Campbell Leads Another Comeback, GWU Beats VMI 35-31
October 28, 2006 | Football
FINAL GAME STATS
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Quarterback Devin Campbell hit Duvaughn Flagler on a five-yard fade route with 3:05 to play, capping an 80-yard drive that gave Gardner-Webb a 35-31 win over VMI.
The win marked the fourth time this season that Gardner-Webb (6-2, 2-0 Big South) had rallied to come from behind with under 5:00 to play in the fourth quarter - with Campbell directing the charge on each of those drives.
The Greenville, S.C., sophomore hit an 18-yard pass to Austin Gaines on second down to get things started on the winning march, then found Flagler for 11 yards to give GWU a first down at the VMI 47. Campbell then hit Ricky Hernandez for 31 yards across the middle to get things in business, and zipped another 15-yard pass to Gaines down to the VMI one-yard line. After two rushes netted lost yardage, Campbell found Flagler on third-and-5 for the game winner. Campbell completed 21-of-31 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns on the day, tossing for all three scores and 223 yards in the final 30 minutes.
In the past two weeks, Campbell has thrown for a clutch 490 yards and five touchdowns in the second half of Gardner-Webb's two contests.
Trailing 10-7 at halftime, and puzzled after fumbling at VMI's two-yard line late in the second quarter - then missing a 30-yard field goal just before the half, Gardner-Webb allowed VMI to push its lead larger in the third quarter - as the Keydets capped a quick 82-yard drive with a Jonathan Wilson sneak from one yard out. Halfback Joey Robinson took a pitch 54 yards to set up that score.
With VMI (1-8, 0-3 Big South) holding a 16-7 lead, Campbell began to lead his Bulldogs back for the second straight week. He threw a four-yard strike to Kory Alston with 7:14 to play in the third quarter to trim the lead to 16-14. Campbell had a 39-yard completion to freshman tight end Jon Walker and a 24-yard strike to Hernandez to get the drive rolling.
The Bulldog defense, which had allowed just one offensive touchdown to the Keydets on the day midway through the third quarter, kept the pressure on - allowing the GWU offense to find its rhythm. Campbell found Alston wide open with 2:09 to play in the third quarter, hitting the senior receiver on a 44-yard scoring play to give GWU a 21-16 lead.
End Brian Johnston came up with a play that nearly wrapped up the game for the Bulldogs, hammering Mizzer behind the line on a key third-down and forcing a fumble that Billy Luther returned 35 yards for a 28-16 Bulldog edge.
VMI wasn't done, however. Wilson found Willie Bell on a 44-yard hookup after a pair of fruitless series for both offenses, and Mizzer punched in from the two with 9:01 to play in the game to trim Gardner-Webb's lead to 28-23. A fumble by the Bulldogs on an option play deep in their own territory proved costly, as VMI recovered - and Wilson hit Tim Maypray on the next play from 23 yards out to give the Keydets a 31-28 lead after Wilson's two-point conversion run.
After the kickoff, Gardner-Webb set up shop at its own 20 for what would wind up the game-winning drive.
VMI did get the ball back after Campbell's scoring toss to Flagler, but after advancing to its own 40, Wilson misfired on two-straight throws to turn the football over with 1:28 left.
Bubba Wallace bulled for 10 yards on two carries to give Gardner-Webb its last first down, and Campbell knelt on two plays to run out the clock.
The Bulldogs finished with 414 total yards of offense on the day, with Campbell hitting eight different receivers effectively. Freshman David Montgomery paced the rushing attack, going 15 times for 103 yards and a 34-yard touchdown run in the first half - his first career game of more than 100 yards.
Flagler had six catches for 44 yards and a score, Gaines had five receptions for 53 yards and Alston finished for four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Hernandez caught two balls for a career-high 55 yards in the game and Walker - making his first career start - had his key 39-yard reception.
Johnston paced the Bulldog defense with 11 tackles (six solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble (TD), one sack and two pressures. J.P. Weaver chipped in with 10 hits as well for the Bulldogs, who allowed just 303 total yards to VMI (107 passing).
Mizzer paced VMI's ground attack, carrying 18 times for 66 yards and a score. Wilson was 7-of-15 for 107 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked twice by Gardner-Webb.
The win assures Gardner-Webb of its first winning season since 2003, and was the Bulldogs first win on Homecoming since that same 2003 campaign.
A key Big South Conference showdown awaits, as the Bulldogs will trek to undefeated Charleston Southern (8-0, 1-0 Big South) for a 1:30 pm ET matchup on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Bucs pounded Gardner-Webb, 38-7, last November in Boiling Springs en route to a share of the Big South title. CSU defeated Georgetown (D.C.) 24-10 on Saturday at home in non-league action.
| Updated 2006 Season Stats (PDF) |
| GWU 35, VMI 31 (Final Game Stats) |
