BOILING SPRINGS – Campbell returned a blocked punt for a game-tying score with no time left in regulation and a two-point conversion pass for Gardner-Webb fell short in the third overtime as the Runnin' Bulldogs lost a 49-47 heartbreaker at home to the Fighting Camels.

Gardner-Webb (3-5, 1-2 Big South) recovered an onside kick with less than two minutes remaining, and forced Campbell (6-1, 3-0 Big South) to burn all of its timeouts before facing a 4th-and-4 near midfield. After calling its own timeout, Gardner-Webb decided to punt with only seven seconds on the clock.

Disaster struck moments later, as Greg Streater blocked the kick after a jailbreak off the left side – and Alex Santiago scooped up the bouncing ball at the Gardner-Webb 41 with no time left on the clock. Santiago headed to the sideline and stayed inbounds all the way to the end zone – leaving Campbell an extra point shy of overtime. The kick was good, and momentum for the home team was gone.

Campbell quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams hit Caleb Snead on first down for a 25-yard score to take the early overtime lead, but Kalen Whitlow got a big play on fourth down from Chuma Awanna – who grabbed a batted ball out of thin air to score from two yards out. The extra point sent the teams to a second overtime.

Awanna caught another score for Gardner-Webb, but Campbell answered with a one-yard run from Williams to send the game to a third extra period.

Jonathan Hawkins rumbled in for a three-yard touchdown to put Campbell up 47-41 and Williams scored easily on the mandatory two-point try to give the Fighting Camels the edge.

Gardner-Webb punched in on Jayln Cagle's one-yard run to cap their turn and appeared to tie the game on a Whitlow conversion toss to Devron Harper. An illegal pick was flagged by three different officials, however, negating the conversion and pushing GWU back to the 18-yard line. Whitlow's next chance was batted away in the end zone to give Campbell an improbably victory.

Gardner-Webb built its early lead with Jordan Smith converting a 30-yard touchdown throw to Izaiah Gathings less than four minutes into the game. A 35-yard field goal from Kurt Everett pushed the lead to 10-0, before Campbell answered with a three-pointer of its own.

Smith capped a short drive with another scoring toss to Gathings with 9:18 to play before halftime and Gardner-Webb led 17-3. Freshman Narii Gaither set up the short field with a 40-yard kickoff return after a sky kick attempt by Campbell.

Williams drove Campbell down for a score himself, converting on fourth down and darting in from six yards out to trim the lead to 17-10, but Gaither darted up the middle for a 61-yard gain – all the way down to the Campbell one-yard line moments later. Gaither capped the drive with a touchdown and Gardner-Webb was up 24-10 with 4:08 to play in the second quarter.

Campbell hit a last-second field goal at the halftime buzzer, but wouldn't score again until less than two minutes remanned in regulation.

Gardner-Webb had 415 yards of total offense in the game, with 194 coming on the ground. Cagle finished with 103 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries and Gaither had 95 yards – a career-high – on just seven attempts.

Whitlow came off the bench, despite nursing an injury of his own, to complete 15-of-20 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Smith was 7-of-12 for 90 yards and two scores himself in a starting role before leaving with an injury.

Harper had nine catches for 106 yards and Gathings caught four balls for 53 yards and two scores.

Darien Reynolds finished with 10 total tackles (five solo), a half sack and one pass break up. Josh Ramseur and Devin Mines each had eight hits – while Kobe Rodgers had a strong game at safety. Rodgers finished with four tackles, a half sack, a fumble recovery, one interception and a pair of pass break ups. He nearly turned the tide in the third overtime with an interception in the back of the end zone. Replays appeared to show a foot down, but the ruling of an incomplete pass stood as the video evidence was not conclusive.

Williams led the way for Campbell, passing for 208 yards and a pair of scores and running for 100 yards and two more scores. Hawkins also topped the 100-yard mark on the ground, going for 105 and a score on 17 carries. Campbell ran for 263 yards overall on the day.

Snead came alive late to finish with five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Dorian Jones had 12 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the win.

Gardner-Webb will host Charleston Southern at 1:30 pm next Saturday (Nov. 2) in Spangler Stadium. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and air live on WGNC Radio (1450 AM / 101.1 FM / TuneIn app).