THE GAME
Gardner-Webb travels to Clinton, S.C., Saturday afternoon to close out the 2017 season at Presbyterian, continuing a rivalry that began in 1970 when both programs were NAIA members. The contest will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).
  
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian will meet for the 39th time on Saturday afternoon, with GWU holding a 20-18 edge ... Gardner-Webb has won two in a row and four of the last five meetings ... The Runnin' Bulldogs have gone 10-2 in the last 12 games played in Clinton, S.C. ... The Runnin' Bulldogs broke from recent trends last season in a 24-3 victory ... The previous four meetings had been decided by just 6.0 points per game ... GWU took a 14-10 win on October 31, 2015, in its last visit to Presbyterian ... The Blue Hose won 11 of the first 15 meetings, beginning in 1970 ... Gardner-Webb is 6-2 against the Blue Hose since both programs moved to the NCAA Division I level.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and has forged a 21-35 record so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Tommy Spangler (Georgia '84) is in his second stint as head coach of the Blue Hose, and has gone 45-31 during those two stretches combined.

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 worked himself up the charts in both Gardner-Webb and the Big South record books. Maxwell currently sits second in school history with 2,763 career rushing yards – regardless of position. Maxwell has also passed for 3,886 career yards, which ranks 10th in program history. 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 is also the first quarterback in Big South history to rush for at least 20 touchdowns (20) and pass for at least 20 touchdowns (24).

SOUTH GEORGIA STORM
Linebacker Corey Horne (6-0, 221, Jr.) has made the most of his move into the starting lineup in each of the past two seasons, and has been a force over the past month. The Effingham, Ga., native has made 36 total tackles combined over the past four games, leading the Gardner-Webb defense with double-figure performances against Kennesaw State, Liberty and Charleston Southern. Horne has now posted 113 total tackles over the past two seasons and continues to be a leader on the defensive side of the football. 

CLOSE CALLS
The Runnin' Bulldogs had another close call go the wrong direction vs. defending Big South champs Charleston Southern, falling 10-9 on a last-second field goal. It marked the fourth time in the last five losses that GWU nearly pulled out a win before falling short. Gardner-Webb dropped a 17-3 decision at league-leader Kennesaw State on September 21, but had plenty of chances in the second half to tighten the game. GWU drove to the KSU six-yard line to open the third quarter, but stalled and connected on a field goal. GWU twice drove deep into Owls' territory in the fourth quarter, but were turned away twice on turnovers. Gardner-Webb's two losses prior to KSU came at No. 9 Wofford (24-21) and No. 25 North Carolina Central (24-17), with the Runnin' Bulldogs gaining possession with a chance to tie in the final 90 seconds each time.

TOUGH SLATE
According to the NCAA's Toughest Schedule metric, Gardner-Webb has played the nation's most difficult schedule to date. Each of Gardner-Webb's eight prior FCS opponents have been ranked at some point so far in 2017. Two of Gardner-Webb's opponents – North Carolina A&T and Wofford – are currently ranked in the top-10 nationally in both major polls. Throw in 2017 bowl participant Wyoming for good measure. The eight FCS teams on Gardner-Webb's schedule so far have combined to go 42-11 this season. The 2017 season marks the second time under Carroll McCray that GWU has played four top-25 teams in the same season – also doing so in 2013.

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. Newcomer Daniel Smith (6-4, 286, R-Fr.) earned his first start at right guard vs. Shorter and started the next three games in a row. He started at right tackle vs. Monmouth.

VETERAN FRONT SEVEN
The Runnin' Bulldogs have  plenty of experienced muscle up front, 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. That group has helped GWU hold three teams to less than 100 yards rushing in a game this year, including FBS Wyoming (9/9).

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 39.8 yards per punt. The Fort Mill, S.C., native has hammered seven punts longer than 50 yards so far, including a 57-yarder, in 60 total attempts. Komornik has pinned 15 punts inside the 20-yard line, with 12 of those pins coming in the past six games.

MORE MAXWELL
Gardner-Webb's Tyrell Maxwell 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 with 111 yards by halftime and against both Shorter (Ga.) and No. 25 North Carolina Central. 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 team's 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.

CAGLE COMES TO PLAY
With only two scholarship running backs available due to injuries, Jayln Cagle (5-11, 202, So.) enjoyed the best game of his collegiate career vs. Liberty (10/28). The Kannapolis, N.C., native carried 24 times for a career-high 179 yards and a touchdown in the game, with his 37-yard scamper up the middle cutting the Flames' lead to 19-17 early in the fourth quarter. Cagle's effort marked the most yardage gained on the ground by a Gardner-Webb runner since the move to NCAA Division I in 2000 – snapping the 176-yard effort by Phillip Peoples vs. Presbyterian (10/18/08). It is the sixth-best total all-time (since 1970).

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 16 catches this season for 240 yards and two touchdowns. His 53-yard catch helped Gardner-Webb score late at NC Central, part of a 99-yard touchdown drive.