THE GAME
Gardner-Webb returns home to open its November slate, hosting Presbyterian College at 1:30 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The Blue Hose and Runnin' Bulldogs will stream live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes and Brendan Boylan on the call. All military service members and veterans, along with first responders, will receive free admission to Saturday's game as part of Salute to Service Day in Boiling Springs.
SERIES NOTES
Saturday marks the 41st meeting on the gridiron between the Blue Hose and Runnin' Bulldogs ... Gardner-Webb owns a 21-19 series lead, with the first game between the two schools held on November 7, 1970 ... Presbyterian pulled away for a 31-21 win in Clinton, S.C., last season to snap a two-game win streak by Gardner-Webb in the series ... The Blue Hose last won in Boiling Springs on November 14, 2014 by a 14-7 score.
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach
Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and is 23-42 so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Tommy Spangler (Georgia '84) has gone 48-36 in two stints and eight total seasons as head coach at Presbyterian. Spangler is in his second season as head coach of the Blue Hose since returning to the program. He previous served as the team's head coach from 2001-200.
MORE FRESHMEN NOTES
Gardner-Webb has compiled 41 total freshmen starts so far in 2018, including eight each by quarterback
Jordan Smith, defensive end
John Singleton and punter
Crimmins Hankinson ... Almost half of the 41 freshmen starts this season have come from the State of Georgia (20) ... Other states represented are North Carolina (13) and Florida (8) ... Nine starts have come from former North Carolina Shrine Bowlers Singleton (8) and Matt Robinson (1).
ENGINE NO. 9
Quarterback
Jordan Smith (6-1, 211, R-Fr.) has started the first eight games of his career in Boiling Springs, and has made strides. The Fruit Cove, Fla., native was excellent in Gardner-Webb's 35-7 win at Campbell, completing 11-of-20 passes for 167 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes in the game. He added a career-high 45 yards rushing and posted a 191.44 pass efficiency rating – both career-high numbers. In the decisive first half, Smith went 8-of-12 for 148 yards and three touchdowns. His first completion of the third quarter also went for six.
HIGH DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
One season ago, Gardner-Webb entertained the nation's most difficult schedule according to the NCAA. In 2018, the Runnin' Bulldogs are tackling another very difficult slate, ranking No. 16 nationally after games of October 27. GWU was the first team in the FCS this season to do battle with three top-10 teams, falling to No. 5 North Carolina A&T, No. 6 Wofford and No. 2 Kennesaw State. Four of Gardner-Webb's first five FCS opponents this season are currently ranked in the top-25 (Kennesaw State, Wofford, North Carolina A&T and ETSU). Four more – Campbell, Charleston Southern, Monmouth and Western Carolina – have each received votes at least one week during the 2018 regular season.
SPEED DEMON
Receiver and return man
Kyle Horton (5-11, 178, Sr.) is fully healthy in his final campaign and has proven to be a dangerous weapon so far – despite not reaching the end zone through the season's first six games. The former Mallard Creek (N.C.) High standout has hauled in 29 balls for 368 yards (12.7 yards per catch) and two touchdowns while remaining a dynamic punt returner. Horton ranks No. 9 nationally with an average of 14.2 yards per return so far in 2018, bringing 12 punts back for 170 yards. He caught six passes for 96 yards at No. 5 North Carolina A&T and hauled in three balls for 61 yards vs. Western Carolina. Horton added five catches for 74 yards vs. No. 6 Wofford and caught two touchdowns in the win at Campbell.
MORE STARTERS LOST FOR 2018
Gardner-Webb has two more defensive starters out for the rest of the season. Outside linebacker Malachi Bucker (6-1, 200, Fr.) is down with an injury, as well as safety
Josh Carter (5-11, 195, Sr.). Both saw significant snaps vs. Kennesaw State two weeks ago. That marks five starters or potential starters on the defensive side out for the 2018 campaign with four games remaining on the slate. The Runnin' Bulldogs lost veteran nose guards
Josh Ramseur and
K'Maron Patterson before the season started and starting SPUR linebacker
Robert McKoy (5-11, 220, RSo.) early in the season.
BOOM BOOM
First-year starter
Tre' Jackson (5-10, 226, R-Jr.) has proven to be a powerful kicker through nine games. The Newland, N.C., native has connected on five of his seven field goal attempts this season, including a 41-yarder vs. Western Carolina (9/14) and a 40-yarder at No. 5 North Carolina A&T (9/8). Jackson's most impressive performance has come on kickoffs, where he has boomed 18-of-30 attempts into – or out of – the end zone for touchbacks. The former prep quarterback hauled in a two-point conversion pass at Campbell off a broken play.
FOOTBALL FAMILIES
Gardner-Webb features two families on its current roster with strong ties to college football. Nose guard
Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.), who will seek a medical redshirt in 2018, is one of five brothers in his family to play college football. Older brothers Kenneth (Gardner-Webb) and Tim (NC State) played collegiately in the 1990s, while brothers Tank (Tuskeegee) and Aaron (East Carolina) are currently on college rosters. Another set of brothers on Gardner-Webb's roster –
Robert McKoy and
Keante McNair – are part of a group of four brothers to play college football. Older siblings Terrell Manning (NC State) and Artemis Robinson (NC State) played collegiately, with Manning drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2012. Current GWU teammates and brothers
Elijah Rodgers (Fr.) and
Kobe Rodgers (R-So.) have both played on special teams and in the secondary this season for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
SYMMETRY
For the first time since moving up to NCAA Division I in 2000, Gardner-Webb will alternate home and road dates evenly throughout a season. GWU almost pulled off the feat in 2010, but played its final two games back-to-back at home in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.
FUTURE SCHEDULES
Gardner-Webb has added a handful of future FBS opponents for coming seasons, beginning with back-to-back games to open the 2019 campaign at Charlotte and East Carolina. With the addition of Hampton and North Alabama to the Big South slate, Gardner-Webb's 2019 schedule is complete. In addition to Charlotte, East Carolina, Gardner-Webb will have 2019 non-conference dates with North Carolina Central, Wofford and Western Carolina. GWU will play three future FBS games against nearby foes, traveling to face Georgia Tech in 2020, Georgia Southern in 2021 and Liberty in 2022.
A.J. LEADS THE WAY
Running back
A.J. Moses (6-0, 229, So.) made his second consecutive start at Campbell (10/27) and came through in a major way. The Griffin, Ga., native carried 18 times for 100 yards and a touchdown – and added five catches for 34 yards to pace a strong offensive effort by the Runnin' Bulldogs.
BABY BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb played 24 freshmen during its most recent game at Campbell, with four garnering starting assignments. All told this season, GWU has gotten starts from freshmen 41 times. Heading into its November 3 game vs. Presbyterian, 18-of-44 spots on the two deep are freshmen (40.9%), with two more freshmen listed on the eight-person special teams depth chart.
ESPN+
The Big South Conference entered into an agreement to provide content for ESPN+ (ESPNPlus.com) beginning last spring, and that presents a new platform for Gardner-Webb football going forward. The Big South Network on ESPN+ will air a minimum of 900 events annually as part of the agreement, which runs through the 2024-2025 season. During football season, a total of 33 events will stream on ESPN platforms, with eight league games on ESPN3 and 25 on ESPN+. Five of Gardner-Webb's six home games will stream on ESPN+, while the October 13 game vs. Kennesaw State will stream on ESPN3 as part of the Big South's "Game of the Week" selection. The October 29 road game at Campbell will also be carried by ESPN3, while the remainder of Gardner-Webb's Big South games will stream on ESPN+. Non-conference games at ETSU and Appalachian State will also stream live on ESPN+.
BIG BAD JOHN
Gardner-Webb defensive end
John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Fr.) has been a stalwart in his first season, starting each of the first eight games for the 'Dogs. The former Middle Creek (N.C.) High star has posted 34 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks during his eight games. He had six tackles and a sack at Appalachian State (9/22) and came through with a career-high 10 total stops vs. No. 6 Wofford (9/29). Singleton is one of six freshmen who make up the seven-man rotation on the defensive line for Gardner-Webb in 2018..
RAMSEUR OUT
Preseason All-Big South nose guard
Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.) will miss the entire 2018 season after undergoing offseason surgery, but will apply for a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility for 2019. The former Burns (N.C.) High standout totaled 50 tackles as a redshirt junior and is expected to make a full recovery. The bright spot in the extended career is that Ramseur will have a chance to play against his youngest brother – Aaron Ramseur – when Gardner-Webb travels to East Carolina on September 7, 2019.
HIT MAN
Mike linebacker
Corey Horne (6-1, 225, Sr.) has been a mature force for Gardner-Webb's young defense so far this season, pacing the team with a career-high 69 total tackles (40 solo). His 16 stops vs. Western Carolina were a new career-high total, breaking the mark set one week earlier when he had 12 tackles at No. 5 North Carolina A&T (9/8). Horne, who is in his second full season as a starter, has made 185 total tackles during his time in Boiling Springs..
DOMINANT
Linebacker
Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, So.) had a coming out party of sorts at Campbell (10/27), ripping his way to a career-high 13 total tackles to go with an interception and forced fumble. The Charlotte, N.C., native had seven tackles over the game's first 15 minutes and posted 11 hits by intermission – with a quick start putting Gardner-Webb up 28-7 at the break. His second-half interception was returned 16 yards and was part of a five-turnover day for the Gardner-Webb defense. Reynolds has played well in his first full season as a starter, collecting 48 total tackles at his inside linebacker post. The former Shrine Bowler played outside linebacker as a true freshman in 2017.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb hits the road one more time to face Palmetto State foe Charleston Southern on Saturday, November 10. The game will stream live on ESPN+, with kickoff set for 3:00 pm in the Low Country. †