Week 3 Southern Conference Game Breakdowns
For the second consecutive week, No. 6 Appalachian State will be in the spotlight game as it hosts The Citadel in a key conference matchup. The Mountaineers are coming off a thrilling 35-27 victory over Montana before 30,856 in Boone, N.C., on Saturday. The two perennial FCS powers showed why they’ll be part of any national championship discussion as they put on another classic in their series. Meanwhile, The Citadel made noise of its own as the host Bulldogs upended Georgia Southern. Can The Citadel pull off another stunner? The Bulldogs visit Appalachian State Saturday afternoon. Here’s a look at the games:
THE CITADEL AT #6 APPALACHIAN STATE (3:30 p.m. Saturday at Kidd-Brewer Stadium, Boone, N.C.)
Whichever team can sustain the emotion from last week might have the edge here. The Citadel (2-0) stunned Georgia Southern 23-21 on Thomas Warren’s 37-yard field goal in the final minute while Appalachian State (1-1) toppled Montana 35-27 in the first regular-season meeting between the two perennial FCS powers. The Citadel, which had lost to Georgia Southern five consecutive times, took advantage of several Eagles’ miscues. Meanwhile, Montana (1-1), who won their two postseason meetings with the Mountaineers (1-1), drove from their 11 to the Appalachian State 42, converting two fourth downs, before Demetrius McCray’s interception secured the victory for App State. The Mountaineers’ quarterback Jamal Jackson, who was the CSM Offensive Player of the Week in the Southern Conference, was 24 of 34 for 260 yards, his ninth consecutive game over 200 for Appalachian State. It will be an interesting matchup against the Bulldogs’ defense, led by Rah Muhammad. The sophomore linebacker from Gadsden City, Ala., had 16 tackles (13 solo) against Georgia Southern and forced a fumble. For his efforts, he was named the CSM National Defensive Player of the Week. App State will be looking for its 19th consecutive home victory.
Projected score: Appalachian State 24, The Citadel 16
WESTERN CAROLINA AT #13 WOFFORD (7 p.m. Saturday at Gibbs Stadium, Spartansburg, S.C.)
Here’s how lopsided Saturday’s 82-0 victory over Lincoln, Pa., was for Wofford (2-0) Eight Terriers accounted for touchdowns and 17 players had rushing attempts. It was the second most points in school history on the way to the largest margin of victory ever. For Wofford, the offense had 602 total yards and the defense limited the Lions to 179 total yards. Wofford compiled 402 yards on the ground last week against Gardner-Webb, and dating to last season the Terriers have run for 400-plus yards in three straight games. Meanwhile, Western Carolina (1-1) fell to Marshall as Rakeem Cato threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, 52-24. The Catamounts won’t see that kind of passing attack this week, but they will be hard-pressed to stop Wofford’s ground attack.
Projected score: Wofford 28, Western Carolina 10
FURMAN AT CLEMSON (3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.)
Furman (0-2) fell to Coastal Carolina 47-45 in triple overtime at rain-soaked Paladin Stadium Saturday evening. The Paladins have lost the opening two games by a combined five points. Miscues in special teams again proved costly as the Paladins fumbled a punt at their own 12 that led to a Coastal Carolina touchdown and 17-6 third quarter deficit. Then, in the fourth quarter after slicing the lead to 17-12, the Paladins yielded a 100-yard return for a defensive extra point and a 63-yard return on the subsequent kickoff return. Furman’s Reese Hannon, a former all-state quarterback from Greer (S.C.) High School, came off the bench late in the second quarter following an injury to Dakota Derrick and proceeded to pass for 255 yards and four touchdowns — all in the second half and in the overtime frames. Appearing in his first collegiate game, the true freshman completed 22-of-35 passes and threw scoring strikes covering 10, 21, 22, and 25 yards. Clemson (2-0) is ranked No. 11 in this week’s College Sports Madness Top 25 after beating Ball State 52-27 on Saturday. Spencer Benton set an Atlantic Coast Conference record when he connected on a 61-yard field goal as time ran out in the opening half that gave the Tigers a 45-10 lead. It was highest first-half output for the Tigers since their national championship season in 1981. And Tigers’ standout wide receiver Sammy Watkins is expected back after serving a two-game suspension for an offseason drug arrest. The Paladins, who have lost 29 straight in the series, must hope Clemson is looking ahead to its nationally televised game at Florida State next week.
Projected score: Clemson 41, Furman 10
SAMFORD AT GARDNER-WEBB (3 p.m. Saturday at Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Samford has won two straight in the series, including last season’s 41-14 win in Birmingham and leads the overall series 5-2. The two teams’ last meeting in Boiling Springs was a thriller, with Samford taking a 49-41 win in triple overtime in 2001. On Saturday, Samford rolled to a 25-point halftime lead and cruised to a 34-6 victory against Division II West Alabama. The Bulldogs (2-0) amassed 227 yards rushing and rolled up 452 yards of total offense to control the game. Through the first two games of the season, Samford’s defense has forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions and two fumbles. Gardner-Webb, which has scored only one touchdown in 2012, bowed to CAA member Richmond 41-8. In its first two games, Gardner-Webb has found itself on the wrong side of third-down conversion statistics. Offensively, GWU has converted just seven times in 31 third-down opportunities.
Projected score: Samford 31, Gardner-Webb 10
GLENVILLE STATE AT CHATTANOOGA (7 p.m. Thursday at Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tenn.)
The Chattanooga Mocs (0-2) dropped a 27-24 decision at the hands of Jacksonville State (1-1) Saturday evening. UTC tied the game at 24 with 39 seconds left, only to see the Gamecocks kick a 37-yard field goal to win as time expired. The Gamecocks (1-1) led by as many as 14, but Chattanooga’s Jacob Huesman passed for two touchdowns in the second half, including a game-tying, 16-yard scoring pass to Ron Moore with 39 seconds left. Huesman racked up 347 yards of total offense in his first collegiate start. He ran for 166 yards on 21 carries and completed 18 of 30 for 181 yards. His 166 rushing yards are the second-most by a quarterback in school history and the second-most by a freshman in the Chattanooga record books. The Mocs hope to get untracked in their home opener against Division II Glenville State (1-1). The Pioneers defeated Fairmont State 41-21 last Thursday night. These two last met in 2009 with Chattanooga prevailing 30-13.
Projected score: Chattanooga 34, Glenville State 7
WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT ELON (3 p.m. Saturday at Rhodes Stadium, Elon, N.C.)
Elon’s defense held North Carolina Central to 110 yards total offense in a 34-14 victory on Saturday night. The Phoenix (1-1) had three interceptions and limited their opponent to just 39 yards in the first half when they built a 31-7 advantage. Elon quarterback Thomas Wilson completed 13 of 18 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yarder to Thomas Wilson with 10 seconds left in the first half. It was the 900th game in Elon’s history. Meanwhile, West Virginia State fell to North Carolina A&T 77-0 Saturday evening in Greensboro. West Virginia State (1-1) was held to 41 yards total offense.
Projected score: Elon 48, West Virginia State 6
See All FCS Games of the Week Breakdowns
