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Gardner-Webb To Honor 1992 NAIA National Football Finalists During Homecoming Game

BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb will honor its 1992 NAIA football national finalist team during Saturday's homecoming game against VMI.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 1:30 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

The 1992 team posted what stands as the most dominant season in Gardner-Webb football history 20 years ago, rolling to a 12-2 record, a South Atlantic Conference title and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Bowl - played in Spangler Stadium.

Head coach Woody Fish's team featured eight All-Americans, the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Year (John Craven) and the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Year (James Harbison). Fish and seven of his players from that team have already earned a spot in the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Runnin' Bulldogs of 20 years ago still hold 35 combined team and individual records. The 'Dogs averaged a sizzling 461.0 yards of total offense, ran 1,076 plays in 14 games and piled up 315 first downs. Defensively, Gardner-Webb picked off 40 passes, returned seven for touchdowns, registered 47 quarterback sacks and an eye-popping 140 tackles for loss.

Gardner-Webb barreled through South Atlantic Conference play in 1992, outscoring its opponents by an average of 42.7 to 17.4. GWU defeated five nationally-ranked foes in league play en route to a 7-0 mark.

Against Wingate, quarterback John Craven passed for a school-record 487 yards and six touchdowns to spark a 69-33 win in Spangler Stadium. Gardner-Webb racked up a school-record 804 yards of total offense in that game.

Gardner-Webb hosted three NAIA playoff games in Spangler Stadium, defeating Concord (WV) and Shepherd (WV) before falling to Central State (OH), 19-16, in the Championship Bowl.

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