BOILING SPRINGS – Tyler Tekac's 43-yard field goal as time expired capped a wild final 18 seconds and lifted Charleston Southern to a 10-9 win over Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon at Spangler Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-8, 0-3 Big South) took the lead with 18 seconds remaining when
Paul Schumacher split the uprights on a 37-yarder, but the Buccaneers (5-4, 2-1 Big South) had one last chance.
Reserve quarterback Robert Mitchell entered the game for Charleston Southern but was off the mark on first down. With 11 seconds left, Mitchell took the snap, rolled right and heaved a long ball that Kenny Dinkins hauled in after a bobble at the GWU 26-yard line.
The clock initially expired, but a review was signaled from the replay booth. The catch was confirmed after review and one second was placed back on the clock. The Buccaneers' snap and hold were crisp, and Tekac connected on the first last-second game winner of his career.
After both teams' initial drives of the game, which saw Gardner-Webb go up 3-0 on a Schumacher field goal – and Charleston Southern answer with a Noah Shuler touchdown run for a 7-3 score – the defensive units seized control of the day.
Gardner-Webb managed a 41-yard Schumacher field goal with 4:02 remaining before the half to pull within a point, and that score remained intact until his third field goal with 18 seconds left in the game.
Quarterback
Tyrell Maxwell came up with a handful of clutch plays to set up that go-ahead field goal, including a 17-yard scramble on 3rd-and-16 from his own 44-yard line to keep the drive alive. He converted a third down run again to get GWU down to the 15-yard line with less than a minute to play, and took a pair of losses to run some clock and set Schumacher up for a straight-on kick in the middle of the field.
Gardner-Webb managed just 188 yards of total offense on the day, as the Buccaneers' veteran front seven bottled up Maxwell for much of the game. Maxwell finished 11-of-22 for 82 yards through the air and ran 22 times for 59 yards – falling victim to five sacks and relentless pressure all afternoon.
Jayln Cagle had 42 yards rushing on 13 carries as the primary back and
James Ellis II caught two passes for 23 yards in the first start of his career at receiver.
Gardner-Webb's defense was strong as well, forcing three turnovers and limiting Charleston Southern to 296 yards of total offense – with only 218 yards after the initial drive of the game for the Bucs.
Corey Horne led the way with 10 stops and a tackle for loss.
Thomas Adams (six tackles) and
Josh Ramseur (six tackles) pitched in for a GWU defense that was without starting ends
Davis Neilands and
P.J. Fuimaono due to injuries.
Redshirt freshman
Alexander Ikoku came through with his most significant action of the season, collecting three tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Linebacker
Shai Thomas picked off a pass and returned it 36 yards – and
Josh Carter also picked off a pass in the second quarter to halt a CSU drive.
Charleston Southern was led by Shuler's 59 yards and a score on the ground and Bucenell overcame a pair of sacks to rush for 50 yards on 13 carries. The sophomore quarterback was 8-of-17 for 100 yards and two interceptions through the air.
Dinkins led the receiving corps with two catches for 64 yards, with his 49-yarder in the closing seconds the play of the game.
Defensively, All-America end Anthony Ellis had the game of his career, finishing with 12 total tackles (seven solo), 5.5 tackles for loss (minus-24 yards) and 2.5 sacks. He added four quarterback pressures to lead a defensive front seven that contributed 13.0 tackles for loss, five sacks and eight quarterback pressures on Saturday.
Solomon Brown added 10 hits and J.D. Sosebee added nine stops and 2.5 tackles for loss for the Bucs.
Gardner-Webb will close out its season on the road, playing at Monmouth (Nov. 11) and Presbyterian (Nov. 18). The Runnin' Bulldogs and Hawks will kick at Noon next Saturday in West Long Branch, N.J., with the game set to air live on Stadium Network. Local and regional affiliates will be announced next week.
