Nov. 13, 2010

Final Stats |  Notes |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Georgia Southern's Robert Brown rushed for a career-best 148 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Jaybo Shaw scored twice as the Eagles downed Western Carolina, 28-6, in the 2010 home finale Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Western Carolina scored on its first two offensive possessions of the game on Saturday as senior Blake Bostic connected on field goals of 36 and 38 yards. However, six of WCU's final 11 possessions ended in turnovers including three interceptions, two fumbles and a blocked field goal as the Catamounts could not scratch the scoreboard over the final three quarters.

Aided by WCU's longest play from scrimmage coming on its first offensive snap - a 44 yard rush by sophomore tailback Michael Johnson - the Catamounts drove 51 yards before stalling with Bostic connecting from 36 yards out to give the squad an early, 3-0, advantage.

Georgia Southern (6-4, 4-3 SoCon) responded with a 65-yard drive that took nine plays to claim a lead it would never relinquish. J.J. Wilcox plunged in from two yards out to hand the Eagles a 7-3 advantage.

Late in the first quarter, WCU starting quarterback Zac Brindise guided the Catamounts into scoring position, but had the drive stall as two fade route passes to Marquel Pittman in the end zone fell incomplete. Bostic then came on and connected from 38 yards to pull WCU back within a point, 7-6.

On the ensuing possession, Western Carolina's defense gave the squad a golden opportunity to try and climb back on top. On the sixth play of GSU's drive, senior C.J. Johnson broke through on a third and long to sack Shaw, forcing the Eagles to punt. The snap to punter Charlie Edwards was high and as he landed, he slipped where redshirt freshman Mike Anderson smothered him to give the Catamounts possession at the GSU 18 yard line.

However, consecutive incomplete passes and a 16-yard loss on an Eagle sack pushed the Catamounts out of field goal range with WCU forced to punt.

Brindise finished 18-of-33 for 191 yards, but tossed three interceptions and was sacked three times. He found four different receivers with Jacoby Mitchell hauling in eight passes for 79 yards and Josh Cockrell catching five for 50. Both SoCon Freshman of the Year candidate, Deja Alexander, and junior tight end Andrew Rogers caught two passes with Alexander recording 44 yards and Rogers finishing with 15.

But perhaps the biggest momentum shift of the game came late in the third quarter. Four plays after a Laron Scott interception thwarted a would-be Catamount scoring drive in the end zone, converted defensive back Chris Everett jarred the football loose from Wilcox with another DB convert, Randy Pressley, snagging the bouncing ball on the fumble recovery and giving WCU possession at mid-field.

The Catamounts moved 32 yards before yet again stalling with Bostic called upon for a field goal attempt. Unfortunately, his low, line-drive 36-yard boot was blocked by Roderick Tinsley, ending another possible scoring threat.

Georgia Southern capped the momentum swing on the very next play as Brown broke into the open field for an 80-yard touchdown run and a 21-6 lead.

Shaw, who finished with just 20 yards rushing after losing 13 on a pair of Catamount sacks, added a one-yard score early in the fourth quarter, capping an 11-play drive to seal the victory for the Eagles, their second-straight on the year.

Everett led the Catamounts with a career-best 11 tackles while true freshman linebacker Courtland Carson recorded his career-best 10 stops. Senior defensive lineman Charles Johnson tallied a career-best eight stops in his final home appearance including a team-leading two tackles for loss.

The Catamounts return to action next Saturday, Nov. 20 as it wraps up the regular season at Elon with a 3:00 pm kickoff from Gibb s Stadium.