CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2017) – After playing its final non-conference game of the season last weekend, the ETSU football team turns its attention back to Southern Conference play as the Buccaneers face No. 21 Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Cullowhee, N.C. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

ETSU NOTES

NOTABLES FROM ROBERT MORRIS GAME  

ETSU is coming off a 16-3 Homecoming win over Robert Morris this past Saturday … The Buccaneer defense held Robert Morris to 211 yards (183 passing/28 rushing), while forcing five fumbles (three recovered) … In the first half, RMU ran 32 plays for 41 total yards (34 passing/7 rushing) … ETSU turned its three turnovers into 13 points … The Buccaneer defense held Robert Morris without a touchdown, marking the second time ETSU’s defense has accomplished the feat since restarting the program (Warner, 2015) … The three points allowed marked the fewest points given up since shutting out Concord 44-0 on Sept. 4, 2003 … ETSU’s defense held Robert Morris scoreless on its first nine possessions – including having zero or negative yards in their first two, three of the first five, four of the first six and five of the first seven series … The Bucs sacked Robert Morris eight times for negative-43 yards, marking the most sacks since restarting the program in 2015 … ETSU entered the game with three sacks in its first five games … The eight sacks are the most by a SoCon team this season … Nasir Player finished with a career-high three sacks, which ranks as the fourth-most in single-game ETSU history … The three sacks are tied for the most by a SoCon player this season … A week after not posting a tackle for loss at Furman, ETSU totaled 12 tackles for loss resulting in negative-66 yards … The Bucs also had 11 quarterback hurries … Kobe Kelley tied a career high with five receptions, while his 93 receiving yards marked a career best.

ETSU’s DEFENSE FEASTS ON ROBERT MORRIS

ETSU’s defense had some fun in last Saturday’s 16-3 win over Robert Morris … A week after giving up 56 points and over 600 yards at Furman, the Buccaneer defense limited the Colonials to three points and 211 yards of total offense … The Bucs – who entered the game with three sacks – totaled eight in that victory, marking the most since restarting the program in 2015 … In addition, after not registering a tackle for loss at Furman, ETSU totaled 12 last Saturday … Nasir Player collected a career-high three sacks – the most by any SoCon player this season … Player’s three sacks marked a career high and are tied for the fourth-most in program history (single game).

SHORT TRIP TO CULLOWHEE

ETSU made the short trek to Cullowhee, N.C. to take on Western Carolina in SoCon play … Only 111 miles separate the two campuses, making it the Bucs’ closest trip among their SoCon rivals… Two weeks ago, the Bucs make the 116-mile ride to Greenville to face Furman, while Spartanburg (Wofford) is 127 miles from Johnson City.

SEARCHING FOR FIRST SOCON ROAD WIN

ETSU is looking to post its first SoCon road win since beating Western Carolina, 27-7, back on Sept. 28, 2002 ... The Bucs have lost their last 12 SoCon road games since that win over the Catamounts ... A win today in Cullowhee would mark the Bucs’ first SoCon road win in 5,496 days (15 years and 17 days).

WEIGEL CLOSING IN ON MILESTONE

Redshirt junior linebacker Dylan Weigel is closing in on a personal milestone … Weigel – who has started all 28 games of his collegiate career – has totaled 282 tackles … Weigel is 18 tackles shy of posting career number 300 … The Pickerington, Ohio native is looking to become the 11th player in program history to record 300 tackles in a career.

HERINK ALSO EYEING MILESTONES

Redshirt junior quarterback Austin Herink is also eyeing a pair of milestones … Herink is 10 completions shy of number 400 for his career, which would make him just the sixth player in Buccaneer history to accomplish the feat … The Cleveland, Tenn. native is also 282 yards shy of reaching 5,000 yards of total offense for his career, which would make him the sixth player in school history to accomplish that mark.

WINS TO LOSSES

Through its first six games of the season, ETSU has an overall record of 3-3 … In their wins over Limestone, Mercer and Robert Morris, the Bucs are averaging 24.3 points, while totaling 340.3 yards of total offense (241.7 passing/98.7 rushing) per game … The Buccaneer defense is allowing 12.0 points per game, along with 279.7 yards per contest (156.3 passing/123.3 rushing) in their wins … However, in their three setbacks, the Bucs are being out-scored 139-70 (-69), while being out-gained 490.0 to 279.7 … ETSU has totaled 839 yards in the three losses (734 passing/105 rushing), while opponents have registered 1470 yards (709 passing/761 rushing) … The Blue and Gold are 11-of-40 (28%) on third down chances in the losses, compared to the opposition converting on 59% of their opportunities (26-of-44) … In the wins, ETSU is converting on 35% (14/40) of its third down chances, while holding opponents to a 16% clip (6/37) … The three setbacks have been to No. 1 James Madison, then-No. 13 Citadel and at Furman… Austin Herink is completing 70% of his passes (59-of-84) with 725 yards and five touchdowns (zero INTs) in the wins, while completing 56% of his passes (54-of-96) with 734 yards and five touchdowns (2 INTs) in the losses … Jajuan Stinson is averaging 91 all-purpose yards in the Bucs’ win, while averaging 23 all-purpose yards in the losses.

HOME AND ROAD

The Bucs are 3-1 at home this season, but 0-2 on the road ... In its home games, ETSU is allowing 16.8 points, but on the road, the Blue and Gold are giving up 54.0 points ... The Bucs are allowing 318.5 yards at home, compared to 517.5 yards on the road ... At home, the Blue and Gold are holding the opposition to 28% on third down (15/54), but opponents are converting on 63% of their chances on the road (17/27) ... The Bucs are outscoring its foes, 24-7, at home in the first quarter, but are being outscored 35-7 in the frame on the road ... In addition, ETSU is being outscored 31-3 in the third quarter on the road ... The Bucs have scored 11 touchdowns at home (eight for the opponents), but only have five touchdowns on the road (15 for the opponents) ... Austin Herink is completing 66% of his passes (77-for-116) with six touchdowns at home ... Jajuan Stinson is averaging 4.2 yard per carry at home, but only 1.4 per run on the road ... Stinson is also averaging 71.7 all-purpose yards at home, but just 13.0 on the road.

TAKEAWAYS

ETSU has forced at least one takeaway in each of its first six games this season ... Paul Hunter has two interceptions this season, which ties him for the most by a single player in a season since the return of the program in 2015, when former cornerback Tavian Lott reached that same number of interceptions ... ETSU has now forced at least one turnover in 11 straight games and in 21 of its last 24 contests.

SHARING THE WEALTH

Austin Herink did a tremendous job sharing the wealth with his Buccaneer receivers in the season opener against Limestone … Herink – who threw for 239 yards in the 31-10 win over Limestone – completed passes to eight different wide receivers … Senior Vincent Lowe led the group as he tied a career high with five receptions … Redshirt junior Drake Powell finished with three receptions, while Quan Harrison and Braxton Richburg both hauled in two catches in their first ever collegiate game … Herink also completed passes to eight different receivers the next week at James Madison … Overall, 17 different players have caught at least one pass this season … Of the 17 players, nine are wide receivers, three tight ends, three running backs, one full back, and Austin Herink caught a tipped pass for negative-2 yards against The Citadel 

ABOUT WESTERN CAROLINA

• Western Carolina enters this week’s game with ETSU at an overall record of 4-2 and a SoCon mark of 2-1 … The Catamounts are coming off a 35-28 overtime loss at No. 5 Wofford on Saturday … Western Carolina is ranked No. 21 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll

• The Catamounts have played two teams ranked in the top-20 of the FCS Polls – No. 5 Wofford and No. 17 Samford – along with opening the season at FBS foe Hawaii

• Western Carolina features one of the top offenses in the FCS … The Catamounts rank sixth in total offense (504.8), eighth in first downs offense (138), ninth in rushing offense (260.5), 10^th in scoring offense (39.0), 13th in team passing efficiency (162.40), 14th in passing yards per completion (15.27) and 32nd in passing offense (244.3)

• The Catamounts have scored over 30 points in four of their first six games, including over 40 points in three of those contests … WCU is outscoring its opponents 62-17 in the first quarter and 57-34 in the third

• Offensively, the Catamounts have turned the ball over 11 times (six interceptions, five fumbles), while the defense has forced nine takeaways (five interceptions/four fumbles)

• Senior running back and three-time postseason All-American Detrez Newsome leads all FCS players in all-purpose yards (187.20), while ranking fourth in rushing yards (626) and third in rushing touchdowns (7) … Corey Holloway has totaled 415 rushing yard yards and five touchdowns

• Sophomore quarterback and reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year/First Team Freshman All-American Tyrie Adams ranks 12th in the FCS in passing touchdowns (13) and passing efficiency (161.8), 17th in passing yards (1,400), and 33rd in rushing yards (415)

• Redshirt senior wide receivers Terryon Robinson and Steffon Hill are Adams’ top two targets as they have combined for 54 receptions, 990 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns … Robinson ranks 12th in the FCS in receving yards (544) and Hill ranks 30th (446) … Robinson also ranks eighth in receiving touchdowns and Hill is 27th 

• Redshirt junior All-American punter Ian Berryman ranks seventh in the FCS in punting average (45.2)

• Junior safety Marvin Tillman ranks 15th in the FCS in solo tackles (6.0) and 26th in in total tackles per game (9.7) … Tillman is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions and has forced and recovered a fumble

• Redshirt senior linebacker Tahjai Watt leads the Catamounts with three sacks and has totaled 35 tackles (five tackles for loss)
• WCU returns 17 out of a possible 25 starters between its offense, defense and special teams units ... WCU returns nine starters on offense, seven on defense and one specialist starter
• Western Carolina returns a bulk of its offensive production from a season ago including 27 of the team’s 32 offensive touchdowns including all 16 scores on the ground – including 10 from Detrez Newsome – and 10-of-15 through the air, led by Terryon Robinson with 6 receiving scores

• The Catamount defensive unit returns with renewed vigor under new coordinator, veteran coach John Wiley ... All told, WCU returns four defenders who posted 60-or-more tackles a season ago

SERIES HISTORY

Western Carolina leads the all-time series, 23-22-1 … ETSU defeated the Catamounts 34-31 last year in the SoCon opener at Bristol Motor Speedway … After falling behind 21-3 with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter, the Bucs outscored Western Carolina, 31-10, to rally for the win … The Catamounts were driving and looking to put points on the board right before half, but Daren Ardis forced Spearman Robinson to fumble following a 43-yard reception at the ETSU 30-yard line, which allowed the Blue and Gold to post an 8-play, 71-yard scoring drive right before the half to make it 21-10 … ETSU scored on all four of its possessions in the second half to complete the comeback … Austin Herink threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, while Jajuan Stinson rushed for 91 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Blue and Gold ahead 34-24 with 1:19 remaining … Vincent Lowe, Keith Coffee and Matt Thompson all recorded their first collegiate touchdown reception in the win … The Bucs sacked Tyire Adams four times – two by Jason Maduafokwa, and one each by Daren Ardis and Trey Quillin … ETSU out-gained the Catamounts, 474-443, while the Bucs went 13-for-19 on third down … The series is knotted at 11 in games played at Western Carolina … ETSU is searching for its first road win in the series since 2002 when the Bucs defeated WCU, 27-7 … The Bucs won six straight games in the series form 1932-37, while ETSU’s largest win was a 49-10 victory in 1996 – marking the most points scored by the Bucs in the series.

COVERAGE

Saturday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app …Daniel Hooker will handle the play-by-play duties, while Kyle Rush will be the color analyst and Katie Miller will handle sideline reporting. 

CLICK HERE FOR ESPN3 BROADCAST

The Buccaneer Sports Network (BSN) will provide ETSU fans with complete pregame, in-game and postgame coverage on the radio. Games air live on the Bucs’ flagship station WXSM-AM 640 and affiliate station 104.9 FM NASH ICON.     

The BSN begins its pregame programing one hour and 30 minutes prior to kickoff with the 30-minute long ETSU Football Tailgate Show, followed by the Carl Torbush Pregame Show Powered by Ford which will lead up to 30 minutes prior to kickoff. The Appalachian Orthopaedic Countdown to Kickoff will then lead into the final moments before kickoff.       

The broadcast team of “Voice of the Bucs” Jay Sandos and color analyst Don Helman, and studio hosts Mike Gallagher and Andy Jackson will provide ETSU fans all the information they need to complement their game-day activities.      

Following each game, fans can tune into the General Shale Post Game Show for a full wrap up, with game statistics, players and coach interviews, and other post-game information.       

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE AUDIO

In addition to following the Bucs on your mobile device and/or tablet with live audio and video, fans can get up-to-the-minute stats by following the action via live stats. Western Carolina offers live stats via Gametracker.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STATS

UP NEXT

Following its open week, ETSU returns home to host No. 5 Wofford on Saturday, Oct. 28 … Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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