Know Your Foe: Wofford Terriers
2024 Record: 3-5 (1-4 SoCon)
Last Week: L vs ETSU, 24-7
Head Coach: Shawn Watson (3rd season)
Last Meeting: Samford W, 31-10
Betting: Samford -8.5, O/U 47.5
TV: ESPN+
Kick Off: 2:00pm CT
Fun Fact: Samford has won the last nine matchups which is the longest win streak in the series.
Well so much for the Samford season being back on track following the 28-11 loss at The Citadel. Samford held a 3-0 lead at halftime and did not score a touchdown until the clock hit 0:00. That score plus the two-point conversion made sure the Bulldogs made the score look somewhat better. The Samford offense has struggled to score points in the second half and specifically the fourth quarter.
Samford is averaging 9.4 PPG in the second half and just 3.4 PPG in the fourth quarter. The Samford defense has scored more fourth quarter TDs than the Samford offense, 2 to 1. The Bulldogs defense had the scoop-and-score TD followed by the Noah Martin pick-six against Mercer. Samford had averaged 45 PPG in the last five matchups against The Citadel.
Luckily for Samford, the Wofford offense has not been much better the last couple weeks. The Terriers have scored a combined 12 points in their previous two games albeit to ranked teams in Chattanooga and ETSU. Here is where the Wofford offense sits in certain offensive categories in the Southern Conference.
16.4 PPG (8th)
290.2 Yards Per Game (8th)
189.5 Pass Yards Per Game (7th)
100.8 Rush Yds Per Game (6th)
8 Pass TDs (7th)
7 Rush TDs (7th)
27% 3rd Down Conv. (8th)
So the Wofford offense has had their own struggles this season as the Terriers have seen five different quarterbacks get playing time. 5th year senior Bryce Corriston started last time out against ETSU and finished with just 103 passing yards on 8-of-19 passing. There is no telling who Wofford will start so we can safely assume Corriston will start.
Senior RB Ryan Ingram leads the team in rushing yards with 340 yards and in touchdowns with four. WR Kyle Watkins leads the offense in receiving yards with 463 but just one touchdown. Watkins does have two games this season with over 100 receiving yards and those were in the first two weeks of the season.
Defensively the Terriers have been better this season but they have struggled recently giving up 61 points in the last couple weeks. The rushing defense has struggled but the pass defense has been really good. Here is where Wofford ranks in certain defensive categories.
339.5 Yards Per Game (3rd)
174.4 Pass Yards Per Game (1st)
165.5 Rush Yards Per Game (7th)
9 Sacks (9th)
49 TFLs (5th)
12 INTs (3rd)
Wofford is susceptible in the ground game and that can be where Samford attacks this defense even though Samford is 8th in the SoCon in that category. LB Jalen Marshall leads the team in total tackles with 63. Marshall also leads the Terriers in tackles for loss with nine.
Redshirt freshman DB CJ Coomes is having a solid season being second on the team in total tackles with 59. Wofford does have four separate players with two interceptions so they are skilled in the secondary.
So can the Samford offense find any rhythm in the second half? Samford lost the field possession battle against The Citadel and the Samford offense struggled because of it. Can they move the football and find success back on their home turf? Samford could really use a Homecoming win to get back to .500.
