WCU to face defending I-AA champs Saturday

After losing 31-13 at home to Furman, the nation's fourth-ranked Division I-AA team, the Catamounts will hit the road to meet Georgia Southern, the top-ranked I-AA squad and the two-time defending national champions.

Kickoff time is 1 p.m. at Paulson Stadium.

Adrian Peterson paces the offense for Coach Paul Johnson, a WCU graduate, with 152.5 yards per game. That leads the Southern Conference while Western's Fred Boateng is third at 96.2 yards. Peterson has rushed for at least 100 yards in 35 straight games, tying a national record for all divisions.

The Eagles (4-0, 2-0) have been dominant thus far. They are scoring 52 points per game and giving up just 8.5 points. Both marks are the best in the conference, and the 52 points are the most in the nation by a I-AA team.

They also lead the league in the following categories:

Pass defense, 113.2; punting, 37.1; turnover margin, +1.75, rushing offense, 375; rushing defense, 98; total offense, 486.5; total defense, 211.2; punt returns, 14.5; pass efficiency, 158.1; pass defensive efficiency, 82.9; first downs, 88, fewest first downs allowed, 44; fourth down conversion percentage, 66.7; and opponent's third down conversion percentage, 22.0.

Western (2-2, 1-1) is tops in time of possession at 34:49 as well as kickoff coverage (14.2) and third down conversion percentage (44.3).

Peterson has an average of 152.5 all-purpose yards and is averaging 16.5 points to lead the conference in both departments.

The Eagles don't throw often, but when they do they are successful. Quarterback J.R. Revere tops the league in passing efficiency (152.8). His favorite target is Derrick Owens.

Western has continued to utilize two quarterbacks. Brian Gaither has started most games with Pat Cilento coming off the bench.

GSU has won 34 straight home games and 17 straight home games against conference foes.

The Catamounts have lost nine of 11 games in the series with their last win coming in 1994.

Back to Sports: 10/04/01.