(STATS) – Hold your thumb and index fingers apart slightly to get a sense on how the Southern Conference title race is taking shape.
Fifth-ranked Wofford did it again Saturday, beating No. 22 Western Carolina 35-28 in overtime to take sole possession of first place. Add in two one-point conference wins as well as a three-point nonconference win and the Terriers (5-0, 3-0) are making the right plays when games are on the line.
“I think a big part of that deals with the type of kid that we’ve got,” 30th-year coach Mike Ayers said. “The guys believe in what we’re doing. Our coaches did a fabulous job getting the guys ready.”
In a matchup of the last unbeaten SoCon teams, Andre Stoddard scored on a 3-yard run in overtime after Lennox McAfee opened it with a 22-yard burst. On Western Carolina’s ensuing possession, cornerback George Gbesee sealed the win by picking off Tyrie Adams in the end zone. Gbesee had an interception in regulation as well.
Stoddard finished with 157 (a career high) of Wofford’s 393 rushing yards, also scoring on a 3-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the back-and-forth matchup before 6,982 at Gibbs Stadium. Adams accounted for three touchdowns and Terryon Robinson became Western Carolina’s all-time receptions leader in the loss.
The other pivotal SoCon result was Mercer’s 24-14 win at No. 17 The Citadel because it knocked the two-time defending champ to 1-2 in the conference heading into next Saturday’s home game against Wofford. Only No. 20 Samford (4-2, 2-1), which will rest up with a bye before facing the Terriers in two weeks, Western Carolina (4-2, 2-1) and the Furman-Chattanooga winner sit one game off the pace.
And Wofford is proving the race is about wins, not their margin.
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