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BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb shut out Virginia-Lynchburg, 34-0, Saturday in a game that lasted just three quarters due to severe lightning in the area.

The game was called with 14:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. Officials and both head coaches met 45 minutes after the initial delay and came to the decision. All stats are official, as is the final result.

Gardner-Webb (1-2) managed 330 yards of total offense and 16 first downs in the shortened contest, with Lucas Beatty passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Tyrell Maxwell led the ground game with 52 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in an increased role.

GWU had four sacks and held the Dragons (0-3) to minus-21 yards rushing and only 81 yards of total offense. Virginia-Lynchburg did not cross the midfield stripe and didn't have a first down until less than a minute remained before halftime.

"Playing the full 60 minutes just wasn't going to happen once that storm came in," said head coach Carroll McCray. "I thought we played the way we're capable of playing in the third quarter – we moved the football and forced some turnovers. It was good for us to get plenty of younger players snaps and experience, despite the shortened game. We have plenty of work to do to improve and get ready for a fine Wofford team next weekend."

Gardner-Webb got on the board with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter, with Paul Schumacher capping a seven-play, 41-yard drive with a short field goal from 28 yards away.

J.J. Hubbard put the Runnin' Bulldogs in business with just under five minutes to play in the quarter, taking a short punt back 18 yards to the Dragons' 26-yard line. After a two-yard rush, Hubbard caught a shovel pass from Beatty and raced around left end 24 yards to paydirt. Shumacher's extra point put GWU up 10-0 with 3:53 remaining in the first.

Gardner-Webb drove down to the VUL nine-yard line on its next drive, but a sack and incomplete pass stalled things – and a short field goal sailed wide right.

Maxwell came on and ignited the offense quickly once again, dashing 20 yards on a keeper with 5:45 left before halftime. He hit Levon Lane-Atkins on a 21-yard pass play to get inside the red zone and eventually scored himself on a one-yard sneak for a 17-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb's defense turned its production up a notch in the third quarter, picking off three passes that led to the final 17 points of the game.

Ivan Toomer stepped in front of a pass with 13:47 left in the quarter and dodged tacklers all the way into the end zone for a 25-yard score a 24-0 lead. Steven Cristobal made an acrobatic interception on the next possession and freshman Kerry Bernard scored his first career touchdown from three yards out for – but a hold on the play negated that score. Bernard (Orlando, Fla. / Dr. Phillips HS) carried three times for 40 yards on the scoring march. Schumacher booted another short field goal for a 27-0 advantage.

Donald Buie III intercepted another pass one drive later and dashed all the way to the Virginia-Lynchburg 31-yard line. Beatty hit freshman Jacob Henderson on a 23-yard shovel pass to the eight, and found reserve tight end Jordan Jones on an eight-yard score for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb had the football on second down at its own 29 when the lightning detection system alarm sounded – forcing the initial weather delay. The game is the first weather-shortened contest for Gardner-Webb since its move to NCAA Division I.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were hampered again by injuries, with several starters unavailable for Saturday's game – including preseason All-America selections Kenny Cook (receiver) and Tanner Burch (linebacker).

GWU played the game without three of its top five receivers and two players – Lane-Atkins and Henderson – caught their first career pass against the Dragons.

In addition to Maxwell's production on the ground, Gardner-Webb got 42 yards on nine carries from Juanne Blount, 40 yards from Bernard and 26 yards from Hubbard. Freshman Khalil Lewis had a 13-yard burst for a first down, as Gardner-Webb collected 171 yards rushing on 31 carries.

The Gardner-Webb defense sacked the Dragons' quarterback four times and did not allow a play longer than 19 yards on the night.

Chad Geter finished with a team-high seven tackles (six solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack in limited action. Spencer Havird had five stops, O.J. Mau had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack and Toomer played well with two solo stops, an interception return for a score and two pass break ups.

GWU broke up six passes and had six quarterback pressures in the game. End Jebrai Regan had three pressures and a half sack – and also knocked down a pass.

VUL got six tackles and its lone sack of the game from Derron Hall.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will get back to action in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 20), hosting Wofford at 6:00 pm. The game will air live on The Big South Network and wgwg.org, with Fabian Fuentes and Ben Fuller providing the call.