THE GAME
Gardner-Webb returns home to face another difficult test Saturday, hosting No. 6 Wofford (2-1) at 6:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes and Brendan Boylan calling the action on the worldwide leader's stand alone streaming service (available for $4.99 per month).
  
SERIES NOTES
Wofford holds an 18-8 edge in the all-time series and has won the last two meetings (2015, 2017) ... The series is tied, 6-6, in games played in Spangler Stadium (since 1973) ... The two teams have split the last four meetings (2013-2015, 2017), with the average margin of victory a scant 7.3 ppg in those four contests ... No. 9 Wofford captured a 27-24 win in Spartanburg last season, with a 50-yard field goal by Gardner-Webb missing with 1:05 left in the game ... Gardner-Webb captured a 42-36 win in Spangler Stadium the last time Wofford visited Boiling Springs, surging ahead late on a Lucas Beatty to Kenny Cook touchdown hookup ... Saturday's matchup is the second of a home-and-home series that is a four-year deal (2017-2020).

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and is 22-39 so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Josh Conklin (Dakota State '03) is in his first season as a head coach and has the Wofford Terriers ranked No. 6 in the country and off to a 2-1 start (2-0 SoCon).

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.

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, with two top-10 teams part of the non-conference schedule and 2017 playoff participants Kennesaw State and Monmouth on the Big South slate. All told, six of the nine Division I FCS opponents on the 2018 schedule were ranked at some point last season. Three – No. 4 Kennesaw State, No. 6 Wofford and No. 12 North Carolina A&T – are currently ranked. Charleston Southern, ETSU, Monmouth and Western Carolina have all received votes at least one week during the 2018 regular season so far.

DOUBLE TAKE (AWAY)
Linebacker Shai Thomas (6-2, 248, So.) made his second career start very memorable in the season opener. Since beginning the sport of football at age 10, Thomas was never given the opportunity to play on offense. It didn't matter against Limestone, as he scored the first two touchdowns of his career – at any level – in a 52-17 win. Thomas pounced on a fumble to put Gardner-Webb up 28-10 in the second quarter and one series later took an interception back 41 yards to the house for a 35-10 advantage. For his efforts, Thomas was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week and was an honorable mention choice for FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. He also finished with six total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the win. Thomas posted a career-high 12 stops vs. Western Carolina (9/14) and now has 22 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2018.

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 three games. The former Mallard Creek (N.C.) High standout has hauled in 14 balls for 205 yards (14.6 yards per catch) and has remained a dynamic punt returner. Horton ranks No. 10 nationally with an average of 17.2 yards per return so far in 2018, bringing five punts back for 86 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.

FOOTBALL FAMILY
Former Gardner-Webb outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Trey McCray will return to Spangler Stadium on Saturday night as a member of the Wofford coaching staff. McCray spent the 2015-2017 seasons in Boiling Springs, coaching under his father – Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray. The McCrays are a football family, with Randall McCray – uncle of Trey and brother of Carroll – currently serving as an assistant coach with the NFL Arizona Cardinals. The McCray trio coached together in 2015 at Gardner-Webb.

BOOM 
First-year starter Tre' Jackson (5-10, 226, R-Jr.) has proven to be a powerful, and reliable, kicker through three games. The Newland, N.C., native has connected on all three of his 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). He has been perfect on PAT kicks as well. Jackson's most impressive performance has come on kickoffs, where he has boomed 11-of-16 attempts into – or out of – the end zone for touchbacks. His 11 touchbacks are more than double the next highest total in the Big South so far this season.

FOOTBALL FAMILY PART II
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.) are both expected to garner significant snaps in the secondary this season for the Runnin' Bulldogs. 

BIG BAD JOHN
Gardner-Webb defensive end John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Fr.) was a bright spot at Sun Belt powerhouse Appalachian State on September 22, finishing the game with a career-high six stops (three solo) and a sack. The former Middle Creek (N.C.) High standout and Shrine Bowler currently leads the Big South Conference with 2.0 sacks through four starts in 2018.

NEW FACES ON STAFF
Gardner-Webb has three new coaches on its 2018 staff. Inside linebackers coach Taylor Anderson and running backs coach Arketa Banks each joined the Runnin' Bulldogs prior to spring practice. Anderson came to GWU after assistant coaching stops at Limestone and Valdosta State, and Banks came to GWU from former SAC rival Lenoir-Rhyne. Outside linebackers coach Marco Butler came on board during the summer months from Catawba. Anderson (North Greenville), Banks (Elon) and Butler (Western Carolina) each played collegiately at schools in the region.

ROOKIE IRON MAN
True freshman safety George Welch (6-2, 200) found out last Tuesday he would be starting against Western Carolina when an injury forced an opening on the depth chart. After another injury in the secondary on Thursday, Welch not only started against the Catamounts on September 14, but played all 74 defensive snaps at safety. The Augusta, Ga., native finished with six total tackles (three solo) and a pass break up. The All-State safety from Aquinas (Ga.) High is the second true freshman from his high school to start for the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2018, joining classmate Crimmins Hankinson (punter). Welch also started the game at Appalachian State (9/22).

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+.

BABY BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb played at least 20 true freshmen and redshirt freshmen in each of its first two games this season, and that number hasn't slacked off much since then – with GWU suiting up at least 15 freshman in each of its first four games. GWU has started seven freshmen overall in 2018. Heading into the Wofford game, a stunning 42.2% of the two-deep chart (19-of-45 spots) on offense and defense is made up of freshmen. Two more freshmen start on the eight-man specialist depth chart.

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 Big South Conference with 39 total tackles (29 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, ranks No. 3 nationally in solo tackles per game (7.3).

OLD FACES, NEW PLACES
Gardner-Webb moved a pair of players to full-time slot receiver prior to the 2018 season and those moves have been well received so far. Former running back Jonathan Blackmon (6-1, 186, Sr.) caught a career-best nine balls at Appalachian State and leads the team with 18 catches so far this season. The Fayetteville, N.C., native was an accomplished high school receiver before signing with Gardner-Webb as a running back prior to the 2015 season. Former quarterback Brody Rollins (5-11, 185, Sr.) led Gardner-Webb in receptions last season – despite splitting time at his old position and as a kickoff return man – and provides another excellent option for GWU's young quarterbacks. The Knoxville, Tenn., native has missed the past three games with an injury, but is expected to return to action against No. 6 Wofford.   

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will play its third SoCon squad of the season next Saturday, taking the two-hour drive up I-26 to Johnson City, Tenn., to face East Tennessee State. The Runnin' Bulldogs are the Bucs' 2018 Homecoming opponent, with kickoff set for 3:30 pm in Greene Stadium. Gardner-Webb has not visited Johnson City since the 2001 football season. The game will stream live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month). †