Gardner-Webb Football Hits The Road To Open Big South Play
October 03, 2008 | Football
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Gardner-Webb will travel to open Big
South Conference play for the seventh season in a row, taking on an
improved and dangerous Charleston Southern squad at 1:30 pm ET in
Buccaneer Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-2) are coming off a 49-33 defeat at the
hands of Southland Conference contender Sam Houston State, which
saw Oklahoma transfer Rhett Bomar toss five touchdowns in the first
half, before GWU rallied in the final 30 minutes with 23
points.
The 'Dogs face a similar challenge Saturday afternoon, as
Charleston Southern (1-3) has benefited greatly from the addition
of Clemson transfer Tribble Reese at quarterback. The tall, mobile
Alabaman has passed for eight touchdowns through four games for the
Bucs, and nearly led CSU to an upset at Division I FBS Miami (Ohio)
on Sept. 13 – putting the squad in the lead late in that
contest.
Charleston Southern has improved itself on the defensive side with
the addition of several players lost last season with injuries, and
posted their first shutout of the season last Saturday against a
normally proficient Division II North Greenville offense.
Gardner-Webb has been its best defensively against the run so far,
ranking fourth nationally by allowing just over 47 yards per game
via terra ferma.
The Bulldogs remain tops in the league in total defense (297 ypg),
and are also nationally ranked in pass efficiency defense on the
strength of six interceptions by six different players so far in
2008.
GWU has allowed chunks of yardage through the air, but had been
strong at keeping teams out of the end zone until last week's
tussle with Bomar and the Bearkats.
Offensively, sophomore Patrick Hall and junior Philip Peoples have
sparked a more solid ground game, with Hall last year's hero
against Charleston Southern (13 carries, 100 yds, 2 TD).
Wide outs Dobson Collins and James Perry III have each hauled in 22
balls so far this season, but have reached the end zone just three
times combined so far.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on WGWG-FM (88.3) and free
via the internet on Teamline.cc.
The game will also be video streamed as part of the Big South's
Edge Pay-per-view video package.
