Gardner-Webb Rallies For 30-28 Win Over MidAmerica Nazarene Saturday
October 14, 2012 | Football
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-5) led 23-14 at the half after a late touchdown to Cranfill, but saw MidAmerica Nazarene (4-2) control the clock en route to a pair of touchdowns that gave the Pioneers a 28-23 lead with 14:02 to play in the game on quarterback Sean Ransburg's 49-yard keeper.
Gardner-Webb was fruitless on its next two drives, with a 43-yard march ending at midfield with 4:51 remaining. Bo Lindsey's punt pinned MNU at its own one-yard line, but the Pioneers picked up two big first downs to get out past the 25 yard line.
Facing a fourth-and-inches with 1:14 left, and with Gardner-Webb out of timeouts, the Pioneers chose to go for it from the 31-yard line. Ransburg was stuffed in the backfield by middle linebacker Tanner Burch - giving GWU the ball back with 1:11 on the clock at the MidAmerica Nazarene 30.
Lucas Beatty got to work quickly, hitting Deonte Swinton on a 26-yard out route down to the four. After a holding call on third-and-goal pushed the 'Dogs back to the 13, Beatty found Cranfill on a fade route for the winning score.
"First I want to give credit to God for allowing me to play the game," said Cranfill. "When the ball was in the air, it was a strange feeling. I really can't describe it. I knew I was going to make the play. I had to make the play. We got protection and Lucas made a great throw."
Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on Blount's 32-yard dash on a direct snap with 11:58 to play in the first quarter. Trever Austin added a 22-yard field goal with 14:17 to play before the half for a 10-0 lead - before Ransburg tossed scoring passes of six and 19 yards to give the visitors a 14-10 lead with 5:38 left in the half - but the Runnin' Bulldogs would answer.
Return man J.J. Hubbard provided the spark, returning a kickoff 63 yards to the MNU 37-yard line with 5:21 in the half. Blount capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 1:56 to play and - after Burch broke up a third-down pass near midfield - Hubbard struck again.
The Tampa, Fla., sophomore darted 50 yards with the ensuing punt, setting up Gardner-Webb at the 32. Beatty hit Cranfill for 18 yards down to the 11-yard line and - after a false start penalty - found the 6-foot-4, 230-pound sophomore from 16 yards out with nine seconds left for the halftime lead.
MidAmerica Nazarene drove 73 yards in nine plays to open the third quarter, with Ransburg hitting Brett Houchen in the end zone from 18 yards out to trim the GWU lead to 23-21 with 10:02 left in the third quarter.
An interception on Gardner-Webb's next drive set the Pioneers up near midfield, and Ransburg darted 49 yards on the second play of the drive for the go-ahead score.
Gardner-Webb finished with 329 yards offensively on the night, with Beatty overcoming six dropped passes to go 20-of-30 for 193 yards and a pair of scores. Cranfill caught seven passes for 75 yards and the first two scores of his career. Swinton hauled in five passes for 70 yards, with none bigger than his diving grab on the final drive.
Blount carried 20 times for 86 yards and a pair of scores and Kenny Little had 54 yards on 17 carries.
Burch was the star defensively, collecting a career-high 18 total tackles (10 solo), two tackles for loss and a pass break up. Hubbard finished with 171 kick return yards in one of the best efforts of his young career.
MidAmerica Nazarene outgained Gardner-Webb, picking up 397 yards of offense and averaging 6.0 yards per play. Ransburg, a former Missouri Mr. Football winner, was at the core of that effort passing for 205 yards and three scores and running for 100 yards. Houchen caught a pair of touchdowns to pace the receiving effort.
Mike McJunkins (14 tackles), Joe Camacho (12 tackles) and Joey Oxley (10 tackles) paced the MNU defense. Dantren Anderson and Sean Moran each had interceptions for the Pioneers.
Gardner-Webb will get back to action in the Big South Conference next Saturday, traveling to Long Island to face No. 11 Stony Brook at 4:00 pm. The Seawolves remained unbeaten in league play with a 27-21 win at Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
NOTES
* Gardner-Webb unveiled new, red Under Armour game jerseys just 20 minutes prior to kickoff Saturday night. The team warmed up in the usual black tops, as the GWU equipment staff broke out the surprise as the team stretched on the field. The eruption of excitement in the locker room as the team returned from the field could be heard well into the Football Center halls. The jerseys have white trim with black tackle-twill numerals outlined in white.
* Preseason All-Big South defensive end Preston Pemasa was held out of action due to a minor injury. He is expected to return to action at Stony Brook next week.
* Seth Cranfill now leads Gardner-Webb's receiving corps with 27 catches through six games. He is on pace to shatter the single-season tight ends reception mark of 37 set by Jason Bright in 2001.
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