Oct. 28, 2006

Final Stats

Spartanburg, S.C. - Western Carolina senior tailback Darius Fudge rushed for 132 yards on 26 carries (5.1 yards per attempt), which propelled him to 10th on the Catamount all-time rushing yards list with 2,075, but it was not enough to overcome Wofford's 337 yards on the ground as the Terriers pulled away late for a 35-7 decision over the Catamounts Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium.

Fudge's accomplishment is impressive, considering he only averages just 10.2 rushing attempts per game for his career. With that, he currently ranks second on the school's all-time list with his average of 5.34 yards per carry for his career. He is on pace to become just the sixth Catamount to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season and, at that rate, would finish his career ranked among the WCU all-time top five in rushing yards.

Also, despite the setback, junior receiver Michael Hines hauled in a career-high 10 passes, while classmate Eddie Cohen averaged 19.5 yards on his four receptions for 78 yards.

The Terriers controlled the game early. After a Stephen Brown punt backed Wofford up on its own 10, the Terriers put together a six-play, 90-yard drive - highlighted by a 25-yard Dane Romero touchdown - to take a 7-0 lead on their first possession.

Wofford looked to be backed up again early in the second quarter after a 50-yard Tim Mayse punt, but a WCU penalty allowed the Terriers to start their drive on the Catamount 39. Wofford built on that momentum with a one-play, 61-yard TD pass from Josh Collier to Justice Joslin. On its next possession, Wofford went back to its methodical style of play, grinding out a seven-play, 90-yard scoring drive, capped by Collier's three-yard run.

Western responded with perhaps its longest drive of the season, using 7:03 off the clock. No play during the 13-play drive was longer than eight yards, except the final one which was a 12-yard Bennett Swygert to redshirt freshman Joe Clark pass. The reception was just the fifth of Clark's career and his first career score.

Western defense kept Wofford off the board in the third, thanks to a forced punt after a long drive and a missed Terrier field goal. The Catamounts were also having success moving the ball on offense and had the momentum. However, as the third quarter drew to a close, Swygert was sacked and fumbled, which Wofford's Kyle Horne recovered on the Terrier 20. Wofford only need three plays to score, coming on a Kevious Johnson nine-yard run, to make the tally 28-7 in Wofford's favor and essentially sealing the win.

Wofford did tack on a final score with just under six minutes to play to provide the final 35-7 margin.

Western, who was forced to put the ball in the air more in the second half, was sacked five times in the contest. Coming into the game, Western's offensive line had only allowed seven sacks in seven games and had not allowed a sack since the Elon game - a span of two games and 72 pass attempts.

Johnson led the Terrier rushing attack with 103 yards on 11 carries, while Adrian Young had 86 yards on nine attempts. For Western, Swygert, who left the game in the fourth quarter for the third consecutive week due to re-injuring his ankle, finished by completing 14-of-23 passes for 108 yards and a score. Todd Spitzer came off the bench to complete 5-of-9 passes for 60 yards.

Defensively for the Catamounts, senior Mitchell Dukes recorded 11 tackles, while classmate and WCU's leading tackler on the season Shelton Gaffney had nine and a forced fumble. Mordy Ornguze added eight stops.

Western Carolina will complete its three-game road swing by traveling to Lynchburg, Va., next Saturday (Nov. 4) to face Liberty. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.