BOILING SPRINGS – Tyrell Maxwell ran for 139 yards and two scores on eight carries, and passed for 144 yards and two scores as Gardner-Webb rolled to a 42-14 win over Shorter.

The Runnin' Bulldogs ran for 418 yards on 45 carries, which is the second-highest rushing total in school history – and most since 473-yard performance on October 11, 1986 at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Gardner-Webb (1-4) piled up 579 yards of total offense on 63 plays, and averaged better than 10.5 yards per play until pulling its starters with 13:12 to play in the game.

Shorter (0-5) lost its 23rd game in a row, but held a brief lead after Gardner-Webb turned the ball over on its first play from scrimmage. BJ McCoy scored from one-yard out to take advantage, and the Hawks led 6-0 after the extra point missed.

Maxwell led the Runnin' Bulldogs downfield quickly to answer, scoring on a physical, four-yard run to cap a 6-play, 75-yard march to put Gardner-Webb up 7-6 with 5:37 to play in the opening quarter. Maxwell extended the lead with his legs moments later, taking a first-down snap and racing 83 yards for a score with 3:14 to play in the quarter. It was the second-longest run of Maxwell's career, nearly matching his 87-yarder last season vs. Presbyterian.

The lead grew to 21-6 early in the second quarter, as Maxwell hit tight end Jackson Goodman on a wheel route for a 42-yard touchdown with 11:19 left in the half. It was the first touchdown reception of Goodman's career.

Shorter converted several long third downs to trim the lead to 21-14 with 4:47 left before halftime on a 20-yard completion from Tyler Pullum to Lewis Hayes.

The Runnin' Bulldogs answered and pulled away with ease from there, with Maxwell hitting Adonus Lee on a 27-yard route over the middle for a 28-14 lead at the break.

Jonathan Blackmon dashed 38 yards for a score to put GWU up 35-14 midway through the third quarter and A.J. Moses scored from 12 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 42-14 advantage.

Gardner-Webb went deep into its bench from there, with 10 different ball carriers on the day.

Maxwell completed 8-of-14 passes for his 144 yards and two scores and was not sacked. He picked up 139 yards on just eight carries, averaging 17.4 yards per carry. The performance marked the Orangeburg, S.C., senior's 10th career 100-yard game and his school-record ninth game with at least 100 yards passing and 100 yards rushing.

Blackmon added a career-high 102 yards and a score on seven carries, Moses posted a career-best 44 yards and a score on five carries and Jayln Cagle ran for 40 yards on seven carries. Stephone Kirksey and Jamarius Mack each had the first carries of their careers on Saturday.

Cagle added three catches for 32 yards to pace the receiving corps – and Goodman hauled in a pair of passes for a career-best 57 yards.

Jeffrey Pegues led the defensive effort, totaling 10 tackles and a pass break up from his linebacker spot. Kenyatta Dunbar (seven tackles) and Corey Horne (seven tackles) were also active in the middle and end Davis Neilands pitched in with four total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack.

Shorter finished with 254 total yards, managing just 60 yards rushing on 30 carries. Pullum was effective early through the air, completing 15-of-28 passes for 194 yards and a score. Hayes, who also punts for the Hawks, hauled in five balls for 96 yards to lead the receiving corps.

McCoy led the rushing attack with 45 yards on 19 carries.

Hawks' linebacker Justin Fullmore finished the game with 16 total tackles (seven solo) and 2.0 tackles for loss. He also recovered a fumble on his first defensive snap of the game to set up Shorter's early touchdown.

Gardner-Webb, which entered the week having played the toughest schedule nationally among FCS teams, gets back on the road next Saturday (Oct. 14) at defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central.

Kickoff is set for 2 pm in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, a venue GWU hasn't visited since 1999.