GWU Moves To 2-0 In Big South With 29-25 Win Over Charleston Southern
October 27, 2007 | Football
BOILING SPRINGS – Stan Doolittle's 11-yard scoring strike
to Duvaughn Flagler with 4:32 remaining lifted Gardner-Webb to a
29-25 win over Charleston Southern Saturday night in Big South
Conference action.
The win moves Gardner-Webb (4-4, 2-0 Big South) into first place in
the league standings, with two games remaining on the conference
slate – Nov. 10 at defending champion Coastal Carolina (1-0
Big South) and Nov. 17 at home vs. Liberty (1-0 Big South).
The Bulldogs led 12-10 at intermission, surviving a sloppy first
half filled with miscues and misfortune for both sides.
Charleston Southern (2-5, 0-2 Big South) took advantage of the
Bulldogs' first mistake early, as a botched field goal attempt
resulted in a 77-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Jada Ross
with 11:06 left in the first quarter.
Quantavis Jackson then caught Eli Byrd in the end zone for a safety
to trim the led to 7-2, and Patrick Hall capped a short drive for
Gardner-Webb early in the second quarter with a nine-yard scoring
run and a 9-7 Bulldog lead.
Nick Ellis booted a 34-yard field goal to put CSU back in front,
then Evan Kay connected on a 23-yarder with 5:56 left before the
half to give Gardner-Webb's its lead at the break.
Kay hit a career-long 39-yarder with 13:42 to play in the third
quarter to put Gardner-Webb up 15-10, but Charleston Southern
responded with a 71-yard drive that saw Sidney Bryant hit Ryan Ard
on a nine-yard touchdown for an 18-15 Bucs' lead with 7:31 to play
in the third. CSU took advantage of a nice fake punt play on the
drive to keep it going – as Ellis completed a risky pass from
his own 31-yard line.
After both teams saw drives stall, Gardner-Webb got the football at
the Bucs' 46-yard line late in the third quarter – and Hall
took a handoff all the way to the house on the first play of the
drive to put GWU in front 22-18.
As the third quarter expired, Charleston Southern had a drive in
the works again, and Bryant capped the 77-yard march with a
five-yard fade pass to basketball forward Vernon Huger to put the
Bucs on top 25-22 with 11:43 to play in the game.
Gardner-Webb drove out near midfield before stalling on its next
drive, but the GWU defense forced Charleston Southern into a
three-and-out to give Doolittle and the offense another chance with
8:14 remaining.
Doolittle hit Dobson Collins on a pair of passes to get near
midfield, and David Montgomery darted seven yards – then 16
yards – to give the ‘Dogs a first down at the CSU 16.
Three plays later, Doolittle found Flagler open in the corner on a
3rd-and-9 play for what would be the game winner.
Charleston Southern returned the kickoff to the 36, and added a
personal foul penalty to get possession near midfield – but
Mario Brown intercepted Bryant's second pass and the ‘Dogs
were able to chew up considerable clock.
CSU forced a punt to get the ball back with 1:36 left, but were
stopped at their own 46 to end the game.
Hall (Gastonia, N.C. / Ashbrook HS) had a career day, rushing 13
times for 100 yards and two scores. Montgomery added 84 yards on 22
carries, as GWU rushed a season-high 45 times in the game and
gobbled up 186 yards on the ground (second best this season).
Doolittle took every snap at quarterback and completed 17-of-28
throws for 200 yards and a score. Collins had a career-best night
as well, catching 10 passes for 114 yards opposite Flagler. GWU had
386 total yards in the game, and averaged 5.3 yards per play.
Charleston Southern was limited to 275 total yards in the game,
with only 40 coming on the ground (25 carries). The Bucs saw Bryant
come off the bench to complete 19-of-29 throws for two scores, 146
yards and an interception. Dee Brown had six catches, but was
hemmed in for only 40 yards.
Gardner-Webb got 10 hits (eight solo) and three pass break ups from
corner Ced McGowan, with Brown adding 10 stops (five solo), a break
up and the back-breaking interception.
All-America Brian Johnston tied a career high with 4.0 tackles for
loss (minus-8 yards), finished with eight total stops (five solo)
and had three quarterback pressures – including two on the
Bucs' final drive.
C.J. Hirschman led Charleston Southern with 10 hits (five solo).
David Mischer and Jonna Lee each had eight hits for the Bucs.
Gardner-Webb will host Savannah State next weekend in a non-league
affair (1:30 pm ET kickoff), while Charleston Southern treks to VMI
for a 1:00 pm tilt in Big South play.
NOTES: Gardner-Webb has allowed just 48.3 yards per game on the
ground at home in three games this season, and only three offensive
touchdowns (none on the ground) ... Brian Johnston has 8.0 tackles
for loss in two Big South Conference games, and now has a
career-high 17.5 on the season ... Stan Doolittle passed for 200
yards for the first time in his collegiate career, surpassing his
previous career-best of 191 yards ... Gardner-Webb's win snapped a
two-game losing skid to Charleston Southern ... Jeffrey Williams
failed to record at least 10 hits for the first time since Sept. 8
against Jacksonville (seven stops) ... Duvaughn Flagler has caught
a touchdown pass in five consecutive games ... Flagler's four
catches on the night tied him for third place in GWU history
(Cameron Brooks, 176 catches) ... Flagler's receiving touchdown
catch tied him for second place in GWU history (Rodney Robinson, 29
TD).
| Box Score (PDF) |
