THE GAME
Gardner-Webb opens Big South Conference play on the road for the 13th time in 16 seasons, this time at red-hot Kennesaw State. Kickoff is set for 7:05 pm on ESPN3. Legendary play-by-play man Mike Hogewood and former Notre Dame and NFL standout Renaldo Wynn will handle the call (WatchESPN).

SERIES NOTES
Kennesaw State leads the all-time series, 2-0, with wins in Kennesaw (2015) and Boiling Springs (2016) ... The average margin of victory in the series has been 6.5 points per game ... GWU dropped a 12-7 decision in the teams' first meeting at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in 2015 ... The Owls jumped out to a 40-21 halftime lead last October 22 before holding on for a 47-39 win in Spangler Stadium.

LAST MEETING
The two teams' combined for 86 points and 991 yards of total offense (582 rushing) as Kennesaw State held on for a 47-39 win in Boiling Springs ... Tyrell Maxwell passed for 202 yards and two scores and rushed for 122 yards in the loss ... Chandler Burks passed for 207 yards and two scores, while rushing for 72 yards and directing the Owls' offense to 510 total yards.

TOUGH SLATE
According to the NCAA's Toughest Schedule metric, Gardner-Webb has the most difficult slate in the FCS nationally through games of October 14. Gardner-Webb's three previous opponents are a combined 16-1, with the one loss coming in an overtime game between #5 Wofford and #19 Western Carolina. Eight of Gardner-Webb's nine FCS opponents this season are either ranked this week or receiving votes in one of the two major polls conducted for the subdivision. GWU also faced a 2016 bowl participant (Wyoming) on September 9. Each of Gardner-Webb's non-conference FCS opponents is currently ranked – with Wofford (#5), N.C. A&T (#12), Western Carolina (#19) and N.C. Central (#25) appearing in at least one of the two major national polls on October 16. Four more are receiving votes, led by Kennesaw State, Monmouth, Charleston Southern and Liberty.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged a 21-31 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Brian Bohannon (Georgia '93) started the program at Kennesaw State and has led the Owls to a sterling 19-9 mark so far in his third season as a head coach.

MAXWELL'S MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Standout quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 231, Sr.) entered his senior season with a truckload of accolades, including preseason Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, and has overcome a slow start to get back to his 2016 form. Maxwell currently sits fifth in school history with 2,555 career rushing yards – just 178 yards behind Johnny Walker for second position on that list. Maxwell has also passed for 3,379 career yards, which ranks 11th in program history. Maxwell is 455 yards behind Jesse James for 10th in school history through the air. He is the first quarterback in Gardner-Webb or Big South Conference history to pass for 3,000+ yards and run for 2,000+ yards in a career. Maxwell currently ranks 12th nationally with 6.4 yards per rush and ranks 21st nationally with 92.0 yards per game. Both marks are tops in the Big South heading into league play.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Gardner-Webb linebacker Kenyatta Dunbar (5-11, 214, Sr.) has been a regular visitor in offensive backfields this season, ranking second in NCAA Division I FCS nationally with 12.5 tackles for loss (2.1 per game) so far. The Edgefield, S.C., native posted at least 3.0 tackles for loss three-straight games to end September – becoming the first Big South Conference tackler to do so since Harold Wells in 2004. Dunbar paces the team lead currently with 48 total tackles (26 solo), including a season-high 10 stops at No. 25 NC Central. He also had a forced fumble that Gardner-Webb recovered in the closing minutes at No. 9 Wofford, one of his 3.0 tackles for loss on the day.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT: HOGEWOOD AND WYNN
Gardner-Webb quarterback Tyrell Maxwell has enjoyed three of his best career games of late when the broadcast duo of Mike Hogewood and Renaldo Wynn have been in the booth. In his last three games with Hogewood and Wynn on the call, Maxwell has averaged 353.7 yards of total offensive himself, including 206.3 yards through the air (5 TD), 147.3 yards on the ground (2 TD) and a pass efficienty rating of 176.31 (2 INT). GWU is 2-1 in those three games, with a win on the road over No. 8 Charleston Southern (11/5/16) in tow. The lone loss? Last October 22 vs. Kennesaw State, which saw GWU drop a 47-39 decision in an offensive showcase for both teams.

OFFENSE MAKING STRIDES
After a tough start to the season, Gardner-Webb's offensive unit has made significant progress over its past four games. Since going without a touchdown over the first two weeks, GWU has averaged 27.5 points per game in games vs. nationally-ranked Western Carolina, Wofford and NC Central – and to Division II Shorter. Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 231, Sr.) has completed 51.0 percent of his passes for 592 yards in those games, and is averaging 117.0 yards per game himself on the ground. The Runnin' Bulldogs have effectively moved the chains, averaging 22 first downs per game since September 16.

ROAD TRIP
Gardner-Webb's last road win was a big one, as the 'Dogs pulled off a 17-10 win at No. 8 Charleston Southern last November 5 in the Palmetto State. GWU is 0-3 on the road so far in 2017 and has a 9-34 mark away from home since 2010 (20.9%). GWU has not won more than two road contests in a season since 2009 – when it captured wins at Western Carolina, VMI and Presbyterian to finish at 6-5.

BULLDOZERS 
Gardner-Webb success running the football last season was paved by a strong offensive line, a unit that returned three starters for the 2017 season in All-America candidate Will Millikan (6-3, 311, Jr.) at left tackle, third-year starter Charlie Eudy (6-2, 291, R-Jr.) at right tackle and second-year starter Brayden Briggs (6-3, 303, R-So.) at right guard. The addition of Eastern Michigan transfer Brandon Leahey (6-3, 297, R-So.) at center bolstered the unit and another newcomer was the talk of preseason camp with his quick emergence – similar to Millikan's prior to the 2015 season. Left guard Jack Nichols (6-3, 314, Fr.) started the season opener, becoming the first true freshman to earn a season opening start on the offensive line since Millikan did so at South Alabama in 2015. Millikan went on to a successful freshman season, starting 10 games, and was an All-Big South choice as a sophomore. Nichols was a standout at national power Roswell (Ga.) High before signing with Gardner-Webb in February. As a starting unit, the Runnin' Bulldogs averages 6-2 3/4 and 303.2 pounds per man. Newcomer Daniel Smith (6-4, 286, R-Fr.) earned his first start at right guard vs. Shorter and has started two games in a row.

VETERAN FRONT SEVEN
Gardner-Webb lost some star power from a solid front seven last season, with All-America linebacker Chad Geter and All-Big South running mate Aaron Cook graduating. The Runnin' Bulldogs have plenty of experienced muscle back, however, with all seven starters in the front seven in at least their third season of college football. Three of those seven starters are seniors and two more are redshirt juniors. Five of the seven have starting experience, led by All-Big South defensive end P.J. Fuimaono (6-1, 294, Sr.), standout linebacker Kenyatta Dunbar (5-11, 214, Sr.) and standouts Corey Horne (6-0, 221, Jr.) and Jeffrey Pegues (6-0, 208, Sr.) at inside linebacker.

THE BIG MAN
Punter Andrew Komornik (6-5, 264, Gr.) has shown off a strong leg again in 2017, ranking near the top of the Big South Conference with an average of 40.4 yards per punt. The Fort Mill, S.C., native has hammered five punts longer than 50 yards so far, including a 57-yarder, in 35 total attempts. Komornik has pinned eight punts inside the 20-yard line, with five of those pins coming in the past three games.

MORE MAXWELL
Gardner-Webb's Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 231, Sr.) is the Big South Conference's career leader with 11 games with 100+ yards rushing for a quarterback, doing so earlier this year vs. Western Carolina, Shorter and NC Central. Maxwell ranks ninth in league history – regardless of position – in 100-yard games rushing. His 10 games with 100+ yards rushing and 100+ yards passing is also a league record.

IT'S DAH-VIS
Defensive end Davis Neilands (6-3, 255, R-So.) – pronounced "DAH-vis" – is in his second season in the starting lineup and stands poised for a move into the elite among Big South Conference defensive linemen. The Latvian-born pass rusher emerged late last season, making a splash in his first start at Liberty (10/29) and a strong effort in the win at No. 8 Charleston Southern (11/5). He recorded five hits (four solo) and 1.5 sacks in an overtime loss at Liberty, then came through with 11 stops and a half sack in Charleston, S.C. Neilands finished his inaugural campaign with the Runnin' Bulldogs with 42 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 11 games played – with only spot duty until late October. Neilands leads Gardner-Webb and ranks among the Big South Conference leaders with 2.0 quarterback sacks in 2017.

NEW FACES ON STAFF
Gardner-Webb welcomes two new assistant coaches to its staff in 2017, with Dennis Thomas taking over on the defensive line and Bennett Houston coaching the receivers. Thomas, who played on the defensive line at South Carolina himself, most recently coached at Tusculum (2016) and also served as an assistant coach at Western Carolina. Houston, a graduate of North Greenville, spent several seasons as an undergraduate coach with a strong Crusaders' program.

BIG SOUTH OPENERS
Gardner-Webb is 8-7 all-time in its Big South Conference openers, dating back to 2002 ... Including this season, GWU will have opened on the road an amazing 13 times in 16 seasons ... GWU is 6-6 in its 12 previous conference openers that have come on the road, with its last win coming at Charleston Southern (35-25) in 2010 ... Gardner-Webb's last win overall in a Big South opener came vs. #15 Liberty on October 10, 2015 in Boiling Springs (34-20).

SLASH
The Runnin' Bulldogs employ a dangerous weapon in a wide range of areas in 2017, as Brody Rollins (5-11, 182, Jr.) uses his 4.5-second speed to impact games at several positions. The Knoxville, Tenn., speedster lines up at quarterback, running back and receiver during regular sets offensively – also serves as one of Gardner-Webb's primary kick returners. Rollins finished the 2016 season with 14 carries for 42 yards, completed one pass, caught a pass for seven yards and led Gardner-Webb with 22 kickoff returns for 454 yards (20.6 yards per attempt). He caught his first career touchdown pass vs. Western Carolina, hauling in a 35-yarder late in the fourth quarter. Rollins had his first snaps under center vs. Shorter, completing 2-of-3 passes for 17 yards and carrying three times for 20 yards. He has eight catches this season for 129 yards and a touchdown. His 53-yard catch helped Gardner-Webb score late at NC Central, part of a 99-yard touchdown drive.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb returns home to face FBS-bound Liberty in the final Big South Conference meeting between the two schools. GWU and LU played the league's inagural football game in 2002 (Lynchburg). The game will air live on Stadium Network, with Mike Hogewood and Renaldo Wynn calling the action from Spangler Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. †