Campbell Strikes Again: GWU Posts 34-33 Comeback Win At Stonybrook
November 01, 2008 | Football
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Devin Campbell completed 32-of-44
passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns to lead Gardner-Webb to a
gritty, 34-33, comeback win at Stony Brook.
The win was the first league road win for Gardner-Webb (5-4, 2-1
Big South) since Oct. 20, 2007 at VMI, and put the ‘Dogs in
second place in the league standings with two games remaining. The
game was the third in a row for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Stony Brook (3-6, 2-2 Big South) utilized a bruising rushing attack
and took advantage of an early GWU fumble to go up 14-0 midway
through the first quarter, before Campbell started to heat up in
the Bulldogs' spread offense. Campbell's 20-yard strike to tight
end Josh Miller with 5:46 to play in the first cut the lead to
14-7, and GWU's defense was able to hold Stony Brook to a field
goal on its third drive – which allowed Campbell to hit James
Perry III from 30 yards out for a 17-14 score with 12:36 to play
before halftime.
Another Gaddis field goal and a second touchdown run by Edwin
Gowins put the Seawolves up 26-14, but Tyson Petty made a circus
catch at the SBU one-yard line with less than a minute to go before
the break – a 33-yarder – to set up a short TD by Philip
Peoples to trim the edge to 26-21 at the break.
Both teams were held scoreless through much of the third quarter,
when Gardner-Webb lined up for a field goal – but faked the
attempt – and holder Nick Melton found Miller wide open for a
touchdown, apparently giving the ‘Dogs their first lead. After
initially signaling the score, the officiating crew met for several
minutes overturned the initial call in favor of a 15-yard illegal
substitution penalty. GWU's Campbell then quick-punted down to the
SBU one, but the Seawolves got a 57-yard scamper from Gowins that
set up a seven-yard score by Conte Cuttio to put the Wolves up
33-21 with 13:56 left to play.
The overturned touchdown call seemed to fire up the visitors,
however, as Campbell proceeded to march the ‘Dogs on a
seven-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Peoples barreling over
for his second touchdown. Campbell completed 3-of-4 passes for 59
yards on the drive. The two-point attempt failed, but GWU was back
in business – trailing just 33-27 with 11:35 left to play.
The ensuing kickoff proved fatal for the host Seawolves. Safety
Mike Vesser hammered return man Donald Porter at the 37-yard line,
and rookie Keron Phelps pounced on the loose pigskin to give GWU
the ball back.
Campbell, a fifth-year senior, was poised from there, completing
his first four passes to get GWU down to the Stony Brook 13-yard
line – then hooking up with Dobson Collins on a 13-yard strike
two plays later for a 34-33 lead with 8:35 left on the clock.
The Gardner-Webb defense, which had been humbled for much of
Saturday by the Stony Brook running game, buckled its chin straps
when it mattered most.- stopping Stony Brook near midfield with
6:02 left.
Campbell and the Bulldog offense then took enough time off the
clock to leave the hosts with little time, converting three plays
into first downs and running 4:58 off the clock before having to
punt.
The Bulldog defense stepped up again, allowing just one first down
and forcing three incompletions to end the game.
Campbell's passing performance was his second 390-plus performance
in as many weeks, and his six net rushing yards gave him at least
400 yards offensively for the second week in a row. His favorite
target on Long Island was Perry, who hauled in a career-high nine
passes for 153 yards and a score. Miller, a tight end, had a career
day as well, catching four passes for 65 yards and his first career
touchdown – despite having a 30-yard score called back.
Dobson Collins, who now has 60 catches on the season, caught seven
passes for 65 yards, and has scored eight touchdowns on the year.
GWU had 480 yards of total offense and 25 first downs as well.
A suddenly healthy Stony Brook squad piled up 525 yards of offense
against the ‘Dogs – the most by any team this season
– and saw Gowins carry 15 times for 185 yards and a pair of
scores in a losing effort. Cuttino added 145 yards on 26 carries,
as the Seawolves rushed for 316 yards in the game.
Jermaine Grandison and Jeffrey Williams paced the GWU defensive
stats with nine stops each. Williams added 1.5 tackles for loss and
a pass break up. Jordan Woods and Quinnon Isom each had sacks for
the ‘Dogs.
Gardner-Webb will return home next Saturday (Nov. 8), for a 3:30 pm
ET matchup with Coastal Carolina. The game, which will be televised
live by MASN and on a tape delay basis by SportsSouth, is the
Bulldogs' final home game of the season.
