BOILING SPRINGS – Jordan Smith passed for a career-high 251 yards and accounted for four touchdowns to lead Gardner-Webb to a 38-20 win over Presbyterian Saturday afternoon in Big South football action.

Gardner-Webb (3-6, 2-1 Big South) won its second in a row, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter behind Smith's strong right arm. The Fruit Cove, Fla., redshirt freshman was sharp, completing seven of his first eight passes for 142 yards and two scores – both to veteran Kyle Horton.

Smith's third pass of the day went for 74 yards to Horton, who dashed past two tight safeties to the end zone with 9:43 left in the first quarter. He and Horton connected again on Gardner-Webb's second drive, capping a 95-yard march. Smith found Horton from 10 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 47 seconds left in the quarter.

An eight-yard score to freshman Izaiah Gathings with 12:15 to play before the half extended Gardner-Webb's lead and marked the second game in a row GWU had a 21-point edge before halftime.

Presbyterian (2-6, 0-4 Big South) took advantage of two big penalties late in the half to finally get on the board, with backup quarterback Jordan Morgan dashing in from nine yards out with 3:01 on the first half clock.

Gardner-Webb put the game on ice in the third quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points. Smith capped a 69-yard drive with a three-yard keeper at the 10:24 mark, Tre Jackson connected on a 19-yard field goal wit 6:00 left after a drive stalled at the one-yard line and Jayln Cagle bulled in from one-yard out with 1:05 left in the quarter for a 38-7 lead.

Presbyterian used a short field to get on the board again, getting a 28-yard score from Morgan to Wesley Potter with 11:04 to play to cap a 44-yard march and trim the lead to 38-13. Morgan found DaShawn Davis for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 5:41 left for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb rolled up a season-high 479 yards of total offense, balancing things with 251 yards through the air and 228 on the ground.

Smith completed 14-of-26 passes for his 251 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a career-high 46 yards and another score – finishing the day with a career-best 297 yards of total offense. 

Horton was the preferred target on Saturday, catching six passes for a career-high 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C., senior added 10 yards rushing and four return yards for 173 all-purpose yards.

Cagle made a strong return after missing significant time with injuries, carrying 14 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. A.J. Moses finished with 32 yards rushing and 43 yards receiving on the day.

Darien Reynolds finished with 14 total tackles (nine solo) and two pass break ups to pace the defense, with allowed just 225 total yards through three quarters. Triston Dozier came through with a pair of turnovers, picking off a pass and recovering a fumble to go with three solo stops. 

Corey Horne (eight tackles) and George Welch (six tackles) also had strong days defensively for Gardner-Webb – which also held Presbyterian to a 2-for-12 day on third down.

Punter Crimmins Hankinson was very strong on Saturday, booming six kicks for a 43.7 yard average with a long of 55 yards. Three of his six punts landed inside the 20.

Presbyterian's brief burst in the fourth quarter saw the Blue Hose total 125 of their 350 yards of total offense in the final 15 minutes. Morgan came on to finish the game 8-of-16 for 123 yards and two scores through the air. He added 99 yards rushing and a score on 11 attempts.

Keith Pearson had seven catches for 103 yards to lead the receiving corps for the Blue Hose. Colby Campbell (11 tackles) and Robert Baker (10 tackles) led the defense.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road again next Saturday, traveling to face Charleston Southern on November 10. The game will begin at 3:00 pm and is set to stream live on ESPN+ from the low country.