THE GAME
Gardner-Webb begins a very difficult stretch of games on Saturday, traveling to face No. 5 North Carolina A&T (2-0) in Greensboro, N.C. Kickoff for the rematch of last season's opening game is set for 6:00 pm in BB&T Stadium and will be streamed live on ESPN3. 

SERIES NOTES
The Aggies and Runnin' Bulldogs have met once before, with North Carolina A&T holding a 1-0 advantage after last season's 45-3 win in Boiling Springs ... Gardner-Webb was 0-2 vs. the MEAC last season, also falling at No. 25 North Carolina Central (24-17) in October ... Gardner-Webb's last win over a team from the MEAC came in 2004 at Morgan State ... Saturday's trip to Greensboro, N.C., will be Gardner-Webb's first in the sport of football since a 7-0 win at Guilford College on September 29, 1973.

TOP 10 TRIO
Gardner-Webb's 2018 schedule is stacking up to be as difficult as its 2017 slate, which was rated by the NCAA as the nation's most difficult at the FCS level. The Runnin' Bulldogs will face three teams currently ranked in the top-10 of both major polls, with North Carolina A&T, Wofford and Kennesaw State each sitting among the elite programs nationally in early September. Gardner-Webb also faces projected playoff contenders Western Carolina and Monmouth, along with FBS Appalachian State – which nearly toppled No. 9 Penn State in it's season opening game last weekend. The Runnin' Bulldogs do have Western Carolina, Wofford, Kennesaw State and Monmouth at home in Spangler Stadium.

THE TRENCH MOB
Gardner-Webb's strength on offense this season will be overall experience, but it's anchor will be a veteran offensive line. GWU returns all five starters from the 2017 season, and two more reserves with starting experience. The current projected starting quintet averages 6-foot-3, 306.4 pounds per man. Tackles Will Millikan (6-4, 309, Sr.) and Charlie Eudy (6-2, 304, R-Sr.) have combined to start 64 games and are in their fourth season in the lineup together. Center Brandon Leahey (6-3, 297, R-Jr.), guards Brayden Briggs (6-3, 307, R-Jr.), Jack Nichols (6-3, 315, So.) and Daniel Smith (6-4, 286, R-So.) and tackle Darius Clark (6-2, 280, So.) have combined for 51 career starts – giving GWU a total of 114 starts on the offensive line heading into this weekend's game at North Carolina A&T.

ENGINE NO. 9
Gardner-Webb has a new man under center in 2018, with Jordan Smith (6-1, 211, R-Fr.) earning the nod after putting together an outstanding spring and preseason training camp. The Fruit Cove, Fla., native will be the first Gardner-Webb quarterback to wear jersey No. 9 in a game since Hall of Famer and former NAIA All-America and National Offensive Player of the Year John Craven (1991-1994). Craven finished his career with 10,973 yards and 92 touchdowns over four seasons. Smith was solid in his college debut, passing for 150 yards vs. Limestone.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and is 22-36 so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Sam Washington (Mississippi Valley State '82) is in his first season as head coach at North Carolina A&T, taking over the program after Rod Broadway's retirement. Washington was the architect of the Aggies' dominant defensive unit prior to being named head coach.

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.

ROAD WOES
Gardner-Webb has dropped six road games in a row, last winning away from home on November 5, 2016 at No. 8 Charleston Southern by a 17-10 score. The Runnin' Bulldogs are just 4-21 over their last 25 road games, with the best mark for a season coming in 2016 (2-3). Gardner-Webb has just five road games on tap during the 2018 regular season, and does not play two road games in a row all season. GWU last won its road opener in 2016, taking a 31-6 win over Elon in a game that was also the season opener for both teams.

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.

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 Elijah Rodgers (Fr.) and Kobe Rodgers (R-So.) are both expected to garner significant snaps in the secondary this season for the Runnin' Bulldogs. 

OLD NORTH STATE NOTES
Gardner-Webb is 82-91 against teams from the State of North Carolina since moving to senior college status in 1970 ... GWU has its most wins against former SAC-8 and South Atlantic Conference foes Lenoir-Rhyne (17-12) and Mars Hill (17-16) ... 14 of GWU's losses to in-state teams came to current FBS members Appalachian State (0-5), NC State (0-1) and Wake Forest (0-2) ... Gardner-Webb played as an NAIA member from 1970-1992, as an NCAA Division II member from 1993-1999, as an NCAA Division I-AA independent from 2000-2001 and as a member of the Division I FCS Big South Conference since 2002.

HOME SWEET HOME
Gardner-Webb has been traditionally tough in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, and have gone 16-13 at home since head coach Carroll McCray's arrival in 2013. That includes wins over top-25 opponents Richmond (2013), Charleston Southern (2013) and Liberty (2015). Eight of those 13 home losses since 2013, including six of its last seven, have come to teams ranked in the top-25 at some point during that same season. GWU had a 15-game home win streak from 2001-2004 in Spangler Stadium.

ATTRACTIVE HOME SLATE IN 2018
In addition to a nearby matchup with Limestone in the opener, Gardner-Webb's six-game home slate in 2018 features several notable matchups. GWU will host regional SoCon foes and playoff contenders Western Carolina (9/15) and Wofford (9/29) to wrap up non-conference play and will host 2018 playoff participants and Big South favorites Kennesaw State (10/13) and Monmouth (11/17), in addition to league foe Presbyterian (11/3).

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.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Gardner-Webb's defense has a different look and feel in 2018, with new coordinator Chris Grimes calling the plays. GWU will also have a great deal of youth on that side of the ball, with eight sophomores and seven freshmen listed on the two-deep. That youthful talent is headlined by defensive ends Kendall Bailey (6-4, 255, R-Fr.) and John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Fr.), who both earned starting nods during spring practice. Nose guard Janathian Turner (6-3, 300, Fr.) also earned a starting spot during training camp. Sophomore linebackers Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, So.) and Shai Thomas (6-2, 248, So.) are back after promising first years in 2017, with Robert McKoy (6-0, 220, R-So.) perhaps the most impressive performer overall during training camp in 2018.

THE CORPS
One of the historical strengths of Gardner-Webb's defense since moving to NCAA Division I has been its linebacker corps, with multiple All-America honors in tow. GWU returns a talented veteran to the position this season in Corey Horne (6-1, 225, Sr.), who will anchor a young group overall. Horne is the team's top returning tackler for the second season in a row, as he hunts for the 100-tackle mark for the first time in 2018. The Runnin' Bulldogs made some moves during the offseason that will benefit greatly, moving Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, So.) inside to his his natural position and bringing Robert McKoy (6-0, 220, R-So.) from safety to the SPUR position. Ali Edwards (6-0, 217, R-Jr.) also moved down to the SPUR position during the offseason, and has performed well so far. Promising youngster Shai Thomas (6-2, 248, So.) mans the other outside spot after gaining significant experience in 2017.

THE OLD GUYS
Despite the heavy youth on defense, Gardner-Webb has plenty of experience on the back end. The quartet of Josh Carter (5-11, 195, Sr.), Triston Dozier (6-0, 180, Sr.), A.J. Keene (5-10, 172, Jr.) and Devin Mines (5-10, 191, Jr.) in the secondary will provide for a great deal of leadership in 2018. Dozier paced the defense with eight pass break ups in 2017, while Carter and Mines were among the secondary's top tacklers again last season.

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 (ESPN+) and Appalachian State (TBA) will also air live.  

BACKFIELD DEPTH
Gardner-Webb returns Jayln Cagle (6-0, 202, Jr.) to the starting lineup one season after the Kannapolis, N.C., native broke out for a career-high 479 yards on the ground. That included a 179-yard outing vs. Liberty on October 28, which is the highest rushing total for a single-game in Gardner-Webb's NCAA Division I era (since 2000). Joining Cagle on the depth chart this fall is A.J. Moses (6-0, 229, So.), who had his best game of the season at Wyoming (9/9) in 2017 and speedster Elijah Perry (5-8, 175, R-Jr.). Perry, who has a 4.3-second time in the 40-yard dash, missed all of last season with a lower body injury – but is back at full speed after a tremendous fall training camp.

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.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb returns home to host in-state foe Western Carolina on September 15, with kickoff set for 6:00 pm in Spangler Stadium. Fabian Fuentes will provide the call live on ESPN+ †