Gardner-Webb Holds On For 27-20 Win at Western Carolina Saturday Night
September 13, 2009 | Football
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Stan Doolittle's one-yard sneak with 2:02 remaining helped Gardner-Webb regain the lead for good in a 27-20 win over Western Carolina.
Gardner-Webb (2-0) led 20-0 after Philip Peoples' three-yard run
with 5:07 left in the third quarter, but Western Carolina mounted a
valiant rally to tie the game - before Doolittle's touchdown
plunge.
It was Gardner-Webb's first road win over a Southern Conference
team since September 21, 2002 at Chattanooga.
After the go-ahead score by Doolittle, senior end Brian Lewis
sacked the Catamounts' Zack Jaynes and the hosts - without a
timeout to use - couldn't mount a rally, as Jaynes' fourth-down
heave fell incomplete downfield.
Gardner-Webb finished with 349 yards of total offense on the game,
with Doolittle going 23-of-40 for 265 yards and a score. The Ninety
Six, S.C., native also rushed for 30 yards and a score, giving him
295 yards of total offense in the game.
On the game-winning drive, Doolittle completed 4-of-6 passes for 56
yards, marching the 'Dogs 79 yards on 12 plays. That drive chewed
4:16 off the clock as well.
After Peoples' score late in the third, Jaynes had the hot hand in
bringing back the Cats. Jaynes hit Josh Cockrell on a 54-yard pass
across the middle on the ensuing drive, then found Marquell Pittman
open in the end zone to cut the lead to 20-6. The extra point
missed.
A Blake Bostic field goal from 30 yards out to start the fourth
quarter trimmed the lead to 20-9, then Jaynes found Pittman again
on a short route in the end zone - once for a touchdown, then for a
two-point conversion - to trim the lead to 20-17 with 9:19
remaining.
GWU's next drive ended in just three plays, and the Catamounts
drove quickly inside the Bulldogs' 20-yard line before stalling.
Bostic tied the game, however, nailing a 27-yard field goal with
6:23 to play.
Gardner-Webb answered, as Doolittle made a pair of key throws with
the 'Dogs backed up deep in Catamount territory. The second, a toss
to wide open Jamal Patmon, covered 29 yards and seemed to
re-energize the visitors. It would be the ground game that turned
the tide, however. Facing third-and-10 at the Western Carolina
23-yard line, Peoples rumbled 11 yards on a delayed handoff for a
first down at the 11. Peoples then followed with a 10-yard burst up
the gut to set up Doolittle's touchdown push over the goal
line.
Peoples carried 15 times for 43 yards and a score, leading a ground
game that managed just 84 yards on 39 carries - but made the big
runs in key moments.
James Perry III had seven catches for 91 yards and the 6-foot-6
Patmon hauled in six catches for a career-best 90 yards in a clutch
performance.
Bryce Nixon paced the Bulldog defense with seven tackles and an
interception. Marty Patterson (seven hits, sack, 2.0 TFL) and Mario
Brown (six hits, TFL) also had solid games, helping lead a charge
that saw GWU post 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and force three
turnovers. Matt Goods had another strong game in the middle,
collecting three hits and a sack.
GWU held the Catamounts to just eight yards rushing in the first
half, and only 43 yards on 25 carries for the game.
Jaynes passed for 277 yards on 21-of-32 passing and two scores, as
Western Carolina (0-2) collected 216 of its 320 total offensive
yards in the second half. Pittman had nine catches for 113 yards
and two scores for the hosts.
Gardner-Webb will travel to face ACC member NC State next Saturday
at 6 pm ET in Raleigh. Western Carolina will open Southern
Conference play at Georgia Southern next week.
| Box Score (PDF) |
