North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Wofford
9/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
NC STATE (0-2) vs.
DATE: Saturday, September 15, 2007
TIME: Kickoff: 6 p.m. (EDT) Carter-Finley Stadium,
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 5:00 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ESPN 360
OPPONENTThe final score was a little deceiving, but Wofford’s ground attack wasn’t. The Terriers rushed for 317 yards and four touchdowns in their 52-24 home victory Saturday night over Oddly enough, the game wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter. With a 21-point lead trimmed to 35-24 after three periods, Wofford used a turnover and a sustained drive to change the game. Terriers’ linebacker Brian Kemp intercepted an Eli Byrd pass early in the fourth quarter and returned it to the 46-yard line. Quarterback Ben Widmyer, starting in place of the injured Josh Collier, moved Wofford 51-yards in 11-plays. The drive ended with a field goal, but the Terriers defense rested for nearly 5-minutes. When Wofford’s defensive unit returned to the field, it dominated. The Terriers sealed the victory with two interceptions in the final 7:04 while the offense capped an outstanding finish with two late touchdowns, including a 47-yard pass from Widmyer to Andy Strickland. Overall, the Terriers allowed nearly 300 passing yards as CSU completed 31-of-52 attempts. However, Wofford countered by forcing five interceptions and allowed only 3 points in the second half. The Terriers offense didn’t seem to miss a beat with Collier out of the line-up. Widmyer, who had never played an entire college game, completed 8-of-14 passes for 131 yards. He also led the Terriers with 68 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Kevious Johnson rushed 57 yards in 11 tries. In all, eleven players carried the ball in Wofford’s “Wingbone” option attack which is loaded with experience. Eight offensive starters and 96 percent of the Terriers’ rushing yards return from last season’s unit which finished No. 2 nationally in that category. After two games, Wofford is averaging 45 points and 466 total yards, including 359 yards on the ground. Obviously the quarterback situation is in good hands with both Collier and Widmyer experienced and able to play winning football. But veteran coach Mike Ayers considers his offensive line as the unit’s strong point. The anchor up front is senior left guard, Derek Tiller (6-0, 275), a three-year starter. Several players in the deep, four-man backfield carry the ball in the Wingbone, but Johnson is the star. The 5-9, 205 pound senior has a great combination of speed and power. He can play either halfback or fullback and is elusive with outstanding vision. Johnson is a Walter Peyton Award candidate who entered this season with a career 6.1 yards per carry average. Senior fullback, Michael Hobbs (5-11, 215) is a third-year starter who can also run. His 99-yard touchdown gallop at Five players have caught 2 or more passes, but the leading receiver is Justice Joslin with 4 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. Only a sophomore, Joslin is considered to be Wofford’s most explosive player. Strickland, a junior and the team’s No.1 receiver in ’06, is a playmaker who scored on a 27-yard reverse against CSU. Defensively, Wofford is allowing 363 yards a game, but only 86 on the ground. The Terriers use a 3-4 scheme and return eight starters. The leader of the line is senior end James Gonsoulin (6-0, 250), a second-year starter. He was a second-team All Southern Conference selection last season and has 10 stops in two games in ’07. Of the four linebackers, three are second-year starters. Outside linebacker, Kyle Horne (6-2, 215, Sr.) finished second in the SoCon with 7.5 sacks last season. Inside, Seth Goldwire (5-11, 220, Jr.), leads the team in tackles this season (16) and was No. 2 last year. Reserve inside linebacker Gary Blount (6-2, 230, So.) intercepted two passes and recorded six tackles against CSU. On Monday, he was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week. In the secondary, senior free safety Brian Ford (6-3, 205) is a third-year starter who is Wofford’s active leader in career interceptions with eight, including one in 07. The other safety, Dan Tavani (5-10, 205, Sr.), has started since his freshman year. He earned second-team All SoCon honors last season. Second-year starter Brian Kemp (5-11, 190, Sr.) has two interceptions this season at cornerback after missing nearly half of the ’06 campaign with an injury. Senior Chris Tommie (6-0, 195, Jr.) kicks off and is one of the better punters in the SoCon. In two games this season, he’s averaging nearly 42 yards a boot. The placekicking is handled by first-year starter Patrick Mugan (5-10, 170, So.). He’s made both of his field goal attempts, but nothing longer than 28 yards. Long snapper Chris Collins, is a fourth-year starter. True freshman, Mike Rucker (5-8, 170) has burst on the scene in a big way. He’s returned 8 kickoffs for a 30-yard average. Against CSU, his 89-yard kickoff return for a first quarter touchdown tied the game at 7-7 and started a run of 21consecutive Wofford points. The Terriers have won seven straight games since a 14-7 loss to Appalachian State last October. Last season, Wofford nearly shocked the football world. The Terriers fumbled on their final drive at the NOTES: Saturday’s game will mark the first time NC State and Wofford have met on the gridiron since 1920. The Wolfpack, known then as the North Carolina A & T “Farmers”, won the game 90-7. No State team has scored more points in a game since...Darrell Blackman leads the ACC and is ninth nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging 207 a game...The Wolfpack is rushing for only 70.5 yards a game...State leads the ACC in passing yards per game (311)...Harrison Beck and Daniel Evans combined for 351 passing yards last week at Boston College, the best mark for the Wolfpack since the 2003 Tangerine Bowl...Beck, a Nebraska transfer, will make his second college start against Wofford...Beck has thrown for an average of 264 yards a game, but has tossed 6 interceptions... The Pack has lost both its leading returning rusher and receiver from ’06 for the season with knee injuries... DeMario Pressley, the Pack’s best defensive lineman, will miss 2-to-3 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept. 9th...The Wolfpack is one loss away from tying the school’s all-time winless streak of 10 straight set during the 1953 and ’54 seasons... State has been held to 24 points or less in 25 of its last 26 games and has a 10-16 record during that span...The Wolfpack’s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...State is 6-4 in overtime games...The Pack will need to improve its run defense against Wofford. Opponents are averaging 218.5 yards on the ground...State held BC’s Matt Ryan, the ACC’s premier quarterback, to only 142 passing yards last week...The Pack has not started a season 0-3 since the 1996 campaign...Senior linebacker Ernest Jones leads the Wolfpack in tackles with 22 and has broken up 3 passes, also a team best...Playing in his first college game, freshman defensive tackle Markus Kuhn, a native of Germany, had 2 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures at Boston College...Defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash will return to action this week after missing the Boston College game to attend the funeral of his father. INJURIES--NC State: DT DeMario Pressley (knee)-out; RB Toney Baker (knee)out for season; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. Wofford: QB Josh Collier (shoulder)-questionable; HB Dane Romero (hamstring)-doubtful.
