Sept. 12, 2009
Recap |
Final Stats |
Quotes |
Post-Game Notes
Gardner-Webb 27, Western Carolina 20
E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Sat., Sept. 12, 2009
With the loss...
- Snapped Western Carolina's 11-game winning streak in home opening contests;
- Extended WCU's current losing skid to four games dating back to last season;
- Marks WCU's second 0-2 start since 2000 - opened 2007 at 0-3 with losses at Alabama, Eastern Kentucky and Georgia;
- Gives Gardner-Webb a two-game winning streak in the head-to-head series and a one-game edge in the overall all-time series (3-2).
Post-Game Notes:
- The last two meetings between Western Carolina and Gardner-Webb have been decided by a combined 13 points - one touchdown in each affair ... the Bulldogs nipped WCU, 26-20, in Boiling Springs back in 2004 and survived a second half rally on Saturday night to win, 27-20, in Cullowhee;
- WCU quarterback Zack Jaynes tossed just his fifth career interception on Saturday night, ending a streak of 93-consecutive pass attempts without a turnover dating back to the Chattanooga game last season;
- The "Canton Connection" of redshirt sophomores Zack Jaynes and wide receiver Josh Cockrell hooked up for a 54-yard pitch-and-catch in the third quarter which represents the longest play from scrimmage this season for WCU;
- Zack Jaynes tossed a seven-yard TD pass to Marquel Pittman with 4:27 left in the third quarter for the Catamounts' first score of the 2009 season ... the score ended an eight-quarter scoreless drought that dated back to the final two quarters of the 2008 season finale vs. Appalachian State, and included four quarters at Vanderbilt in the season opener and the opening two quarters on Saturday night;
- Redshirt junior WR Marquel Pittman eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the fifth-time in his WCU career, finishing with 113 yards on nine catches ... the 113 yards represents his second-highest receiving yardage in a single game, while his nine catches match a career-high - equaling the total he had at Wofford in '08;
- Pittman's two TD catches against Gardner-Webb marks his first multiple touchdown performance since 2006 - he had two TDs against The Citadel and Chattanooga in consecutive weeks;
- Senior Chris Collins recorded a career-high, 3.0 tackles for loss in Saturday night's loss to Gardner-Webb ... Classmate Antoine George recorded his first-career blocked kick, swatting a would-be Bulldog field goal attempt in the second quarter;
- After falling behind by 20 points on Saturday night, Western Carolina scored 20 unanswered points - beginning with a touchdown with 4:27 left in the third quarter - to tie Gardner-Webb with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter.
Miscellaneous Notes:
- Western Carolina game captain: Senior DB Chris Collins; redshirt sophomore QB Zack Jaynes; junior WR Marquel Pittman; & senior DL Gene Singletary. It was the second-straight game as a captain for Jaynes and Singletary, with Pittman and Collins making their first appearance at the midfield coin toss.
