Defense Sparks GWU To 14-7 Win Over Charleston Southern
October 29, 2011 | Football
BOILING SPRINGS - Tight end Treymaine Schley caught two touchdowns and Gardner-Webb's defense stepped up with seven sacks and two interceptions to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 14-7 win over Charleston Southern Saturday.
Reserve defensive tackle Maurice Dickson (Hillside, N.J. / Fork Union Military) collected a career-high 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four quarterback pressures to lead the pressure-filled effort on defense for Gardner-Webb (3-5, 2-2 Big South), and linebacker Marty Patterson collected a career-high 20 total tackles.
In addition to its season-high seven sacks, Gardner-Webb registered 11 quarterback pressures and harassed Charleston Southern quarterback Richard Mounce into a 14-for-39 passing performance with two interceptions (one touchdown).
"We pressed on today," said GWU head coach Ron Dickerson, Jr. "These guys have the heart and desire, and we came through with the plays we needed to make to win. Defensively we kept the pressure on all afternoon and I am proud of the way we came through with a big win on Homecoming. These seniors have been great leaders for us. I want to thank everyone who came out today to support these guys on a special day here on our campus."
Mounce gave Charleston Southern (0-8, 0-3 Big South) its only lead of the game with 11:58 to play before halftime, with Mike Davis making an acrobatic catch in the end zone. Gardner-Webb would finally knot the score, 7-7, with 2:00 left in the second quarter, getting a 14-yard scoring strike from Lucas Beatty to Schley.
Neither team would score again until 14:10 remained in the game. Ricky Rhodes darted 32 yards to the Buccaneer 17-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter to get the Runnin' Bulldogs into the red zone and carried eight yards on the next play to the CSU nine. Rhodes then dropped back to pass out of the wildcat formation, and Schley came down with a tipped ball and crossed the goal line for the game winner.
Charleston Southern got a pair of long completions from Mounce to move inside the Gardner-Webb 20-yard line, but freshman nickel back Ivan Toomer picked off a pass in the end zone with 6:11 remaining to thwart the scoring opportunity. After GWU stalled, punter Graham Purvis launched a school-record, 85-yard punt - snapping Rich Chapman's previous mark of 79 yards that was set in 1973 vs. Guilford (N.C.) College.
The Buccaneers marched again, getting to the GWU 15-yard line with less than a minute to play. On third down, Jordan Woods and Dylan Taylor combined for Gardner-Webb's seventh sack of the game, and Mounce was picked off by Devin Johnson at the five-yard line with 36 seconds remaining - allowing the 'Dogs to run out the clock.
Schley finished with five catches for 50 yards and a pair of scores and Lyndon Leslie had four big catches for 85 yards, including a 51-yarder from Chandler Browning in the third quarter. GWU had 237 yards of total offense (84 rushing), but did not turn the football over for the second week in a row.
Rhodes finished with 52 yards on 22 carries to lead the ground attack, and freshman J.J. Hubbard came off the bench to contribute 45 key yards on nine carries. Defensively, Gardner-Webb held Charleston Southern to 251 yards (82 rushing) and 8-of-22 on third down.
Purvis punted 10 times for 430 yards on the day, uncorking punts of 67 and 85 yards - the two longest punts of his career.
Mounce kept the Buccaneers competitive with his legs, scrambling out of trouble several times to keep drives alive in the face of relentless GWU pressure. The quarterback had 56 yards rushing on the day and 219 yards of total offense (169 passing) to pace the CSU offense. Nathan Perera had five catches for 78 yards to lead the receiving corps.
Mitch Chocholosek collected nine tackles (five solo), a tackle for loss and a half sack to pace the CSU defense, while Charles James added seven tackles (five solo) and a pass break up.
Both teams combined for 23 tackles for loss in the game, with 12 for Gardner-Webb and 11 for the Buccaneers.
Gardner-Webb will play the first home Thursday night game in Spangler Stadium history this week, hosting Virginia State at 6:00 pm in Boiling Springs.
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