GWU Falls, 13-10, At Charleston Southern In Big South Opener
October 04, 2008 | Football
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – John Paglia's 26-yard field goal
with 0.2 seconds left gave Charleston Southern an improbable 13-10
win over Gardner-Webb Saturday in a game the Runnin' Bulldogs
dominated in every category other than the scoreboard.
Gardner-Webb (2-3, 0-1 Big South) dropped its third Big South game
in a row, dating back to last season, despite out-gaining the Bucs
(2-3, 1-0 Big South) 473-203 and running up 23 first downs.
Unfortunately for GWU, four turnovers – including three deep
inside CSU territory – dampened scoring chances and eventually
doomed the visitors.
Combined, Charleston Southern's three scoring drives netted just 75
total yards – an average of just 25 yards per drive.
Still, it took a near turnover to snuff out a potential touchdown
drive with less than two minutes left for Gardner-Webb, as a third
down play from the two-yard line resulted in a fumbled snap that
quarterback Stan Doolittle had to dive to save – setting up a
21-yard field goal by Ryan Gates that tied the game with 1:46
left.
Gates booted the kickoff inside the Bucs' five, and Gerald
Stevenson fumbled, but Gardner-Webb's coverage team lost contain
and Stevenson loped down the right sideline for 61 yards to the GWU
34 – swinging momentum severely in the Bucs' favor. Tribble
Reese, who struggled with accuracy much of the day against a stiff
GWU defense, finally caught a break, hitting Kwame Krauke over the
middle on second down for a 24-yard gain that would set up the game
winner.
GWU also had a chance to tie the game with 10:57 left, but the
drive stalled out, forcing a 51-yard field goal attempt that Gates
pushed wide left.
Charleston Southern went up 10-0 in the first quarter, using a
32-yard field goal from Paglia to get things started, and a
halfback pass from Alex Neal to Tim Jones from 31-yards out after a
Bulldog turnover with 3:01 left in the quarter.
Gardner-Webb drove the football, but continually ended drives
without scores until 2:07 remained before the half. The ‘Dogs
drove 91 yards in 12 plays to cut the lead to 10-7, with Dobson
Collins making the first of several acrobatic catches in the end
zone from Doolittle for a score. Gates' extra point was good, and
the GWU defense held Charleston Southern's offense at bay heading
into the locker room.
Another spectacular catch by Collins helped GWU drive inside the
Bucs' 10-yard line to start the third quarter, but the 71-yard
march was halted by an interception in the deep corner of the end
zone on third down by Philip Ashley.
As it had all day, Gardner-Webb's defense got the ball back without
further damage, but the ‘Dogs could not produce points. On
second down from the Bucs' 35-yard line, Doolittle's pass was
gobbled up by defensive tackle Kamalu Umu to snuff out another
promising march.
The Bulldog defense got a three-and-out, and GWU marched into
Charleston Southern territory again – before Gates' 51-yarder
missed left. Another stop by GWU gave the Bulldogs possession with
8:48 left, and Doolittle completed 5-of-6 passes and rushed for
eight yards in a 15-play, 87-yard drive that chewed up much of the
fourth quarter and set up a chance to score from the two –
which Gates converted in the form of a field goal.
Gardner-Webb ran 86 plays, held a 37:47 to 22:13 edge in time of
possession, and gained 161 of its 471 yards on the ground in the
loss. Doolittle completed 27-of-41 attempts for a career-high 310
yards and a score, but threw three interceptions – with one
coming on a tipped ball.
Patrick Hall (75 yards) and Philip Peoples (73 yards) paced the
ground attack, and Dobson Collins caught nine passes for 113 yards
and a score to lead a group of eight receivers who caught balls.
Tyson Petty caught two passes for 81 yards on the afternoon.
Charleston Southern managed just 37 yards on the ground on 21
carries, and Reese finished 12-of-23 through the air for 135 yards.
The game's MVP may have been punter Andy Brown, who booted seven
punts rugby style for an average of 45.1 yards and pinned five of
those inside the Bulldogs' 20 – and three inside the GWU
10.
Gardner-Webb must now turn its attention out of conference, as
Atlantic Coast Conference contender Georgia Tech awaits next
Saturday at 3:30 pm ET in Atlanta.
