GWU Rallies For 36-22 Win Over VMI In Big South Opener
October 20, 2007 | Football
LEXINGTON, Va. – Gardner-Webb scored 15 points in the
fourth quarter, keying a 36-22 win over VMI in another tight Big
South Conference opener Saturday at Foster Stadium.
Stan Doolittle's 61-yard pass to Duvaughn Flagler gave Gardner-Webb
the lead for good with 5:00 to play in the game, with Flagler
hauling in the pass across the middle and out-running the Keydets'
defense to the end zone.
After Brian Johnston snuffed out a fake punt for a 12-yard loss
inside VMI territory – his fourth tackle for loss of the game
– Gardner-Webb regained possession, and David Montgomery
darted in from 18 yards out to seal the game with 2:45 left.
Playing in an always tough environment against a VMI team that
consistently fights to the finish, Gardner-Webb (3-4, 1-0 Big
South) needed a handful of big defensive plays and several timely
catches – including Flagler's dash to paydirt – to pull
out the game.
"We're going to have to play better, but credit VMI with a good
effort," said GWU head coach Steve Patton. "We went up early, but
they fought back and really controlled the clock with their
offense. Our guys made the plays when they needed to. On that fake
punt, I think their punter had the option to run or kick it, but
Johnston was a lot faster than he anticipated and he didn't have a
choice. That was a big play.
"Flagler kept yelling ‘100, 100' on the sideline in the
fourth quarter. He was talking about 100 percent effort, and our
guys gave that. He made a very nice catch and run to put us back on
top, and we were able to get the plays when we needed them."
GWU went up 14-0 early, after a 46-yard interception return for a
score by Quan Jackson on the game's first series, and took a
two-touchdown lead on a 19-yard run from Montgomery with 46 seconds
left in the opening quarter.
After VMI's field goal response cut the lead to 14-3, Gardner-Webb
appeared ready to go further in front, after Montgomery darted 52
yards into Keydet territory and Doolittle hit Hughie Dixon across
the middle down to the VMI three-yard line. An offensive facemask
penalty and a false start pushed the ‘Dogs back near midfield
to stall the drive – and VMI (2-5, 0-1 Big South) would
dominate the final minutes of the second quarter with 12 points and
a major edge in possession time to lead 15-14 at intermission.
Gardner-Webb took a 21-15 lead on their first drive of the second
half, with Devin Campbell hitting Dobson Collins on a nice 45-yard
receiver screen with 12:17 left in the third quarter. Philip
Peoples converted a fake punt with a nice effort to keep the drive
alive in its early stages.
VMI ground away on offense after getting the ball back, but would
not go back in front until a 12-play, 90-yard drive in the fourth
quarter. Quarterback Kyle Hughes capped that drive with an 18-yard
keeper, giving the Keydets a 22-21 edge with 11:55 left in the
game.
The Keydets had a chance to go up by two scores with less than six
minutes remaining in the game, but a field goal was smothered by
Gardner-Webb's Cedric McGowan, and GWU took over at their own
27-yard line with 5:42 left.
Gardner-Webb managed 330 total yards in the game, coming alive on
offense when it counted. The 36 points scored for the ‘Dogs
was a season-high total. Flagler paced the ‘Dogs with four
catches for 75 yards and score, with Collins catching three balls
for 87 and his first score of the season. The Bulldogs ran just 47
plays and had the football for just 20:18 overall.
Montgomery rushed 12 times for 97 yards and two scores, and had 13
yards through the air. Doolittle went 10-of-15 for 151 yards and a
score under center.
Brian Johnston had a magnificent game at defensive end, collecting
11 tackles (six solo), recording 4.0 tackles for loss (minus-26
yards) and a pair of quarterback sacks (minus-13 yards). Mario
Brown collected a season-high 17 yards (six solo) and freshman
Jeffrey Williams continued his fine effort with a career-high 16
stops. Cedric McGowan collected his fourth interception of the
season. In addition to his interception return for a score, Quan
Jackson had seven hits (five solo).
VMI gained 449 yards of offense in the game, with Gardner-Webb
limiting the Keydets to much of that yardage between the 20-yard
lines. Howard Abegesah had 180 yards rushing on 23 carries. Hughes
was harassed into a 9-of-24 passing effort (two interceptions,
three sacks), but managed 91 yards on the ground and two
scores.
Gardner-Webb will return home for the first time since Sept. 29
next Saturday, as it hosts Charleston Southern at 6:30 pm ET in
Spangler Stadium (Oct. 27).
| Box Score: GWU 36, VMI 22 |
