Date: November 13th, 2021

Time: 2:00 PM

Opponent: Western Carolina (3-6, 3-3 SoCon)

Place: E.J. Whitmire Stadium (13,742)

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3 (Free with cable package*)

Radio online: 640WXSM.com (Free)

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The all-time series has WCU by the slimmest of margins (25-24-1), and the last 3 games have seen ETSU score 89 points while the Cats have scored 83. There have been 2 out of the last 3 go to at least 1 OT, and the “biggest” win in those 3 was ETSU beating Western 24-17 last Spring.

The records and rankings wouldn’t point to it, but you guys seem to play a lot of close games with just about everybody in the SoCon the last 3 years. WCU is playing much better of late, so this one has a chance to be another good one. Safe travels for anybody heading to the game.

What appeared to be a likely win earlier in the season now has all the makings of a trap game.

WCU has won three in a row, and they just hung 43 points on a very good Furman defense (ETSU managed a mere 17 points against the Paladins). The Buccaneer defense will need a great effort, or the onus will be on the offense to outscore the Cats offense (similar to the Samford game).

Certainly, the Bucs can't afford to be looking ahead to Mercer.

(11-09-2021 05:09 PM)Flippmb Wrote:  What appeared to be a likely win earlier in the season now has all the makings of a trap game.

WCU has won three in a row, and they just hung 43 points on a very good Furman defense (ETSU managed a mere 17 points against the Paladins). The Buccaneer defense will need a great effort, or the onus will be on the offense to outscore the Cats offense (similar to the Samford game).

Certainly, the Bucs can't afford to be looking ahead to Mercer.

The coaches have been preaching this since the end of the VMI game Saturday. Let us hope the message has gotten through and the Bucs play up to their abilities. Go Bucs!

(11-09-2021 05:09 PM)Flippmb Wrote:  What appeared to be a likely win earlier in the season now has all the makings of a trap game.

WCU has won three in a row, and they just hung 43 points on a very good Furman defense (ETSU managed a mere 17 points against the Paladins). The Buccaneer defense will need a great effort, or the onus will be on the offense to outscore the Cats offense (similar to the Samford game).

Certainly, the Bucs can't afford to be looking ahead to Mercer.

I had already put this one in the Win Column a few weeks back but it is far from being a "give me" game.

If WCU watched video of the second half of the VMI game - and of course they did..........................they'll hurt us over the middle short. Hopefully Billy Taylor has fixed that issue. And that pass completion on the fumble was an example of that gap. Great run by Saylors!

First one to 70?

Buc Defense looks terrible.

Anyone know those folks wearing ETSU uniforms? I've never seen them before.

Wells is a really, really good SoCon QB. ETSU, honestly, can't handle him very well. And after watching what VMI did in the second half against us, I knew this would happen. Just didn't know the degree. I've always been a bit befuddled by people saying how good ETSU's secondary is. Their stats may look good, but they haven't faced many QBs of this caliber. Not to mention, the pass rush has been nearly nonexistent. (But a lot of that is because Wells is so mobile, and can easily make time to find even tertiary receivers. Something Riddell just can't do.)

If Vandy's coach watches the film of this game later on, he'll probably vomit.

Outsider, so take it with a grain of salt. WCU certainly could have won a couple of early games. The 0-6 start was not indicative of the offensive potential we had. Kerwin and Kade (OC) Bell’s teams have been averaging 40-50 points per game at Jacksonville U and Valdosta State, and if we could keep from turning the ball over we would probably be 6-3 instead of 3-6. It will come down to Western ever stopping the run game or cutting out our TOs for us to win, and for you guys getting some more TOs and/or gashing is with the run game. But I would argue this is the best offense you guys have faced this season.

Problem for the Cats, we are probably one of the worst Defenses you have faced. Might be another wild half of football.

Thanks for your input. I don't disagree with any of your comments.

Looks like you guys will take the 2 things I said WCU couldn’t allow - keep running it and turnovers. ETSU has a heckuva team, so best of luck in the playoffs. Make some noise for the SoCon!

35 fewer points given up in the 2nd half vs. the 1st half. Can't complain about that.

Defense struggled in the first half but did its job in the 2nd. Great win.

Wow! I am so proud of my Bucs! That first half had me wondering where our defense had disappeared to. But that second half showed how Billy Taylor is one of the best DCs in the country. Thank you coaches and players! WCU has one of the nation's best offenses and it showed today. WCU is good.

OFF-TOPIC..............

Didn't want to start a new thread just for these comments - which are about SoCon teams in general.........

Wofford, just 2 years past winning the conference, fail at a 2-pt. conversion for the win in OT, thus losing to Citadel and going 0-fer in the SoCon. Beat Elon to start the season, and then lost the next 9.

Sammie was up 7 on FL at the half, but lost 70-52. I guess that's the game I was referring to when I quipped "First one to 70?". Both teams had over 400 yds. passing.

With 2 minutes left in the UTC/Mercer dogfight, Mercer has 58 yds. rushing; Chatt 114. Both teams less than 200 yds. passing, too.

Mercer wins. Socon championship will be decided in JC.

For all the marbles!

Billy Taylor-the Wizard of Defense.