Sept. 20, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

Statesboro, Ga. - Georgia Southern used a solid defensive effort, limiting Western Carolina to three points and minus-12 yards rushing in downing the Catamounts, 27-3, Saturday night in front of 17,633 fans at Paulson Stadium in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

GSU's Lee Chapple threw two touchdown passes and Adam Urbano had the Eagles' first rushing score of the season in the win which handed Western its 15th-straight loss in the head-to-head series and also kept the Catamounts winless in Statesboro (0-10).

The Eagles (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) kept an opponent out of the end zone for the first time in six years, snapped a five-game conference losing streak at home and won their league opener for the first time since 2005.

Catamounts quarterback Zack Jaynes was 13-for-33 for 206 yards and had a pass intercepted in the end zone that ended a would-be scoring drive while trailing, 3-0, in the first quarter. Antoine George blocked an Adrian Mora field goal attempt, with Jaynes moving Western to the GSU 12 on the strength of a 44-yard pitch-and-catch with tight end Chris Everett. However, three plays later, Jaynes was intercepted by Darrell Pasco while trying the fade route to the left corner of the end zone.

Western Carolina (0-3, 0-1 SoCon) had 12 carries for minus-12 yards and fumbled the ball inside the five-yard line in the second quarter that ended its best offensive drive of the night. After the WCU defense forced a three-and-out, Jaynes hooked up with receiver Marquel Pittman for a 44-yard gain on the first play following the punt, giving the Catamounts the ball at the GSU 14. The Catamounts were able to move the ball to the two before a holding penalty backed it up to the 12.

Jaynes then found freshman George Richardson - who finished with a team-high 131 all-purpose yards - on a screen pass in the right flat. However, as the rookie surged forward, he was stripped of the football ending the scoring threat. Eagle linebacker Dion Dubose returned the fumble 57 yards to set up the first Eagles touchdown, a 13-yard Chapple strike that gave the Eagles a 10-0 edge midway through the second quarter.

Pittman finished with 93 yards on just three catches - all in the first half - as seven different receivers combined for the 13 catches. Freshman Mike Johnson caught three passes for 26 yards while classmate D.J. McLendon also hauled in three passes.

Chapple was 26-for-38 for 249 yards as Georgia Southern rolled up 461 yards offense. Urbano rushed for 78 yards and a 13-yard score in the fourth quarter that provided the final tally.

Georgia Southern led 17-0 at halftime and stretched its lead to 20-0 with Mora's second field goal at the 10:27 mark of the third.

Western Carolina capitalized on just its second takeaway of the season as sophomore Brandon Vaught hit GSU's Jamere Valentine just after fielding a punt, jarring the football loose and then pouncing on the bouncing ball give the Catamounts its best starting field position of the game. After three plays, though, the Catamounts had to settle for a 32-yard Blake Bostic field goal.

Catamount senior Chris Collins recorded a career-high 14 tackles in the loss, including matching his career benchmark in the first half. The High Point, N.C., native finished with nine solo stops and five assists, while classmate Adrian McLeod posted 13 total hits and sophomore Ricky Schwarz had 11. Senior lineman Gene Singletary recorded three tackles for loss.

Western Carolina returns home next Saturday, Sept. 26 to host the Furman Paladins on Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.