THE GAME
Gardner-Webb heads north for its first Big South road game of the season, traveling to West Long Branch, N.J., to face Monmouth. The Hawks and Runnin' Bulldogs will stream live on ESPN3 as the Big South's Game of the Week, with Eddy Occhipinti and Emory Hunt calling the action. The game will also air live on WGNC Radio, with Dave Friedman and Bryan Fetzer on the call (1450 AM / 101.1 FM / TuneIn App). 
  
SERIES NOTES
Monmouth holds a 4-1 edge in the all-time series, which includes a 2-0 mark at home in Kessler Stadium ... The Hawks' average margin of victory in the two New Jersey games has been a comfortable 13.5 points per game, including a 41-14 win in 2017 ... Gardner-Webb held on for a 34-33 overtime win in Boiling Springs to end the 2016 season ... The two teams' engaged in an old-fashioned shootout in Spangler Stadium last November, with Monmouth taking a 56-42 win in the season finale ... The Hawks rolled up 790 yards of total offense, while Gardner-Webb ran for a season-high 274 yards and finished with 422 yards offensively ... Saturday marks the two teams' first non-November meeting.


SERIES HISTORY
November 22, 2014 – MU 31, GWU 15 (West Long Branch, NJ)
November 22, 2015 – MU 23, GWU 9 (Boiling Springs)
November 19, 2016 – GWU 34, MU 33 (ot, Boiling Springs)
November 10, 2017 – #21 MU 41, GWU 14 (West Long Branch, NJ)
November 17, 2018 – MU 56, GWU 42 (Boiling Springs)


THE CANDIDATE
First-year receiver/return man Devron Harper (5-10, 165, Fr.) has made a strong case for inclusion in any discussion of Freshman of the Year candidates, both on a conference and national level. The speedster had his most explosive game offensively to date against Hampton (10/12), catching four passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. The Conyers, Ga., native had receptions of 70 and 90 yards in the game and finished with 200+ all-purpose yards for the third time in six contests. He ranks third nationally in combined returns (611) and kickoff return touchdowns (1), fourth in yards per reception (24.9), seventh in all-purpose yards (154.2) and 14th in kickoff return average (27.8). Harper starred at Heritage (Ga.) High during a standout prep career in both football and track. He was the Georgia Class 3A State high jump champion in both 2017 and 2018. He was named FCS National Freshman of the Week (Sept. 23) by STATS and has been named honorable mention national Freshman of the Week by STATS twice (Sept. 2 / Oct. 14).


LONG DISTANCE
Devron Harper's 90-yard catch-and-sprint against Hampton (10/12) set new Big South Conference records for longest non-TD catch overall – and longest reception by a freshman. It also broke a 31-year old school record of 89 yards set against Catawba on October 15, 1988 when Bruce Benson hit Kelvin Richardson for 89 yards. With his 70-yard touchdown catch, Harper became the first receiver in Big South history to have two catches of 70+ yards in the same game. His 187 yards receiving marked the highest total for a GWU player since Kenny Cook went for a school and conference-record 251 yards in an overtime win at VMI on October 18, 2014.


THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb's Carroll McCray ('83) is in his seventh season as head coach of his alma mater. The Monroe, N.C., native has forged 27 wins so far in Boiling Springs, including five wins over top-20 teams. Veteran Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan is in his 27th season in charge of the Hawks, and is the only coach the program has ever known. Callahan is 156-123 during his career in West Long Branch, N.J.


KEENE DEFENSE
Cornerback A.J. Keene (5-10, 172, Sr.) was a stalwart in Gardner-Webb's win over Hampton (10/12), finishing with four total tackles (three solo), three pass break ups and an interception. His pick came at a critical moment, ending a Hampton drive in the end zone with 52 seconds left in a 35-27 win. Keene has been strong so far in 2019, breaking up a career-high five passes to go with a pair of interceptions. He also has 14 tackles (10 solo). The Savannah, Ga., native started his career at Army Prep in West Point, N.Y., before transferring to Gardner-Webb in 2016.


TACKLING MACHINE
Linebacker Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, Jr.) made the most of his first season as a starter in 2018, earning second-team All-Big South Conference accolades. The Charlotte, N.C., posted 75 tackles and was twice named Big South Defensive Player of the Week. Reynolds has built on his emergence this season, collecting 61 tackles to rank among the NCAA leaders and second in the Big South Conference in tackles per game. Reynolds had 13 total tackles in less than three quarters played at Western Carolina. He missed the first half of the win over Hampton, but returned in the second half to finish with six tackles and a pair of pass break ups in the 35-27 win. Reynolds has collected 13 tackles in three different games so far in 2019.


PICK IT
Gardner-Webb struggled to create turnovers last season, particularly in the secondary, with only six interceptions through 11 games in 2018. That has not been the case so far in 2019, with the Runnin' Bulldogs picking off eight passes over its first six games – despite the bump in competition. Devin Mines (5-10, 190, Sr.) grabbed two interceptions in the season opener, and linebacker Quinton Jones (6-2, 200, So.) added another against the 49ers. Two of those turnovers created easy touchdown drives. Cornerback Deonte Grier (5-11, 172, R-So.) had an interception at East Carolina – his second in the past three games – and safety Kobe Rodgers (6-1, 189, R-Jr.) nearly had his own interception before a replay review. Rodgers, Malachi Buckner (6-1, 206, R-Fr.) and A.J. Keene (5-10, 172, Sr.) each had picks against North Carolina Central (9/14). Keene also had a pick against Hampton (10/12).


RISING QUICKLY
One of the team's most improved players during training camp was receiver Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 216, So.) and the Statesville, N.C., standout has started to see his opportunities increase in the season's early stages. Gathings hauled in four passes for 83 yards, with a long of 37 yards, at East Carolina (9/7), with one of his grabs setting up Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown of the game. A former prep basketball standout, Gathings had a 43-yard catch against North Carolina Central (9/14) and hauled in a 26-yarder at Wofford (9/21). He caught two passes longer than 30 yards at Western Carolina, but had a breakthrough game against Hampton (10/12). Gathings caught four passes for a career-high 93 yards and two touchdowns in that 35-27 win. His three-yarder late in the third quarter gave GWU the lead for good and his 38-yard catch for a score sealed the game in the fourth quarter.


WITH HIM / WITHOUT HIM
With Darien Reynolds sitting out last week's first half vs. Hampton (10/12), the Runnin' Bulldogs allowed 199 yards rushing and 24 points in just two quarters of action. When he returned to the lineup out of the locker room, the same GWU defense held the Big South's top-scoring offense to only three points and 17 yards on the ground. Reynolds, fast emerging as a bonafide All-America candidate at linebacker, finished the second half with six hits and two pass break ups. The first half of the Hampton game was the first significant action Reynolds has missed during his career at Gardner-Webb. The absence came after a targeting call the week prior at Western Carolina.


D-LINE DEPTH
After toiling with an inexperienced front three last season due to injuries, defensive line coach Dennis Thomas has the luxury of seasoned depth within his unit in 2019. The starting unit of Josh Ramseur (5-11, 292, Gr.), John Singleton (6-5, 237, R-So.) and Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, So.) is perhaps Gardner-Webb's most gifted since the All-Big South trio of O.J. Mau, Preston Pemasa and Shaquille Riddick in 2013. The unit goes at least 10 deep, with six men already starting at least one game during their career.


WHAT A RETURN
Cade Hamilton (6-1, 223, So.) went down early with an injury at East Carolina and missed the following two games before getting clearance to return to practice during Gardner-Webb's open date. The former East Rutherford (N.C.) High star made a triumphant return at Western Carolina, collecting nine big tackles in a 24-21 win. He was even better in the Hampton win (10/12), collecting a career-high 19 total tackles (nine solo) while filling in for suspended starter Darien Reynolds (targeting). Hamilton stepped up and stopped Hampton's Deondre Francois at the two-yard line going in as time expired in the first half, keeping a 24-21 deficit intact heading into the locker room. Hamilton has collected 37 total tackles in just 11 quarters of football so far this season. He missed the second half of the season opener and played only one quarter at ECU in the second game of the season. Hamilton had an eye-popping 319 total tackles in his final two high school seasons at East Rutherford.


ON THE AIR AGAIN
For the first time since 2003, Gardner-Webb football will have a broadcast presence on a commercial radio station. All 12 regular season games, and any postseason games, will air live on WGNC (1450 AM / 101.1 FM) in Gastonia, N.C. Veteran play-by-play man Dave Friedman and a color analysts Reggie Walker and Bryan Fetzer will serve as talent. Walker is a former collegiate player at Penn State and Fetzer, who played collegiately at Canisius, is the former head track & field coach at Gardner-Webb and the University of Virginia. The station is available online via the TuneIn app.


THE STREAM TEAM
Each of Gardner-Webb's five home games will stream live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month subscription), with the Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs Fabian Fuentes joined by analyst Brendan Boylan. ESPN+ is the home of the Big South Network for the second season in a row. The Runnin' Bulldogs will also play road games on ESPN+ at Charlotte (8/29), at Wofford (9/21), at Western Carolina (10/5), at Presbyterian (11/9) and at Kennesaw State (11/23). Games at East Carolina and Monmouth will be streamed on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com).


BATTERING RAM
Veteran nose guard Josh Ramseur (5-11, 292, Gr.) has been a force in the middle for Gardner-Webb this season, bulling his way to 32 total tackles and 7.0 tackles for loss. The sixth-year graduate student had 50 tackles in an All-Conference effort in 2017 and is currently pursuing his MBA at Gardner-Webb. Ramseur made a career-high 10 total stops and had three tackles for loss at FBS East Carolina.


VETERAN PERFORMANCE
Gardner-Webb entered the 2019 season with one of its deepest groups at running back in several seasons, but veteran Jayln Cagle (6-0, 199, Sr.) has performed at such a high level that the depth hasn't been needed. The Kannapolis, N.C., native has been a workhorse through six games, averaging 82.3 yards per outing to go with seven rushing touchdowns. Cagle added a 45-yard receiving touchdown vs. Hampton (10/12) and has caught 12 passes for 121 yards this season to supplement his rushing totals. His 494 yards on the ground and seven scores are both new single-season bests for the senior. Cagle has run for 1,625 yards and 13 touchdowns so far during his time in Boiling Springs.


YOU'LL GET THREE AND LIKE IT ... MAYBE 
In its two home games this season, Gardner-Webb has limited opponents to a frigid 1-for-11 effort (9.1%) on touchdown scoring chances in the red zone. The Runnin' Bulldogs have allowed five field goals during that stretch and stopped opponents on fourth down tries five more times to power two wins in Spangler Stadium. North Carolina Central (9/14) was held to only four field goals, while Hampton (10/12) had one touchdown and one field goal.


BIG PLAY K
Quarterback Kalen Whitlow (6-1, 194, Gr.) was awarded his first collegiate start on October 5, 2019 and made the most of it, calmly leading Gardner-Webb to a 24-21 win on the road at Western Carolina. Whitlow, who began his career in Cullowhee before transferring to Gulf Coast Community College, then Tennessee State, then as a graduate student transfer to Gardner-Webb, completed 14-of-23 passes for 194 yards and a 52-yard touchdown pass to Chuma Awanna in the win. He was even better against Hampton (10/12), completing 12-of-22 passes for a career-high 352 yards and three scores (zero interceptions). His 29.3 yards per completion average set a new Big South Conference record and his passing total marked the first 300-yard game for a Gardner-Webb quarterback since October 18, 2014 at VMI (Lucas Beatty / 430 yards). Whitlow's 90-yard toss to Devron Harper broke a 31-year old school mark and set a new Big South record for longest non-TD pass. Whitlow was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports as a senior at Northview (Ala.) High and was considered the nation's No. 39 dual threat quarterback in the Class of 2015.


UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will return home to face in-state foe Campbell on Saturday, October 26, at 1:30 pm. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and air live on WGNC Radio (1450 AM / 101.1 FM / TuneIn App). The game will serve as Military Appreciate Day in Boiling Springs.