Game 11

The Bucs (5-5) vs. Charleston Southern (5-5)

Memorial Center -- Johnson City, Tenn.

If The Bucs Win... With a win against Charleston Southern, ETSU will have secured a winning season for the fourth time in the past six years ... It would mark the second consecutive 6-5 season and the sixth in program history ... If the Bucs finish 6-5, head coach Paul Hamilton and his staff will become the first since 1952-56 (Star Wood) to have a winning record in three of its first four seasons ... Hamilton has won 22 games in his first four seasons, more than any coach in that span in program history.

All-Time Total Offense Leader ... With his 263-yard performance in the 24-22 win at Chattanooga (Nov. 11), Wells became ETSUs all-time total offense leader ... Wells has amassed 8,488 yards in 42 career games, surpassing former record holder Greg Ryan who compiled 8,232 in his career ... Wells ranks second all-time in the Southern Conference behinds Marshalls Michael Payton who compiled 9,704 from 1989-92.

Single Season Total Offense Record ... Senior quarterback Todd Wells compiled 2,763 yards of total offense as a freshman in 1997 -- the most prolific season by any ETSU player in program history ... This season, Wells has amassed 2,734 yards of total offense -- the second best season in ETSU history ... He needs 29 total yards to break his own record.

More on Wells Outstanding Season ... After 10 games, Wells has thrown for 2,424 yards -- the third best single season mark in Buccaneer history ... He needs 171 yards to catch record-holder Greg Ryans 2,595 passing yards in 1996.

National Leader ... Senior quarterback Todd Wells ranks 13th nationally in total offense per game (273.4 yards/game) ... He ranks second in the Southern Conference behind Chattanoogas Chris Sanders (328.5) ... Morehead States David Dinkins leads the nation, averaging 339.3 yards of total offense in eight games.

Quick Snaps ... If Todd Wells throws for over 300 yards against Charleston Southern, it will mark the first time in ETSU history that a Buc QB eclipses the 300-yard mark three times in one season ... Wells has thrown for two TDs in three of the last four games ... Cecil Moore ranks sixth in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and is tied for eighth in touchdown receptions for a single season ... With 144 receiving yards against Charleston Southern, Moore will become just the second receiver in history to have 1,000+ receiving yards in a season .. Moore (57 catches) needs 16 receptions to tie B.J. Adigun (73 in 1994) for the single season record.

Bucs in Southern Conference Rankings ... The Bucs rank third in the Southern Conference in pass defense (174.8 yards/game) ... ETSU ranks fourth in the Conference in pass offense (242.4 yards/game) ... The Bucs rank second in the conference in pass defense efficiency (104.1).

Home-Dome Advantage ... ETSU has won 11 of its last 14 home games ... ETSU is 24-8 during the last five years in the Mini-Dome ... The Bucs are 2-2 in 2000, 5-1 last fall, 4-1 in 1998, 3-3 in 1997, 6-1 in 1996 and 4-0 in 1995 ... ETSU is 67-63-1 all time in the Dome.

Quite a Receiver ... Sophomore Cecil Moore set career highs in receptions (12) and receiving yards (165) in the win at Chattanooga (Nov. 18) ... Both marked team season highs ... Moore has caught at least one TD reception in six of the last seven games and ranks second on the team with seven scores.

Against Charleston Southern ... ETSU leads the all-time series, 3-0 ... Every game in the series has been played in the Mini-Dome ... In the series first meeting, ETSU won 62-0 in 1992.

Last Meeting ... In the 1998 season finale, ETSU defeated the Bucs 41-29 on Nov. 21 ... ETSU jumped out early taking a 20-3 lead in the first quarter ... It was 34-20 at halftime ... Current ETSU assistant coach, Jamey Chadwell, went 8-22 for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

A Familiar Stretch ... The final five games of the 2000 season are identical to the final five contests of the 1998 season ... In 1998 -- ETSU defeated Furman 22-19 in Memorial Center; then lost at #1 Georgia Southern, 47-26; then defeated Wofford 45-24, lost at Chattanooga 10-7 and finished the season by defeating Charleston Southern 41-29 in Johnson City.

The Total Package ... Senior quarterback Todd Wells earned 401 total yards (336 passing, 65 rushing) in the 23-21 win against Furman ... It was the second-best performance by a Buccaneer in program history ... Wells holds the all-time single-game total offense record with 447 yards against Appalachian State in 1997.

Variety of Scores ... ETSU has scored in numerous ways this season ... Aside from nine rushing touchdowns and seven passing scores, the Bucs have scored on a fumble recovery and a blocked punt ... In the season-opener at Liberty, linebacker Rahim El Amin recovered a punt in the endzone ... Against Western Carolina, cornerback Howard Nix returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown.

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers ... ETSU tied a season-high with five turnovers forced against Furman ... The Bucs also forced five at Liberty ... Linebacker Russ Lindgren made his team-leading fourth interception against the Paladins ... Linebacker Rahim El Amin forced three of the turnovers; tipping one pass to Ryan Vaughn, hitting the quarterback on Lindgrens pick and forcing a Louis Ivory fumble at the goal line.

A Program First ... For the first time in ETSU football history, a quarterback ran for 100+ yards and passed for 200+ yards when Todd Wells ran for 108 and threw for 238 in a 38-3 win against VMI (Sept. 16).

Linebacker U? ... East Tennessee State hopes to have an All-America linebacker for the fourth consecutive season ... each of the last four years the Bucs have enjoyed a stellar linebacking corps ... gone from last years squad are two-time All-America Kevin Peterson (1998-99) and All-Southern Conference player Derek Fudge ... taking over in the middle this year is All-America candidate Rahim El Amin and All-Southern Conference candidate Cory Bolden ... linebacker Mario Hankerson earned All-America honors in 1997.

More than a Passing Frenzy ... Quarterback Todd Wells has thrown for over 200 yards in seven of the first 10 games this season ... Wells passed for 283 at Liberty, 238 against VMI, 221 at Western Carolina, 275 at The Citadel, 336 vs. Furman, 307 against Wofford and 249 at Chattanooga ... Against Wofford, it was the fourth time in his career that Wells passed for 300+ yards ... Wells eclipsed 200 yards passing once last year -- 217 in a 38-10 win against Western Carolina.

In the Southern Conference ... The Bucs are 60-105 (22 seasons) in league games since joining the SoCon in 1979 ... Their best finish was second in 1996 when ETSU finished 7-1 in the league ... ETSU is 29-23 since 1994 and have been above .500 every year except 1998 (3-5) in that span ... The Bucs are 16-16 under Coach Paul Hamilton ... ETSU is 4-4 in the SoCon so far this fall.

Leader of the Ship ... Fourth-year head coach Paul Hamilton has a 22-21 (.512) career record ... With the Chattanooga win, Hamilton amassed the most victories in four seasons of any ETSU coach ... Hamilton is ETSUs 16th head coach.

More on the Hamilton Era ... With a win against Charleston Southern, head coach Paul Hamiltons staff will become just the fourth in program history to compile three winning seasons -- the first since Star Wood (1952-53, 55-65) ... He has the third best win total in a four-season span in program history ... His 16 Southern Conference wins are the most in a four-year span ... Seven teams in ETSUs 22-year SoCon history have won at least four Conference wins, three have been under coach Hamilton.

Player Profiles

#2 Cecil Moore ... A sure handed receiver that consistently makes big plays ... works well over the middle ... 2000: leads the team in receptions (57), receiving yards (856) and yards per game (85.6) ... averaging 15.0 yards/reception ... has made seven touchdown catches in the last six games ... caught five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown at The Citadel ... made seven receptions for 72 yards against Appalachian State ... caught first touchdown of the season against the Mountaineers ... made five receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns against Furman ... made 10 grabs, for 81 yards and one TD, against Wofford ... caught career-high 12 passes for career-high 165 yards at Chattanooga ... also made two touchdown catches against the Mocs.

#7 Todd Wells ... The Bucs offensive engineer ... earned 1997 SoCon Freshman of the Year ... has been ranked among the national leaders in total offense most of the season ... 2000: has thrown for 200+ yards in seven of first 10 contests ... ran for 108 yards and threw for 238 more (15-of-20) in 38-3 SoCon-opening win vs. VMI ... opened season with a 7-of-18, 283-yard, three-TD performance at Liberty ... led team with 61 rushing yards at Colorado State ... threw for 154 yards and one touchdown against the Rams ... eclipsed 300-yard plateau for third time in his career with 336-yard (23-of-44) performance in 23-21 win against Furman ... threw for two touchdowns and ran for another against the Paladins ... threw for 307 yards on 28-of-39 passing against Wofford ... threw two TDs against the Terriers ... went 20-of-35 for 249 yards and two touchdowns against Chattanooga.

#17 Corey Martin ... A dependable receiver ... 2000: ranks second on the team in receptions (42) and receiving yards (779) ... has made at least four catches in each of the last nine games ... made seven receptions at The Citdael ... also led team with 112 receiving yards ... made five catches for 95 yards at Colorado State ... his 20-yard touchdown was the lone score against the Rams ... made five catches for 81 yards against Furman ... made team-high six receptions for 82 yards at Ga. Southern ... had five catches for 65 yards at Chattanooga.

#27 Corey Carter ... A big fullback with elusive speed ... can overpower in the secondary ... 2000: ranks third on the team with 306 rushing yards (30.6/game) ... tied for team lead with seven touchdowns ... gained 107 yards against VMI -- first collegiate 100-yard effort ... scored two touchdowns against the Keydets ... scored teams lone touchdown at Georgia Southern ... scored on two one-yard runs against Wofford.

#37 Terrance Sims ... A dangerous threat from the backfield ... perhaps the fastest Buc player ... earned preseason All-Southern Conference honors as a kick returner ... 2000: leads the team in all purpose yards (92.7 yards/game) ... leads team in rushing with 436 yards (43.6/game) ... averaging 7.1 yards per carry ... gained 135 yards on seven carries (19.3 yards/carry) at Liberty ... exploded for a career-long 82-yard touchdown run ... rushed for 110 yards on 22 carries against Wofford ... third 100+ rushing performance in his career ... ranks third on the team with 28 receptions.

#81 Tim Turner ... A lethal receiver with capabilities to score on every reception ... has breakaway speed ... 2000: missed three games after injuring right ankle against VMI ... made three receptions (all touchdowns) for 145 yards in collegiate debut -- at Liberty ... made two catches at Colorado State ... returned from ankle injury against Furman and made three catches for 35 yards.

Offensive Linemen ... Guards Victor Hooks and Chip Pearson have continued their strong play on the offensive line.

#1 Keyandre Fenn ... A consistent cornerback that was the top punt returner in the Conference last season ... 2000: recorded 55 tackles (38 solo) this season ... has two interceptions ... made first pick and returned it 36 yards against VMI ... also made an interception against Appalachian State ... leads the team with 14 punt returns (8.5 avg.) ... made nine tackles and returned a punt 51 yards to set the game-winning field goal against Furman ... returned from ankle injury to made five stops at Chattanooga.

#8 Ocasio Cofield ... A tall, imposing force in the secondary ... 2000: ranks fifth on the team with 81 tackles (48 solo) ... recovered first fumble of the season at The Citadel ... led the team with 14 tackles against the Bulldogs ... recorded a team-high 15 stops against Appalachian State ... made a team-high 14 tackles against Furman ... tied for team lead with 10 tackles at Chattanooga.

#12 Cory Bolden ... A powerful run stopper at inside linebacker ... 2000: ranks second on the team with 97 tackles ... has seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks ... led team with nine tackles vs. VMI ... had seven tackles, including a seven-yard sack at Liberty ... led team with 13 tackles (five solo) at Colorado State ... recorded 11 tackles at The Citadel ... made 10 tackles against Furman.

#16 Russ Lindgren ... Impressive in first season as linebacker ... played safety last season ... 2000: ranks third on the team with 89 tackles ... leads team with 12 tackles for loss and tied for team lead with 2.5 sacks ... recorded seven tackles and his team-leading fourth interception against Furman ... made seven tackles, one for loss, and intercepted his third pass of the season against Appalachian State ... had five tackles -- two for loss, 1.5 sacks -- against VMI ... opened season with 16 tackles (12 solo), one interception and one forced fumble at Liberty ... made four tackles (one for loss) at Colorado State ... made second interception of season against the Rams ... led team with 14 tackles at Georgia Southern.

#18 Keydrick Gordon ... A consistent safety that is always around the ball ... 2000: ranks fourth on the team and leads the secondary with 84 tackles (54 solo) ... made eight tackles (five solo) at Colorado State ... recorded a career-high 18 tackles at Western Carolina ... tied for team lead with five pass breakups ... had 13 tackles and one interception against Furman ... made team-high 10 tackles at Chattanooga ... also forced a fumble against the Mocs.

#24 Denario Smalls ... The Bucs most consistent cover corner ... earned preseason All-Southern Conference honors ... 2000: ranks second on the team with three interceptions ... had four tackles and two pass break-ups vs. VMI ... made two interceptions in season opener ... one a spectacular leap where he took the ball out of the Liberty receivers hands ... sprained ankle in first half against Appalachian State ... made six tackles in win at Chattanooga.

#54 Rahim El Amin ... An All-America candidate ... earned preseason All-Southern Conference honors ... moved to inside linebacker after playing defensive end last season ... 2000: leads team with 103 tackles ... leads team with 71 solo tackles ... ranks second with eight tackles for loss ... made 11 tackles (seven solo) at Liberty ... recovered a fumble in endzone for first career touchdown against the Flames ... led team with 12 tackles against Appalachian State ... made nine tackles and snatched his second interception of the season at Chattanooga.

Defensive Linemen ... Freshmen Travis Williams and Brandon Calton lead the defensive line in tackles ... Williams has recorded 43 tackles -- seven for loss ... Calton has 44 tackles -- four for loss.