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

2008 UNION BULLDOG FOOTBALL
GAME NOTES
Catching Up with Callahan
WR Kyle Callahan (JR, 6-0, 197) has hauled
in a 16 passes for 189 yards and 4 TDs this
season, moving him into the Top 10 all-time in
receptions. He currently has 92 career catches
for 1,278 yards and 14 TDs, tying him with
Mike Jones for 8th. He needs 4 more catches
to put him in 5th place all-time as Kevin
Bradshaw had 93 career receptions, David
Fairbanks 94 and Ernie Samuel 95. for 7th.
Also, the Covington, Ky. native is 8 catches
shy of becoming only the 5th player in program
history to haul in a 100 passes.
In addition, Callahan needs 364 receiving
yards for second place. To overtake the top spot,
Callahan would have to amass 805 receiving
yards as Pete Greene holds that mark at 2,082.
Callahan has a shot at the single-season and
career TD receptions records. He currently
has 4 TDs on the season and 14 to his credit,
needing only 3 to surpass the mark of 16, which
is held by Greene and Courtney Elesby. Elesby
set the single-season mark at 9 in 2005.
Last season, Callahan became the 14th player
in program history to amass 40 receptions in
a season when he hauled in 60 passes for 816
yards and 8 TDs.
In addition, he was just the 3rd player in
program history to amass at least 60 receptions
in a season and 4th to rack up over 800
receiving yards.
Player (Years)
Career Receptions
Pete Greene (1986-89) 148
Shawn Kelly (2004-07) 136
Courtney Elesby (2002-05) 125
John Smith (1988-91) 106
Ernie Samuel (2001-02) 95
David Fairbanks (2003-06) 94
Kevin Bradshaw (1990-92) 93
Kyle Callahan (2005-present) 92
Mike Jones (1986-89) 92
Jim Maynor (1999-00) 85
Pollock Among MSC Leaders, Chasing 1,000
RB Terence Pollock (JR, 5-10, 223) is second
in the Mid-South Conference in rushing with an
average of 119.0 yards per game. Through the
first 4 contests, Pollock has racked up 476 yards
and 5 TDs on 83 carries.
At his present pace, Pollock could shatter the
single-season rushing mark of 1,158 yards set
by Clarence Mackey back in 1993. To eclipse
Mackey’s record, Pollock will need to average
97.5 yards per game this rest of season. In
addition, Pollock needs to average 74.9 yards
per game to become just the 3rd player in
program history to rush for a 1,000 yards in a
season.
Setting the Pace in the MSC
In addition to RB Terence Pollock (JR, 5-10,
223) being second in the Mid-South Conference
in rushing, the Bulldogs have a number of
players atop or near the top in several statistical
categories.
QB Mike Brinkley (R-FR, 6-1, 161) is 7th in
Total Offense, averaging 207.5 yards per game.
Brinkley is also 6th in passing with a 203.5
ypg average.
RB Ben Kelly (JR, 6-0, 192) is 7th in
Receptions Per Game as he is averaging 4.8 per
game. He has caught 19 passes for 137 yards
thus far.
Pollock is 6thin All-Purpose Yards Per Game,
averaging 134.3, while WR Chris Thomas (FR,
5-11, 162) is 8th with an average of 119.3 ypg.
Thomas is 2nd the MSC in Punt Returns with
a 8.8 average. He is also 7th on Kickoff Returns
with a 24.8 average.
Pollock is tied for 5th in Scoring (TDs) with
an average of 7.5 points per game, while WR
Kyle Callahan (SR, 6-0, 188) is tied for 10th in
Scoring (TDs) as he is averaging 6.0 points per
game. Meanwhile, Jacob Appleby (FR, 5-10,
185) is 2nd in Kick Scoring, averaging 7.5
points per game. Appleby also leads the MSC in
Field Goals Per Game (1.3).
DB Ty Harris (JR, 5-10, 163) is 3rd in
Passes Defended with a 1.7 average, while LB
Marekus Smith (SR, 5-11, 196) is tied for 4th
at 1.5.
LB Willie Williams (SR, 6-4, 220) is 4th in
the league in Tackles Per Game (12.5), tied for
1st in Sacks (1.3) and in 2nd in Tackles For
Loss (2.0). DL Michael Gold (JR, 6-3, 262) is
tied for 10th in Sacks (0.7).
Converting Turnovers Into Points
Union won the turnover battle in its season
opener as Lambuth coughed the ball up 4 times
(2 fumbles, 2 INTs) while Union didn’t lose the
ball once. The Bulldogs lost the turnover battle
against Malone, turning it over twice to the
Pioneers’ 1. However, Union scored 7 points off
Malone’s miscues while Malone got nothing.
The Bulldogs made the most of Lambuth’s
miscues, cashing in the 4 turnovers for 21
points.
In the 23-13 win at Faulkner, Union lost
the turnover battle as the Eagles did not turn
the ball over once while the Bulldogs threw 1
interception. However, nothing came of the pick
as it came just prior to the half.
Versus Georgetown, both teams turned the
ball over twice resulting in 7 points for each.
In Union’s last 9 games, Union has converted
its opponents’ 20 turnovers into 101 points
- scoring 14 TDs and 1 FG.
The Union defense did well in causing
turnovers in 2007 as opponents turned the ball
over 26 times in 11 games, while Union has
turned the ball over 23 times.
TURNOVERS TABLE
2008 Takeaways Pts. Giveaways Pts.
Lambuth 4 21 0 0
Malone 1 7 2 0
Faulkner 0 0 1 0
Georgetown 2 7 2 7
W.Va. Tech
Cumberlands
Pikeville
Shorter
UVa-Wise
Campbellsville
Belhaven
Totals 5 28 3 0
UC Turnover Margin: +2
UC TO Scoring Margin: +28
Recent OT History Not Kind to UC
Union has played in 5 overtime games and is
2-3 in such contests.
The Bulldogs won their first 2 extended
period games, defeating Cumberland (Ky.)
College 24-23 in 1996 and Pikeville (Ky.)
College 17-16 in 2001. However, since then,
Union has lost its last 3 overtime games. In
2002, Union lost 32-29 to NCAA Division II
Concord (W.Va.) College. The Bulldogs lost
9-3 at Campbellsville (Ky.) University in 2003.
Union’s last overtime game was in 2004 when it
fell 32-25 to Pikeville.
Kicking FGs Begins with ‘J’
When P/K Jacob Appleby (FR, 5-10185)
made 3 field goals Saturday at Faulkner (Ala.),
it mark the seventh time in program history
the feat had been accomplished. Appleby is the
fourth player to boot 3 field goals in a game,
and coincidentally, all 4 players have something
in common - their first names begin with the
letter ‘J’. Appleby joined James Hager, Junior
Distefano and Jeremy Macejewski on this
exclusive list. Macejewski accomplished the
feat three times during his career.
Special Teams Truly Becoming a Specialty
Union has had a history of big plays on
special teams. Whether it’s big returns, blocked
kicks or quality punting, the Bulldogs have
shined on special teams in years past and 2008
doesn’t look any different.
P/K Jacob Appleby (FR, 5-9, 155) had an
impressive debut as he made 2 of 3 field-goal
attemps in the season opener. In addition, he
was a perfect 3-for-3 on PATs as he accounted
for 9 of Union’s 27 points. He add 5 PATs
against Malone. Against Faulkner, Appleby had
3 FGs and 2 PATs, giving him 25 points on the
year. He was a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs against
Georgetown. Also, he’s averaging 58.6 yards
per kickoff with 1 touchback.
WR Chris Thomas (FR, 5-11, 162) is proving
to be a dangerous threat returning kicks and
punts, averaging 24.8 yards per kick return and
8.8 yards per punt return.
P/K Chad Boyington (FR, 5-9, 155) is only
averaging 28.3 yards per punt, but 5 of his 18
punts have pinned opponents inside their 20.
On the flipside, opponents have yet to make
a field goal against the Bulldogs. Lambuth
attempted a 50-yarder but missed it. Malone
tried from 51 yards, but it was blocked by LB
Marekus Smith (SR, 5-10, 196), and DL Jason
Hammontree (SO, 6-0, 249) blocked Faulkner’s
40-yard attempt.
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