Gameday Central - CSU vs. UK

Charleston Southern will take a chartered flight for the second week in a row as they travel to the University of Kentucky for a 12:38 p.m. kickoff from Commonwealth Stadium. It is the second-straight road game for CSU and part of a final stretch that has CSU on the road three of the last four weeks of the season.

Buccaneer fans can listed to the game locally on WQNT 1450 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. Free audio is also provided on the internet and over the phone through Teamline, allowing fans all over the world tune in to follow the Bucs. Fans listening on the internet can follow the link below, while those wishing to call in can access the broadcast by dialing 1-800-846-4700 and entering the team code 2942.

The University of Kentucky will be providing live stats through gametracker and will host a live blog during the game. All of the links can be found below, and additional information is available at Kentucky’s Gameday Central page

Teamline           Live Stats           Live Blog

Down just six at halftime, the Bucs surrendered a 21-point third quarter in a 41-21 loss at Stony Brook on Saturday. The loss drops CSU to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big South, while SBU improves to 4-4, 3-0 and tied for first place in the Big South. Andrew Trudnowski had his most efficient performance, making his third start, completing 73 percent of his passes with a 22-30 mark. Trudnowski threw for 228 yards and a touchdown, and for the first time this season, did not throw an interception. DeMarcus Moon had 46 rushing yards on 17 carries, giving him 37 touches in the last two games. Gerald Stevenson was the top receiver, hauling in 12 catches for 104 yards, the first player to have more than 10 receptions since he did so against Presbyterian College in 2009. The mark ties him for the fifth-most receptions in a single game in CSU history and is one shy of the school record. Stevenson only had one opportunity to return a kickoff, doing so for 10 yards, which gives him the Big South record for combined kick returns. Chris Patrick and Daniel Dieudonne led the team with nine tackles each, while Gabe Middlebrook blocked a field goal to start the second quarter and keep the game scoreless. Stony Brook was led by Brock Jackolski and Miguel Maysonet on the ground, as the duo combined for 341 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Michael Coulter threw for an additional 145 yards, completing nine of his 11 passes on the day. SBU held a 499-273 advantage in total yards, averaging a staggering 9.2 yards per play. Big Third Quarter Leads Stony Brook Past Bucs, 41-21

Vick Ballard rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown, and No. 23 Mississippi State relied on its running game and defense to beat Kentucky 24-17 last Saturday. The Wildcats threatened to tie the game in the final minute, but quarterback Mike Hartline's pass was intercepted by Johnthan Banks at the goal line to seal a sixth straight victory for Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) - its longest streak since 1999. Kentucky (4-5, 1-5) hasn't beaten a ranked team on the road since 1998. Randall Cobb caught 12 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Cats fall to Mississippi State 24-17

You can find full game notes and the Big South weekly report at Game Notes Central

Quick Hits
• Today’s game will be the third and final flight of the season for the Bucs. With five road games in 2010, CSU will take a bus to two of them (Liberty, Coastal Carolina), while flying to the other three (Hawaii, Stony Brook, Kentucky). It is the first time in school history that the team has flown to more road trips than bussed.

• The Bucs are on a five-game losing streak, the worst since the 2003 season, Coach Mills’ first year at CSU. With a loss last Saturday to Stony Brook, the Bucs are now guaranteed to finish under .500 for just the third time under Mills.

• Kentucky will serve as the second FBS opponent of the season for the Bucs. It is also the second time in school history that CSU will face an SEC opponent, taking on the Florida Gators to start the 2009 season.

• Charleston Southern has never beaten an FBS opponent (0-7), with the closest contest coming in 2008 as CSU fell 38-27 to Miami (Ohio). Since 2005, CSU has faced more FBS opponents than anyone in the Big South (6) with six of the seven contests coming since 2007.

• Injuries have no doubt affected the season for the Bucs, with a number of key contributors missing at least one game. Even so, 14 players (8 offense, 6 defense) have started every game of the season. Last year, Charleston Southern only had that consistency at nine positions (6 offense, 3 defense)

• Players to watch: Kwame Krakue set a new career-high for receiving yards (84) last week, while Brad Sweatt tied his career-best for tackles (7) and DeMarcus Moon tied his career-best for rushing touchdowns in a game (2). Moon is now three touchdowns shy of the single-season record at CSU.