CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb linebacker Chad Geter was named the
Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday by the league office,
his second honor of the 2015 season.
Geter (Irmo, S.C. / Dutch Fork HS) led a strong defensive
effort by the Runnin’ Bulldogs, registering nine total tackles (six solo), 3.0
tackles for loss (minus-17 yards), 2.0 sacks (minus-13 yards) and a forced
fumble in a 14-10 win over Presbyterian.
Playing just 50 miles from his hometown, the redshirt junior
was the lynchpin in a defensive effort that limited the Blue Hose to just 195
yards of total offense and nine first downs on 56 snaps. He collected half of
Gardner-Webb’s four sacks on the afternoon and nearly half of the team’s seven
tackles for loss.
His production forced Presbyterian to punt after going
three-and-out seven times in 12 drives and saw eight of those 12 drives gain
less than eight yards.
Geter had two stops on third downs that prevented the Blue
Hose from moving the chains. His sack and forced fumble at the GWU 23-yard line
late in the first quarter thwarted a deep PC drive that was halted completely
three plays later after a failed fake field goal.
With GWU clinging to a 14-10 lead with just more than five
minutes left in the fourth quarter, Geter sniffed out a swing pass and caught
Malik Risher behind the line for a four-yard loss to set up 3rd-and-long. The
Blue Hose managed zero net yards over their next five offensive plays to end
the game.
The performance was part of an expanding All-America resume’
for Geter, who ranks third in the Big South Conference currently with 75 total
tackles (46 solo), a career-high 11.0 tackles for loss (minus-50 yards) and 3.0
sacks (minus-20 yards) in eight games played.
The 6-foot-2, 242-pound standout has recorded 210 career
tackles (126 solo), 25.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 12 pass break ups in
33 career games. He has made 22.5 tackles for loss in his last 22 games played.
Geter is part of a strong defensive unit this season that
ranks 17th nationally in total defense (307.0 ypg), 20th nationally in scoring
defense (19.4 ppg), fifth nationally in third down defense (28.0 percent) and
fifth nationally in red zone defense (60.9 percent).
The Runnin’ Bulldogs have allowed only five touchdowns in
the red zone this season in 23 trips (21.7 percent) – tied with Harvard for the
top mark in FCS statistics rankings.
Gardner-Webb (3-5, 2-2 Big South) will face a difficult task
against one of the FCS’ most explosive offensive units this Saturday –
traveling to face No. 8 Coastal Carolina (7-1, 2-1 Big South) Saturday
afternoon in Conway, S.C.
The Chanticleers rank No. 23 nationally in total offense
(439.8 ypg) and 22nd in scoring offense (33.9 ppg).
Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm, with the game to be televised
live on American Sports Network (ASN).
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