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BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb got a pair of Paul Schumacher field goals and the Runnin' Bulldogs posted three defensive stops inside their own five-yard line to beat Virginia Union, 13-9, Saturday night.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) were without starting quarterback Tyrell Maxwell – who was injured in overtime last week vs. Elon – and suited up quarterbacks who had combined for two collegiate snaps coming into the game.

"We were fortunate to win the game. It wasn't pretty, but there is no such thing as a bad win," said head coach Carroll McCray. "We had some young guys in there offensively who a month ago wouldn't have expected to be asked to play as much as we had them tonight. Our defense faced some adversity with field position and answered the bell. We had some guys step up and make plays when we needed them and that was the difference in the game tonight. Regardless of division, that was a big, strong and well coached football team we played."

Gardner-Webb leaned on its experienced defense Saturday. That unit forced four turnovers and made two key goal line stands – the first coming with 4:20 to play before halftime to preserve a 10-0 lead when linebackers Tanner Burch and Aaron Cook stuffed quarterback Shawheem Dowdy at the half-yard line on fourth down.

With 4:27 left in the third quarter and Gardner-Webb still clinging to a 10-0 lead, safety Trey Lucas forced a fumble inside his own one-yard line that was recovered by Angel Guzman.

Virginia Union took advantage of a GWU fumble on the very next play, with Paulin Miano stripping Chase Arrington in the end zone. Gardner-Webb recovered the ball, but the Division II Panthers had a safety with 4:21 left on the clock.

The Runnin' Bulldogs stuffed Virginia Union after the free kick and forced a punt. After taking possession near midfield, GWU responded with its final scoring march of the night.

Gardner-Webb took advantage of a face mask on third and long to get into Virginia Union territory and drew a targeting foul on the next play to advance to the Panthers' 31-yard line.

GWU freshman Brody Rollins completed a pass to classmate Adonus Lee for seven yards to set up 4th-and-2 at the 23-yard line and the Runnin' Bulldogs elected to kick a field goal. Schumacher split the uprights on a 40-yarder with 12:16 left on the game clock for a 13-2 lead.

Virginia Union (2-1) broke through on its next drive, with emergency quarterback Andre Coble stepping out of three tackles and dodging another on a 55-yard scramble that set the Panthers up at the Gardner-Webb 17. Gardner-Webb safety Spencer Havird saved a touchdown when he broke up a third down pass in the end zone, but Coble – a former prep quarterback who is now a receiver for the Panthers – wiggled out of trouble on 4th-and-6 and hit Olu Izegwire at the goal line for a score.

The kick cut Gardner-Webb's lead to 13-9 with 9:16 left in the game.

GWU lost two yards on its next drive and punted, allowing Virginia Union plenty of time to try and push ahead on the scoreboard. A targeting foul on reserve safety Thomas Adams on 2nd-and-14 gave the Panthers a first down inside Gardner-Webb territory with 6:32 remaining.

Coble stepped out of trouble again and found running back Hakeem Holland on a 43-yard gainer down the right sideline – with Chad Geter saving a touchdown with a force out at the GWU two-yard line.

With the clock ticking down, Gardner-Webb's defense stiffened. Aaron Cook and Adam Johnson combined to catch Holland for a short loss, then Cook joined Jebrai Regan to trip up Coble for a seven-yard loss that forced third-and-goal from the Gardner-Webb 10 with 3:59 left.

After a Virginia Union timeout, Cook and Regan teamed up for a 19-yard sack that put the Panthers in dire straits, but Coble came through again on fourth down. The Richmond, Va., senior rolled to his left and threw across his body back to the right to Holland – who was tackled at the 10-yard line. A roughing the passer foul was tacked on, setting up first-and-goal inside the GWU five.

Cook stopped Coble for a short gain on first down and after a pair of incompletions, Coble hit Jerome Robinson on a check down – but D.J. Allen came up for the tackle at the four-yard line to end the threat with 1:54 left on the clock.

Gardner-Webb took a knee on three plays offensively to run out the clock.

After a scoreless first quarter, freshman quarterback Brody Rollins finally got the Runnin' Bulldogs to march on his third collegiate drive. After a sack on first down, Rollins rushed for three yards – and stepped out of third-down trouble for a 34-yard gain that set the 'Dogs up at the Virginia Union 20.

The drive stalled, but allowed Schumacher an easy try from 25 yards that put GWU up 3-0 with 9:23 left before halftime.

Cook came through with another big defensive play on Virginia Union's next possession, stepping in front of a pass and returning it 18 yards down to the Panthers' 17. Rollins carried for six yards on first down and Josh Bettistea found paydirt from 11 yards away – scoring his first collegiate touchdown on his first career carry with 7:46 before the half.

The 10-0 lead was threatened, with Virginia Union marching to the half yard line on its next drive before Gardner-Webb's first goal line stand. The Panthers appeared to have scored once more on its final second quarter drive, but a penalty negated a 34-yard score with 43 seconds left. Anthony Michael's 31-yard field goal just before the half was wide left and Gardner-Webb held its 10-0 lead into the locker room.

Virginia Union out gained Gardner-Webb 309-138 on the night, with the Runnin' Bulldogs gaining only 26 yards in the final 30 minutes. The Panthers ran 20 plays inside the GWU 10-yard line Saturday night, coming away with just one touchdown.

The two teams combined for 194 yards in penalties in the game.

Gardner-Webb finished with 138 yards of total offense on the night. Rollins was very effective on the ground in the first half and finished with a team-high 69 yards rushing on 14 carries. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 20 yards in his first collegiate action as well, with GWU attempting only eight passes all game.

Defensively, Cook led the way with 14 total stops, 2.0 tackles for loss (minus-15 yards), three quarterback pressures and his 18-yard interception return that set up Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown.

Azziz Higgins finished with 10 hits (five solo), Tanner Burch had nine and Chad Geter came off the bench to record seven tackles (five solo) in just one half of action. His game-saving tackle at the two-yard line was the biggest and he added 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass break up and a pair of hurries.

Havird finished with six hits, four pass break ups and a 26-yard interception return at safety and OJ Mau was effective with four stops, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He also pressured Virginia Union's quarterbacks three times.

Gardner-Webb's defense had 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, five pass break ups and forced four turnovers in the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs also limited Virginia Union to 1-for-5 in the red zone and 3-of-14 on third down.

Holland ran 16 times for 85 yards and caught two passes for 62 yards to pace the Panthers offensively. Coble came off the bench to pass for 80 yards on 4-of-8 accuracy. Dowdy completed just 9-of-19 passes for 85 yards and threw three interceptions in the start.

Linebacker Joseph Blanks led the Panthers with 11 stops (eight solo). Zachary Dunston had six hits, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack.

Gardner-Webb faces a much more difficult task next week, as it travels to face Wofford (1-2) in Spartanburg, S.C. The Terriers – who feature one of the nation's most effective and efficient rushing attacks – nearly knocked off FBS (Sun Belt) member Idaho Saturday on the road, falling 41-38 to the 85-scholarship Vandals.