it was also the last game of the Rodney Allison era as head coach.
The game started with a bang for the Bulldogs as quarterback Dustin Taliaferro hooked up with Riley Hawkins on a 65-yard touchdown completion on a post route. The score came just 54 seconds into the contest and made it 6-0 after the missed Bob Hooper point after kick attempt.
Samford would score again before the Mocs could answer on a nine-yard rush by Southern Conference rushing leader Chris Evans. Evans made it 14-0 converting the PAT on a sweep to the left.
The Mocs answered on its next possession marching 64 yards in 11 plays (5:45) capped by a nine-yard Erroll Wynn run to make it 14-7. Samford tacked on 10 more points before the halftime whistle to take a 24-7 lead into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Evans struck again from six yards out with 11:00 to go in the fourth quarter to make it 30-7. During the nine-play, 80-yard drive, Evans set a new single-season school rushing record (1,284 yards) for Samford.
The Mocs offense never found its rhythm on the day accounting for 196 total yards. Junior wide receiver Clint Woods’ five catches set a new career high for receptions with 49 bypassing the 45 he had in 2007.
Defensively, true freshman safety Jordan Tippit put on a show with 12 tackles, 10 solo, with one for loss. Junior linebacker Joseph Thornton ended his season with seven stops leading the unit for the season with 79.
Fourteen seniors ended their careers. They include: LB Aaron Adams, DB Raeshon Ball, DT Rodney Beamon, DB Anthony Brodnax, DE Neil Brown, OT/DT Robbie Elliott, OT William Giles, FB Brent Hayes, OT Brian Heflin, WR Thomas Hinton, LB/LS Mitchell Meadows, LB Jarvis Newson, TE Joseph Pitman and LB Kenny Scrivens.
Evans gained 134 yards on the day on 25 rushes. His three scores and one PAT accounted for 20 of the Bulldogs’ 30 points. Taliaferro (sounds like Tolliver) was an efficient 13 of 18 passing for 190 yards and the touchdown to Hawkins. Rodney Shepherd led the defense with 12 stops and three sacks.
No. 2 Appalachian State 35, Western Carolina 10
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. (AP) - DeAndre Presley, playing for an injured Armanti Edwards, passed for 158 yards and ran for 156 to help Appalachian State rally from a three-point halftime deficit and defeat Western Carolina 35-10 on Saturday.
The Mountaineers (10-2, 8-0 Southern Conference) completed an unbeaten conference season and clinched their fourth straight league title. Wofford defeated Furman 35-10, but needed a Western Carolina victory to gain a share of the title.
Instead, Appalachian State won its ninth straight game and likely secured a top-four seed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which start next weekend.
Western Carolina (3-9, 1-7), leading 10-7 at halftime, lost 14 yards in the third quarter and surrendered 28 unanswered points. The Catamounts failed to convert a first down on nine straight possessions spanning the first and second halves.
Edwards suffered a hip injury last week against Elon and was available Saturday, but didn't play.
Presley, held to 65 yards passing in the first half, more than doubled his total on Appalachian State's second scoring drive of the second half, capped by a 17-yard strike to Ben Jorden for a 21-10 lead.
Presley scored Appalachian State's first two touchdowns, on 6-yard runs in each half, and added a third on a 30-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Catamounts' last win in the series, dubbed the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug, came in 2004. Appalachian State has won 26 of 33 games since the jug's introduction in 1976. Appalachian State won last season's game 71-35.
Adrian McLeod made two big plays to stop Appalachian State and allow the Catamounts to take a 10-7 lead.
McLeod first stopped Trey Hennessee for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the Catamounts' 5.
Then, McLeod tipped a pass attempt from Presley, which Mitchell Bell intercepted at midfield. It led to Blake Bostic's 43-yard field goal late in the first half and a 10-7 lead.
Western Carolina's Zack Jaynes scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Jaynes was 5-for-26 for 63 yards and was sacked five times.
No. 20/22 Liberty 26, No. 14/12 Elon 3
Final Stats
LYNCHBURG, Va. ? Matt Bevins made good on all four of his field goal attempts and Rashad Jennings rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown as No. 20 Liberty defeated No. 12 Elon 26-3 in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision regular-season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium.
The Flames (10-2) struck first when Bevins booted a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter. Liberty extended its lead to 10-0 when Dominic Bolden returned a punt 74 yards in the second period. Andrew Wilcox converted a 40-yard field goal to put the Phoenix (8-4) on the scoreboard in the second quarter. With that kick, Wilcox became the first Southern Conference place kicker to make a field goal in 12 games in a season.
The Flames secured a 13-3 halftime advantage when Bevins knocked down an 18-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining before the break. Bevins sank a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 35-yarder in the fourth frame to stretch the Liberty edge to 19-3. Jennings punched in a touchdown on a 20-yard run with 1:58 to play in the contest to decide the final score.
Brock Smith completed 17 of his 26 passes without an interception for 273 yards for the Flames while Scott Riddle made 27 of his 43 throws without a pick for 204 yards for the Phoenix. Liberty amassed 406 yards of total offense to 267 net yards for Elon. Liberty’s Nick Hursky led all defenders with 12 tackles and teammate Ian Childress tallied 10. Cameron McGlenn and Lionel Shoffner each notched nine stops for Elon.
No. 3 Florida 70, The Citadel 19
Final Stats
Gainesville, Fla. ? The Citadel ended their 2008 season before the largest crowd to ever see a Bulldog team play in the history of the program on Saturday at “The Swamp” in a 70-19 loss to No. 3 Florida.
The Bulldogs, who scored three touchdowns in the game, are only the third team to reach the end zone from the ground and from the air against Florida this season, joining the ranks of LSU and Ole Miss.
Cam Turner was 15-for-30 for 169 yards passing as he relieved an injured Bart Blanchard after the Bulldogs’ second offensive series. Turner threw one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
Asheton Jordan recorded 267 all-purpose yards, including 200 yards on eight kick returns in what is believed to be a school record for kick return yardage. Jordan also led the ground game with 37 yards rushing on eight carries.
Special teams was the highlight of the day as The Citadel held Florida to only 31 yards on six punt returns as the Gators averaged only 5.17 yards per punt return. Mark Kaspar averaged 41.5 yards per punt in the game.
The Citadel recorded 317 offensive yards in the game and recorded 18 first downs. A Higgins-led team has only recorded more first downs on an FBS opponent once when The Citadel recorded 23 first downs at No. 7 Wisconsin last season.
Florida won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving The Citadel the first opportunity to score. However, the opening possession led to a Gator touchdown as Bart Blanchard’s pass on third-and-seven was intercepted by Janoris Jenkins. Six plays and 2:13 later, Tim Tebow connected with Louis Murphy for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Florida went up 7-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
On the Bulldogs’ next possession, they went three-and-out after two incomplete passes by Blanchard followed a two-yard rush by running back Terrell Dallas.
Taking only 1:24 off the clock on the next Gator possession, Florida added seven more points. In just five plays, the Gators drove the ball 61 yards and concluded with a 7-yard touchdown run by running back Chris Rainey at 8:07 to put Florida up, 14-0.
Bulldog quarterback Cam Turner came in for an injured Blanchard on the next Citadel drive. His first play was a 9-yard pass to Joshua Haney on the Citadel 27-yard line. On third-and-one, Turner threw a 5-yard pass to Scott Flanagan for a Bulldog first down on The Citadel 34. However, the Bulldogs were unable to turn the drive into a score, punting on four-and-six on the 33-yard line.
The Gators showed no mercy on the next drive when Tebow threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. Pass interference was called on the Bulldogs but declined by the Gators. The drive was completed again in five plays, taking 1:29 off the clock. Florida went up, 21-0.
The Citadel received the ball one more time before the end of the first quarter but punted again after only being able to produce one first down. Florida got the ball back just before the end of the first quarter. The first play of the drive was a 53-yard pass to Percy Harvin, followed by another Gator first down two plays later. However, the quarter ended during the Gator drive at first-and-10 on the Citadel 24-yard line. Florida opened the second quarter finishing the drive with a Harvin 11-yard touchdown rush at 14:51 to put the Gators up, 28-0.
Florida scored on two more occasions before the Bulldogs put their first points on the board. The first score came after Turner threw an interception, intended for Andre Roberts, on the Florida 46-yard line. Will Hill returned the interception 23 yards to the Bulldog 31-yard line and in just one play and eight seconds, Tebow connected on a 31-yard pass to Deonte Thompson for the score at 13:16. On Florida’s next possession, Gator Kestahn Moore recorded a 2-yard rush at 9:46 in the second to take a 42-0 lead.
The Bulldogs’ then recorded their best drive of the first half which ended with career-firsts for both Turner and Flanagan. In 10 plays the Bulldogs moved the ball 78 yards when scoring on a third-and-second trick play that consisted of a Turner pass up the middle to Flanagan for eight yards who then threw it back to Turner for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Sam Keeler missed the extra point, making the score 42-0 with 5:14 remaining in the half.
Gator quarterback John Brantley then entered the game for Florida and Moore scored on a 22-yard run with 1:52 left in the half. The Gators went into the half, leading 49-0.
In the first half, the Bulldogs totaled 41 plays for 154 yards and one touchdown. They collected a total of 27 rushing yards on 20 carries, while completing six of 21 passes with two interceptions for 82 yards. Haney led The Citadel with two catches for 24 yards, while Turner had 27 yards rushing and a 29-yard reception for a touchdown. Freshman running back Asheton Jordan recorded five kickoff returns for 146 yards with a long of 41 in the half.
Florida totaled 35 plays for 512 yards in the first half. The Gators collected 298 yards rushing on 21 carries and 214 yards in the air. Tebow left the game connecting on 9-of-11 for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
Opening the second half, Florida took 4:24 off the clock ending in another Gator touchdown with 10:36 left in the fourth quarter. Florida went up, 56-6. However, the Bulldogs answered with their second scoring drive of the game.
Two more touchdowns gave Florida the 70-13 lead as Nelson caught a 12-yard pass from Brantley with 00:10 remaining in the third quarter and Moody’s five-yard run with 9:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Turner orchestrated a 12-play, 77-yard drive spanning almost five minutes late in the game as The Citadel reached the end zone for the third and final time. Turner’s 15-yard pass found Taylor Cornett deep in the end zone as the Bulldogs scored. A failed PAT by Sam Keeler sealed the 70-19 score for the final.