The Flames head to Boiling Springs, NC, this Saturday afternoon to take on the Gardner-Webb University Runnin’ Bulldogs and their star running back Juanne Blount.
Blount, a redshirt junior, is having a breakout season. His 705 rushing yards so far this year put him just under 300 yards away from matching his total for the first few years of his career. He’s averaging a very respectable 4.3 yards per carry, with 5 touchdowns. He’s also caught 9 balls for 88 yards.
Photo from thedigitalcourier.com
This increase in productivity is no surprise to his coach, Carroll McCray, who said after Blount’s 162 rush yard, 2 touchdown performance in week one against Furman University, that “Juanne came back to camp in great shape and his hard work was rewarded on Saturday.”
Rushing is not the only facet of Blount’s game. He has run the wildcat in previous years, completing a 17-yard touchdown pass against VMI last season. He has not attempted a pass yet this year, but the Flames will have to prepare for the possibility.
After Liberty gave up 235 yards on the ground in their loss to Coastal Carolina last week, Blount is the player to watch in this one. Gardner-Webb has a very balanced attack, with a solid passing game setting up the run and vice-versa, so you can be sure Blount will get his touches and be given a chance to try and make some big plays.
