Coach Carroll McCray and staff planned on 100 snaps and were able to complete that workload, in addition to 16 live kick snaps. The GWU defense was sturdy throughout the morning, as has been the case for much of the preseason, particularly the first unit. Gardner-Webb's offense came alive later in the scrimmage, moving the ball well and getting into the end zone.

"We needed the work and were blessed to get those 100 plays in today," said McCray. "It was a good move to go early, because it looks like more wet weather will move in this afternoon. We showed some improvement from Tuesday's scrimmage, which was encouraging. I thought we did a good job offensively of holding onto the football. We had a couple of interceptions, but didn't put the ball on the ground. We had some guys step up and make some plays and our young men competed hard all morning."

Gardner-Webb got into the end zone four times in second half of the scrimmage, with Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.) hitting tight end Seth Cranfill (6-4, 239, RJr.) on a seven-yard play. Cranfill finished the morning with several nice plays, including three catches for first downs and two for more than 10 yards.

Rod Talley (5-10, 203, Fr.) punched in from three yards out for another score and Juanne Blount (5-9, 201, RJr.) scored twice on short runs during goal line action to cap the scrimmage. Blount had an 18-yard burst for a first down midway through the scrimmage, continuing to build on a solid preseason camp. J.J. Hubbard (5-7, 170, Jr.) had a 10-yard reception for a first down and Richard Jules (6-0, 184, Sr.) moved the chains with a 14-yard hookup with Beatty.

Kicker Jordan Day connected on a pair of field goals during special teams work, showing accuracy from 36 and 41 yards. Freshman kicker Matt Freixa also made a 41-yard attempt.

Defensively, the Runnin' Bulldogs swarmed early and were difficult to move against. Nose guards O.J. Le'iatua Mau (6-2, 302, So.) and Phillip Fata (6-3, 295, RSo.) each made plays in the backfield on the first two series, with Fata teaming with Justin Miller (6-2, 213, Fr.) on a sack. Fata also batted down a pass and had a tackle behind the line in the early going. Miller had a key tackle for loss on third and goal to end a scoring chance later in the scrimmage and also broke up a pass.

Syracuse transfer Lonnie Johnson (5-10, 208, Gr.) blitzed in for a tackle in the end zone and a safety with the GWU offense backed up in the shadow's of its own goal posts in a scripted situation and Adam Johnson (5-7, 174, RSo.) forced the first turnover of the day, diving to pick off a Nat Dunlap pass in the middle of the field. Chad Geter (6-2, 233, So.) made an athletic interception in the back of the end zone for the only other turnover of the day, coming down with a Beatty attempt to thwart a scoring chance.

CAMP NOTES
* Gardner-Webb will meet on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to review film and begin preparation for next week. The Runnin' Bulldogs will practice twice on Monday and will practice once on Tuesday morning. Classes begin at GWU on Wednesday.

* Preseason All-America linebacker Tanner Burch (6-3, 245, Jr.) had a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage Saturday.

* Outside linebacker Aaron Cook (6-1, 202, Fr.) had a sack, as did classmate Donovan Manning (6-2, 257, Fr.). The GWU defense managed three "touch" sacks on Saturday, and had eight tackles for loss.

* Return ace J.J. Hubbard (5-7, 170, Jr.) continues to work as the primary option on kickoffs and punts, with Richard Jules (6-0, 184, Sr.), Demarcus White (5-9, 166, So.) and Ivan Toomer (6-1, 197, RSo.) also getting several reps in those areas.