Since their first win in Paulson Stadium in 2002, the Wofford Terriers have won three out of four on the road against GSU.
    The No. 21 Terriers (3-1, 1-0 Southern Conference) come into Paulson Saturday at 6 p.m. to try to keep that trend going.
    It will be the second game in a row the No. 16 Eagles (3-1, 1-0) will face a ranked SoCon opponent, but for GSU coach Jeff Monken, none of that seems to matter.
    “It’s a big game because it’s a league game and because it’s our next game. I don’t know if I’d look at any of them as a high-profile game,” said GSU coach Jeff Monken. “Each game is different, and each game is equally important. I guess from that standpoint, they’re all high-profile.”
    As an assistant at GSU from 1997-2001, Monken went 5-0 against the Terriers.
    Things have changed since then.
    “They’ve come a long, long way obviously,” said Monken. “They’ve been to the playoffs, to the semifinals, they’ve done all those things. They’re a team that slugs around for the conference title on a consistent basis. They’re a lot different than they were.”
    Regrdless of the circumstances and storylines, Monken has just one thing in mind.
    “Winning at home is important for us regardless of that the record is or who’s beaten who,” he said.

A different option
    Wofford is an option team at heart, but unlike the Eagles, who run almost exclusively out of a double-slot, spread formation, the Terriers like to change it up.
    “They’re a Wing-T offense in a lot of ways, they’re a shotgun-spread offense in some ways and then they’re a triple-option spread like us in a lot of ways,” said GSU defensive coordinator Brent Pry. “As players and coaches we’ve got our hands full preparing for these guys.”
    Even in Wofford’s season-opening, 33-10 loss at Ohio, they’ve continued leading the nation in rushing.
    “They’re running at will right now,” Pry said. “Nobody’s stopped them, nobody’s slowed them down. Even at Ohio which was a game they lost, they rushed for 220-something yards, which is still a nice day at the yard running the ball.”
    The option offense is well known for beating teams with the deep play-action pass when they’re least expecting it, so although the Eagles practice against Georgia Southern’s option, the secondary will be on high alert against Wofford.
    “With the reps, we’ve learned to focus on our keys,” said GSU safety Derek Heyden. “As safeties you can’t get caught up in what’s going on. You’ve got to do your responsibility. When they catch you not doing that, that’s when they’re going to make the big play over the top of you.”
    Georgia Southern offensive coordinator Brent Davis saw Wofford during his first tour as an assistant at GSU, and had the opportunity to study their offense when he was coaching at VMI.
    He’s seen Terriers coach Mike Ayers’ offense evolve from the wishbone, to GSU’s two-slot look to the current iteration which combines those formations with the shotgun. 
    “I don’t know how they get it all taught, Davis said, “but the one thing I think people don’t realize is they’re running a lot of the same plays under center that they’re running out of the shotgun."

A new side of the ball
Former Statesboro Blue Devils defensive lineman Willie Burden has made the switch from Georgia Southern’s defensive line to the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Brent Davis made the switch to add some more depth to the o-line.

Quotable:
    Willie Burden: “Learning both positions really helped me out. I just try to take everything I learned as a defensive lineman and use it on the offensive line. Really a lot of things are the same as far as using your speed and quickness. To get on blocks or get off blocks, it’s really similar.”

GSU coach Jeff Monken: “He did it with a happy heart and a great spirit, which I was really proud of him for. He’s had a good couple weeks of practice, and he’s a quick learner. It was a perfect time to do it.
    “We could play him on Saturday. He’s learned it quickly enough, and fortunately what we do is pretty simple. He’s made some mistakes and he’s going to. If he goes in on Saturday, he may make some, and we understand that. But athletically, he gives us a little bit more there.”

    Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.