THE GAME
Gardner-Webb visits FBS member Wyoming (Mountain West) on Saturday afternoon in Laramie. Kickoff is set for 4:00 pm ET at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium (29,181). The game will air live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, with Ari Wolfe (PxP), Sed Bonner (Analyst) and Brad Thompson (Sideline) handling the call. 

SERIES NOTES
First meeting between the programs ... First meeting in football for Gardner-Webb with a Mountain West program ... Farthest trip west for Gardner-Webb since a September 6, 2003 visit to Montana State in Bozeman (L, 38-3) ... The game marks GWU's first football venture west of the Mississippi River since visiting Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas, on September 25, 2010 (L, 30-14) ... Gardner-Webb offensive lineman Brandon Leahey is the closest to his hometown, having played at Chapparal (Colo.) High in Parker, Colo., a 156-mile drive to Laramie.

ROUGH OPENER
Gardner-Webb's 45-3 loss in the season opener to No. 25 North Carolina A&T marked the worst loss in the first game of a season in 25 years – when the Runnin' Bulldogs visited UCF and fell by a 71-21 score in the Citrus Bowl on September 5, 1992. The loss to North Carolina A&T was the program's worst against a team from the same division in an opener since a 48-0 loss loss to Elon on the road in Burlington, N.C., on September 8, 1973. There is a silver lining, as the 1992 squad recovered to win 12 in a row and advance to the 1992 NAIA National Championship Bowl. The 1973 squad also rebounded well, going 7-5 – a school-record for wins at the time – and earning a spot in the 1973 NAIA Poultry Bowl vs. Stephen F. Austin.

DUAL THREAT
Despite a difficult opener, quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 231, Sr.) is expected to lead the Gardner-Webb offense to new heights in 2017. The Orangeburg, S.C., native has emerged as a high-level signal caller with the ability to stretch the field with his arm and legs. The 2016 Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year was named the Walter Payton Award Watch List by STATS earlier this preseason and was named to the College Football Performance Awards FCS Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List as well. Maxwell's 2016 campaign was electric, as he paced the Big South Conference in rushing yards and total offense – including a record pace of 118.2 yards per game on the ground in five league games. Maxwell passed for a career-high 1,657 yards and nine scores and rushed for a career-best 965 yards and eight touchdowns – narrowly missing a 1,000-yard rushing season. He was at his best in a win over No. 8 Charleston Southern, rushing for a season-best 165 yards and passing for 195 more. Maxwell had a difficult start to 2017 with only 11 yards on the ground vs. No. 25 North Carolina A&T and a career-low (starter) 45 yards of total offense.

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION (FBS) NOTES
Gardner-Webb is 1-12 all-time vs. FBS programs ... The lone win came in a 38-37 overtime thriller at Akron on September 11, 2010 ... GWU nearly topped eventual Chick-Fil-A Bowl participant Georgia Tech on October October 11, 2008 – falling 10-7 in Atlanta after a blocked field goal as time wound down ... Gardner-Webb first played an FBS program in 2007, taking on Ohio and Mississippi State that season.

BACKFIELD DEPTH
Gardner-Webb used three running backs against #25 North Carolina A&T in the season opener, with Kerry Bernard (5-9, 189, Sr.) and A.J. Moses (6-0, 220, Fr.) getting starts. Bernard led the team with 28 yards on 12 carries and Moses had 15 yards on just six attempts – while also catching a team-high three passes for 13 yards. Jalyn Cagle (5-11, 202, So.) was the primary option off the bench, and had the team's longest play from scrimmage – an 18-yard romp. The Runnin' Bulldogs will have veteran Jonathan Blackmon (6-0, 192, Jr.) available for the Wyoming game, with the former receiver providing a versatile option inside and out. Although not a running back, All-Big South quarterback Tyrell Maxwell (6-2, 231, Sr.) remains a very dangerous weapon as a runner in the Gardner-Webb option attack.

TOUGH SCHEDULE
Gardner-Webb is the lone squad in the Big South Conference with three non-conference FCS games on the schedule against three teams ranked in the preseason top-25 – #25 North Carolina A&T (9/2), #11 Wofford (9/23) and #24 North Carolina Central (10/14) – in addition to an FBS team coming off a bowl appearance (at Wyoming, 9/9). Gardner-Webb has played at least two ranked teams out of conference twice before since 2013 – including wins over #11 Richmond and #8 Wofford to start the 2013 season with a 4-1 mark. That 3-0 win over Wofford on September 21, 2013 in Spartanburg, S.C., is Gardner-Webb's last win over a ranked non-conference opponent – and just the second in school history on the road in such a game.

IT'S DAH-VIS
Defensive end Davis Neilands (6-3, 255, R-So.) – pronounced "DAH-vis" – enters his second season in the starting lineup 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 had six stops in the season opener vs. #25 North Carolina A&T.

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.

THE TIME HAS COME
Gardner-Webb will attempt to replace two stalwarts at outside linebacker in 2017, with Chad Geter and Aaron Cook both graduating after standout careers at the Spur and Bandit positions, respectively. Stepping into those roles are veteran performers, with Kirk Messick (6-2, 231, R-Jr.) taking over for Geter – and Donte' Gordon (6-0, 250, Sr.) stepping in for Cook. Both have gained valuable experience in reserve roles, with Messick also playing an integral role on special teams.

THE MAN FROM MEMPHIS
Veteran defensive back Thomas Adams (6-2, 206, R-Sr.) has emerged as a team leader heading into his final campaign and is an All-Big South candidate at free safety. The versatile Memphis, Tenn., native has also started games with success at corner and has the size and ability to make an impact at either position. Adams finished the 2016 season with 35 total tackles, four pass break ups and a tackle for loss in nine games played. He had eight hits in the 2017 opener.

SLASH
The Runnin' Bulldogs will 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. The Knoxville, Tenn., speedster will line up at quarterback, running back and receiver during regular sets offensively – and will also serve 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).

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb returns home for another big in-state matchup, hosting Western Carolina at 6:00 pm in Spangler Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Catamounts will air live on WMYA (My 40) and will also stream via The Big South Network. The Catamounts took a 41-14 win over GWU last September in Cullowhee, N.C. †