Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern hits the road for the fifth time in seven weeks as the Bucs open Big South Conference play at VMI on Saturday. Kickoff at Foster Stadium in Lexington, Va. is set for 1:30 p.m.
Game 7 Notes: Charleston Southern @ VMI
CSU is off to a perfect 6-0 start under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell and entered the national rankings for the second time in program history on Monday, checking in at No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
VMI is just 1-4 under head coach Sparky Woods and has struggled defensively, allowing over 500 yards and 36 points a game. The Keydets come into the matchup off an open week, though, and Chadwell is well aware each team's track record up to this point means very little.
"I think our team understands that the sort of preseason is over," Chadwell said. "The records don't matter once you get into conference play, and our guys know that. We've had a really good focus so far this week as far as what we're trying to accomplish. Any time you go on the road in your conference, no matter what team, no matter what the record, it's tough. We have to play our very best to go up there and get a victory."
The Bucs were not at their best in last Saturday's 28-14 win over North Greenville, but continued to follow the formula that has earned them a perfect start to the season. CSU ran the football for a season-high 354 yards on offense, and tallied five sacks, nine tackles-for-loss and held North Greenville to 3-of-11 on third down conversions on defense. The Bucs made game-changing plays on special teams as well, as Will Hunt and Dylan Black each blocked NGU field goal attempts.
CSU continues to rank among the FCS leaders in several categories as a result of its performance against the Crusaders. The Bucs are second nationally in third down defense, ninth in scoring defense, 12th in turnover margin, and 13th in rushing.
Junior running back Christian Reyes racked up a career-high 168 yards and scored his fifth touchdown of the campaign in the victory over North Greenville. With 684 yards through six games, the Bucs' workhorse back needs just 94 yards to pass Vinson Blain (1998 – 774 yards) for the program's single-season rushing record.
Reyes currently sits 11th in the country in rushing yardage, and is averaging 5.4 yards a carry behind a young offensive line that has gelled during the season's first month.
CSU also received a solid start at quarterback from redshirt freshman Danny Croghan III. Making his first career start behind center in place of the injured Malcolm Dixon, Croghan displayed his ability to orchestrate the Bucs' spread option offense. He ran 11 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 12-of-20 passes for 136 yards.
"I thought he was solid and made some good decisions in key situations," said Chadwell of the Bishop England High School product. "We missed some things that probably could have opened up the game a little bit more, but that was expected. I feel like Danny has done a great job of handling the situations he's been in. The situations haven't been too big for him and if he'll just keep that even keel, I feel like he'll go out and perform very well this week."
Croghan will lead the CSU offense against a VMI defense that has allowed 27 or more points in all five of its games this season. The Keydets have had particular difficulty limiting the opponent's passing game, yielding over 290 yards per game through the air. VMI employs a 3-4 scheme defensively and is paced by sophomore free safety Alex James, who leads the Big South in tackles per game. Redshirt junior outside linebacker Logan Staib can wreak havoc in the backfield, ranking seventh in the conference with 4.5 tackles for loss.
"They're not fancy with what they try to do but they're good at what they do," Chadwell said. "They'll play their defense, play their gaps and let their guys be good at what they do."
Offensively, VMI runs a pro-style attack and features an experienced playmaker at quarterback in senior Eric Kordenbrock. Kordenbrock threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in the Keydets' 37-31 overtime loss against Robert Morris two weeks ago, and became VMI's all-time leading passer in the process.
Kordenbrock likes to spread the football around to a bevy of receivers and backs, as 11 different Keydets recorded receptions against Robert Morris. VMI has struggled running the football, ranking 115th nationally with 74.2 yards a game. Sophomore tailback Derrick Ziglar leads VMI with 214 yards on the ground, and averages better than five yards a carry.
"The challenge it presents us is we've seen their type of offense and defense the last three weeks consistently, so they've seen (on film) the things we've done to try to attack that," Chadwell said. "Coming off an off week, they're going to have a really good opportunity to scheme us up in what we try to do. We're going to have to be above and beyond what we've done execution-wise to come out with a victory."
"I've been to VMI as a player and a coach several times, and come out with some wins and some losses but it's always a tough game," Chadwell continued. "I know Coach Woods will have his team ready because he's telling his guys the same thing we are. Whether you're 6-0 or 1-4, it doesn't matter now."
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