DURHAM, N.C. – Gardner-Webb pushed No. 25 North Carolina Central to the limit Saturday afternoon, but fell just short in a 24-17 loss to the Eagles at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Gardner-Webb (1-5) forced a punt with less than a minute remaining and moved all the way to the North Carolina Central (5-1) 34-yard line before Tyrell Maxwell's last-second pass fell incomplete as time expired.

The Runnin' Bulldogs drove 99 yards on 12 plays late in the game to cut the lead to one possession, but didn't have enough time left to even the score. 

Maxwell's 21-yard scramble on fourth down with 1:45 left cut the lead to 24-17. The Orangeburg, S.C., senior rushed for a season-high 165 yards and two scores on 21 carries and passed for 138 yards in the loss.

It was the third loss to a ranked FCS team already for the Runnin' Bulldogs. All four of the non-conference FCS programs Gardner-Webb has played to date were ranked in this week's top-25. Eight of the nine FCS programs on GWU's 2017 schedule are currently either ranked or receiving votes.

The margin of defeat in Gardner-Webb's last two road games – both against ranked teams – has been a scant 5.0 points per game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs stayed in the game early by buckling down against the Eagles' ground game. GWU held Central to just 15 yards rushing on 12 carries in the first half, but trailed 10-3 at intermission.

North Carolina Central took a 3-0 lead on a 40-yard field goal by Aedan Johnson with 5:09 to play in the first quarter, capping a 34-yard drive after a Gardner-Webb punt. The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with a strong drive, getting down to the Eagles' 20-yard line – but a 37-yard field goal was wide left with 1:16 to play in the first quarter.

The Eagles struck with a big play early in the second quarter, as freshman quarterback Chauncey Caldwell found Nique Martin down the far sideline for a 57-yard touchdown pass on third down. The extra point gave Central a 10-3 lead with 14:08 remaining before the half.

Neither team could get in the board the rest of the way, as Gardner-Webb bottled up the Eagles' run game and the veteran Central defense held GWU to just 1-of-8 on third down for the first 30 minutes.

The third quarter was more of the same on both sides, until the Eagles hit another big pass play – with Caldwell lofting a long ball that Xavier McKoy hauled in with one hand for a 42-yard gain into GWU territory with just over two minutes left in the quarter.

Isaiah Totten then broke off the home team's longest run of the day, a 17-yarder, and a personal foul penalty on GWU away from the play tacked on 15 yards to set up Central at the 13-yard line.

Caldwell bulled in from nine yards out moments later, creating a 17-3 cushion with 49 seconds left in the third.

Gardner-Webb had an answer, driving 70 yards to trim the lead back to one possession on its next chance. Tyrell Maxwell darted straight up the middle on a quarterback draw for a 23-yard touchdown with 11:33 to play and Paul Schumacher drilled the PAT kick for a 17-10 score.

The Runnin' Bulldogs had Central backed up at their nine-yard line after a tackle for loss and hold created a 2nd-and-24 situation – but Caldwell found McKoy again on an 89-yard touchdown pass with 10:17 left for a 24-10 lead. It was the third-longest pass play in Eagles' history.

Maxwell gave Gardner-Webb some life, hitting Brody Rollins on a 53-yard bomb past midfield after GWU was pinned at its own one following a punt. The two hooked up again on third down to set the 'Dogs up at the 35-yard line. A 20-yard hookup with Jacob Henderson put the ball at the NCCU 14-yard line with less than three minutes remaining.

After a pass to James Ellis II into the end zone was broken up, Central came with all-out blitzes on second and third down – forcing an errant throw and knocking Maxwell to the turf – to force 4th-and-17 with 1:55 left in the game.

Maxwell dropped back to pass on the play, but was pressured again and stepped out of a sack – darting 21 yards for a score with 1:45 left on the clock. That capped a 99-yard drive for the Runnin' Bulldogs that took 12 plays and just over four minutes.

The ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful, giving NCCU the ball at the Gardner-Webb 44-yard line. 

GWU forced a third down with 1:29 left and called its final timeout. The 'Dogs nearly forced a fumble on the next play, but Caldwell was whistled down by contact, allowing the Eagles to run the clock all the way down to 36 seconds before punting into the end zone.

Maxwell scrambled out of bounds for a 14-yard gain on first down to keep GWU alive and, after an incompletion, took off on a 29-yard scramble into Eagles' territory with four seconds left. His desperation toss as the clock expired fell incomplete.

Gardner-Webb finished the game with 379 yards of total offense, including 241 yards on the ground. Maxwell led the way, carrying 21 times for his 165 yards and both touchdowns. GWU struggled to find consistency through the air, with Maxwell completing just 8-of-26 passes for 136 yards against heavy pressure for the much of the day.

Rollins caught three passes for 67 yards to lead the receiving corps. Jayln Cagle had a 28-yard catch and added 37 yards on the ground. GWU had five more first downs – 22-17 – than the home team.

Kenyatta Dunbar was active once again, collecting 10 hits, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and an interception. Running mate Jeffrey Pegues added six total hits in the game.

North Carolina Central managed just 76 yards rushing on 27 carries, but found heavy success through the air – as Caldwell completed 15-of-30 passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

McKoy was the big play threat, catching three balls for 139 yards. Murphy had seven catches for 64 yards and Martin had three catches for 66 yards and a score. Totten had a team-high 54 yards on 12 carries – but no other Eagle had more than 12 yards in the ground game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will now turn their attention to Big South Conference play, with five-straight weeks of league games beginning next Saturday in Georgia. GWU will travel to face Kennesaw State on October 21, with kickoff set for 7:00 pm on ESPN3 (WatchESPN).

Legendary play-by-play man Mike Hogewood will be joined by color analyst Renaldo Wynn in the broadcast booth. Kennesaw State holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series, which includes a 12-7 win in Fifth Third Bank Stadium two seasons ago (10/17/15) and a 47-39 win in Spangler Stadium last season (10/22/16).