UC Bulldogs vs. W.Va. Tech - Union College Athletics

2008 UNION BULLDOG FOOTBALL
then moved up to No. 16 in the Sept. 22 Top 25
Poll.
Clock management - Bulldog style
During the first 3 games of the season, Union
has won the time-management battle, holding
the ball for over 34 minutes twice and for nearly
32 minutes in the 23-13 win at Faulkner (Ala.)
on Sept. 20.
In the 27-21 at Lambuth, Union had the ball
for 34 minutes and 5 seconds. Against Malone,
the Bulldogs topped that with a 34:21 time of
possession.
However, against Malone, Union only
had possession for 12:15 in the first half.
The Bulldogs took over in the third quarter,
controlling the ball for 12:57 in the period
alone. Union held the ball for 22:06 in the
second half and allowed Malone to get off a
total of 18 offensive plays.
Against Georgetown, Union did not
finish with the lead in time of possession as
Georgetown held the ball for 31:20. However,
the Tigers had the ball for 18:18 in the first half
- and 11:11 in the first quarter alone, but the
Bulldogs ate up the clock in the second half by
hanging on to the ball for 16:58.
On the season, Union is averaging 32:08 in
time of possession.
Making Second-Half Adjustments
Union owns the third quarter this season,
outscoring its opponents 34-0. The Bulldogs
hold a slight edge in the first half, outscoring
opponents 38-35 in the first and 31-28 in the
second for an overall first-half edge of 69-63.
However, Union has yet to surrender a
point in the third quarter. A big reason for this
is due to the fact that the Bulldogs average
9:07 in time of possession in the third quarter.
TRANSLATION: Opponents can’t score if they
don’t have the ball.
Opponents do hold the advantage in the
fourth quarter, outscoring Union 27-17. Yet,
Union has owned at least a 7-point lead going
into the fourth quarter. Versus Lambuth, the
score was 24-7 (27-21 final), Union led 35-28
heading into the fourth against Malone (that
was the final score), the Bulldogs led 16-7 at
Faulkner to start the fourth before winning 23-
13, and Union was up 28-21 to begin the final
period in the 35-28 win over Georgetown.
Score by Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Union 38 31 34 17 - 120
Opponents 35 28 0 27 - 90
Smith Collects MSC Defensive POW Honors
It’s beginning to become part of the weekly
routine at Union as LB Marekus Smith (SR, 5-
10, 196) was named the Mid-South Conference
Defensive Player of the Week.
In the four weeks that the conference has
handed out Players of the Week awards, the
Bulldogs have garnered 5 of out of the 12
possible honors.
Smith received this week’s honor after
recording 8 total tackles (6 solos) and a sack
of 11 yards in the 35-28 win over then-No. 18
Georgetown (Ky.). Smith also intercepted a
pass, returning it 34 yards to set up the eventual
game-winning touchdown.
Other MSC Player of the week winners
GAME NOTES
2008 Mid-South Conference Standings & Stats
East Division
Conference
Overall
W-L Pct. W-L Pct.
Union College 1-0 1.000 4-0 1.000
UVa-Wise 1-0 1.000 3-1 .750
Campbellsville University 1-0 1.000 1-3 .250
University of the Cumberlands 0-0 .000 3-1 .750
Pikeville College 0-0 .000 1-3 .333
Georgetown College 0-1 .000 1-2 .333
West Virginia Tech 0-2 .000 0-4 .000
Last Week’s Results
* Campbellsville def. West Virginia Tech, 57-47
Lambuth def. UVa-Wise, 51-20
Cumberlands (Ky.) def. Cumberland (Tenn.), 52-37
* Shorter def. Faulkner, 42-0
* Union def. Georgetown, 35-28
Pikeville def. Kentucky Christian, 20-14 (OT)
* Bethel def. Belhaven, 31-21
*-MSC divisional game.
include: RB Terence Pollock (JR, 5-10, 223)
and P/K Jacob Appleby (FR, 5-10185) on Sept.
22, and Pollock and LB Willie Williams (SR,
6-4, 220) on Sept. 8.
By Air Or By Land - UC Getting It Done
By and large, Union has been a pass-oriented
team in recent years. However, judging by the
first 4 games, things could be changing.
Union tallied 1519 total yards on offense
with 815 through the air and 705 on the ground
- one of the more balanced attacks Union has
displayed in some time. In the 23-13 win at
Faulkner (Ala.), the Bulldogs racked up 334
yards rushing and 517 yards in total offense.
The last time Union ran for more than 300
yards came in a 57-27 win over Bethel (Tenn.)
on Oct. 11, 2003, as the Bulldogs amassed 377
West Division
Conference
Overall
W-L Pct. W-L Pct.
Shorter College 1-0 1.000 3-1 .750
Bethel College 1-0 1.000 1-3 .333
Lambuth University 0-0 .000 3-2 .600
Cumberland University 0-0 .000 1-2 .333
Belhaven College 0-1 .000 0-4 .000
Faulkner University 0-1 .000 0-4 .000
This Week’s Schedule
* Faulkner @ Belhaven, 1:30 pm
* Pikeville @ Cumberlands (Ky.), 1:30 pm
* Union @ West Virginia Tech, 1:30 pm
* UVa-Wise @ Georgetown, 1:30 pm
Shorter @ Campbellsville, 2 pm
* Bethel @ Cumberland (Tenn.), 3:30 pm
*-MSC divisional game; All times are Eastern.
MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Campbellsville University’s Greg Fountain, Union College’s Marekus Smith and Lambuth University’s Ryan Nanney
have been named Mid-South Conference Football Players of the Week, the conference announced on Sunday.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fountain rushed for 255 yards and fi ve touchdowns to earn MSC Offensive Player of the Week. The Owensboro, Ky.,
senior running back set a program record with 40 rushes as he helped the Tigers to a 57-47 win over West Virginia
University Institute of Technology. Campbellsville is 1-3 overall and tied atop the West Division at 1-0.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Smith, a native of Lithonia, Ga., recorded eight tackles -- six solo -- and had a sack to earn Mid-South Defensive Player
of the Week. The senior linebacker also recorded an interception which set up the Bulldogs game-winning touchdown in
a 35-28 win over Georgetown College. No. 16-ranked Union is 4-0 overall and tied for the East Division lead at 1-0.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nanney was a perfect 3-for-3 on fi eld goals and made all six point after attempts to earn MSC Special Teams Player of
the Week. The Dresden, Tenn., junior placekicker connected on fi eld goals of 27, 38 and 27 yards in the Eagles’ 51-40
win over No. 7-ranked University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Lambuth improves to 3-2 on the season with the win.
yards on the ground.
But against Georgetown (Ky.), Union had
253 passing yards and only 97 rushing yards.
A big reason for the balanced offensive attack
improved and experienced offensive line.
The Bulldogs o-line is anchored by LT
Quintin Borders (SO, 6-6, 318), who was a First
Team All-MSC East selection as a freshman in
2007. C Brock Evans (JR, 6-1, 292) has proven
to be a solid contributor on the line as has RG
Joe Mullinax (SO, 6-0, 317).
Currently, Evans is the lone junior on the 2-
deep at any of the o-line positions and there are
no seniors to speak of. Translation: the Bulldog
offensive should be strong for seasons to come.
Manning the line
Union has done a good job owning the line of
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