'Dogs Get Out Of Gates Fast, Top Charleston Southern 35-25 In Big South Opener
October 16, 2010 | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Patrick Hall ran for 129 yards and a pair of scores Saturday, and Gardner-Webb held off a late charge to beat Charleston Southern, 35-25, in its Big South Conference opener.
Hall has run for 100 yards or more against the Bucs three times in four career games, averaging 106.5 yards per game with seven touchdowns in those games. The win was the first for Gardner-Webb (3-3, 1-0 Big South) at Charleston Southern since 2004, but was the seventh win in 11 tries for GWU over the Buccaneers.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (3-3, 1-0 Big South) fell behind 3-0 early, but responded with two touchdowns in a span of 22 seconds to go up 14-3 with 5:30 left in the first quarter. Hall capped a 70-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring plunge to put GWU up 7-3 with 5:52 to play and - after a Gerald Stevenson fumble on the ensuing kickoff - quarterback Chandler Browning capped a 17-yard drive with a one-yard sneak for the second score.
Stevenson made up for the miscue, returning the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to trim the lead to 14-10, but Gardner-Webb added another score with 1:33 left in the quarter to go up 21-10 on a 13-yard run by receiver Richard Jules.
Stevenson hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:54 to play before halftime to trim the margin to 21-17 at the break, coming free on a stop-and-go route down the right sideline.
After a scoreless third quarter, Gardner-Webb went up 28-17 on a 22-yard scoring strike from John Rock to Juanne Blount on a wheel route with 7:44 to play in the game - but saw Stevenson make another special teams big play to negate that insurance.9An attempted squib kick got through the Bucs' up backs, and found Stevenson at the 19-yard line, and the senior darted and dipped 81 yards to the end zone. A two-point conversion pass cut the lead to 28-25 with plenty of time (7:32) left on the clock.
The Gardner-Webb defense would step up from there, however, not allowing the Buccaneers to pull any closer. Hall then put the game away with a two-yard run with 2:00 to play. Rock found tight end Josh Miller open on a key third-down pass that put the ball at the CSU two-yard line.
GWU gained 419 yards on 71 plays Saturday, and scored as many points as it had in the previous three games, including several big plays in a balanced afternoon. The 'Dogs gained 209 yards on the ground and 210 through the air and owned an edge in time of possession.
Browning was very efficient until leaving in the third quarter with an injury, completing 10-of-11 passes for 106 yards. Rock came off the bench to complete seven passes for 104 yards and a score - and ran for 22 more.
Blount ran for 33 yards on eight carries and caught three passes for 39 yards out of the backfield in a solid all-around effort. Miller hauled in four passes for 64 yards and James Perry added four catches for 38 yards to pace the receiving corps.
The Runnin' Bulldog defense was stout, allowing just 282 yards and one offensive score by the Bucs. Dami Teniola led the way with 12 tackles, and was joined in double figures by Bryce Nixon (11 hits) and Lyndrez Leslie (11 hits). Preston Pemasa added five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his fifth sack of the season.
Charleston Southern quarterback Andrew Trudnowski was held to just 13-of-39 passing (33.3 percent) for 132 yards, one touchdown, an interception and two sacks. Stevenson had 65 yards rushing, 47 yards receiving, a 32-yard punt return and his 243 yards on kickoff returns.
Gardner-Webb will return home next weekend to host Presbyterian at 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 23. The game will mark the team's first home appearance since September 18.
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