THE GAME
Gardner-Webb travels south on Saturday, November 9 to face off with old rival Presbyterian at 1:00 pm in Bailey Memorial Stadium. The 42nd meeting between the two schools on the gridiron will stream live on ESPN+, with Chris Doski and John Orck on the call. The game will also air live on WGNC Radio (1450 AM / 101.1 FM / TuneIn App) with Brendan Boylan and Reggie Walker calling the action.
  
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian will battle for the 42nd time on Saturday, but for the final time in Big South Conference play ... GWU owns a 22-19 edge in the series, which started during both programs' NAIA era on November 7, 1970 ... Saturday marks the 37th meeting between the two schools during the month of November ... The two teams will play a home-and-home series out of conference beginning on September 26, 2020 in Boiling Springs.

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. Presbyterian head coach Tommy Spangler is in his third season in charge of the Blue Hose at the Division I level and his ninth season overall as the program's head coach. He has gone 48-48 in his two stints in Clinton, S.C.

30+ IN LOSSES
Gardner-Webb is allowing an average of 45.6 points per game in its six losses this season. Two of those losses came at FBS programs Charlotte (49-28) and East Carolina (48-9) and another two coming at SoCon favorite Wofford (49-10) and Big South contender Monmouth (49-28). Campbell took a 49-47 win in three overtimes on October 26 in Boiling Springs and Charleston Southern used a big first half to take a 30-27 win last weekend in Spangler Stadium.

TACKLING MACHINE
Linebacker Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, Jr.) has surpassed his All-Big South Conference tackling totals from last season, collecting 97 hits in nine games played so far – despite sitting out three full quarters. The Charlotte, N.C., standout had 75 tackles in 11 games last season. He has reached the 13-tackle mark five times so far and leads the team with seven passes broken up along with two forced fumbles. Reynolds had 12 tackles in the first half at Western Carolina, but had to sit out the fourth quarter of that game and the first half of the following game after a targeting call. He came off the bench to make six hits in the second half vs. Hampton – limiting the Pirates to a field goal in a 35-27 GWU win. The former Vance (N.C.) High Star was a Shrine Bowl selection as a senior in the Queen City.

ON THE WAY TO 1K  ... AND 2K
Veteran running back Jayln Cagle (6-0, 199, Sr.) is in the midst of a career-best season at the position in 2019 and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. The Kannapolis, N.C., native has carried 165 times for 778 yards and eight touchdowns through nine starts, with each of those numbers either doubling or nearly doubling his previous top mark for a single season. Cagle has gone over 100 yards four times this season, with a high of 141 yards vs. North Carolina Central (9/14). In addition to his 1,000-yard pace this season, Cagle is just 91 yards shy of reaching the 2,000-yard mark for his career in Boiling Springs. He has carried 440 times for 1,909 yards and 14 touchdowns in 40 career games at Gardner-Webb.

ZAY DAY
Receiver was an area of inexperience heading into the 2019 campaign, but several have stepped up to make it a position of strength. Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 216, So.) played sparingly last season, but has turned into one of the Big South's most dangerous targets of late. The Statesville, N.C., native has 38 catches for 666 yards and seven touchdowns through nine starts – with the touchdowns all coming over the past four games. Six of those scores have been in the end zone with his physical gifts taking over. His breakout game came against Charleston Southern, when Gathings grabbed 14 passes for 172 yards and a touchown. He earned honorable mention FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors from STATS FCS following that performance. Gathings is among the Big South's best with 17.5 yards per catch so far this season. He was a two-time County Player of the Year in basketball at Statesville (N.C.) High and is the son of former Big South Men's Basketball Player of the Year Danny Gathings (High Point, 2004).

THE TIGHT END
Gardner-Webb coaches have raved about the blocking ability of Ohio State graduate transfer A.J. Alexander (6-3, 255, Gr.) all season. The former four-star prospect from Lake Braddock (Va.) High got on the field as a freshman for the Buckeyes in 2016 as a result of that power and ability. Alexander has proven to be a reliable receiver in addition to his ability to clear holes in the run game, however, catching a career-high 16 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown through nine games played (eight starts). Gardner-Webb had an All-Big South Conference tight end in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 – with Alexander on track to continue that fine tradition in 2019 after a two-year absence for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

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.

HAMMER TIME
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. That earned Hamilton honorable mention national Defensive Player of the Week honors and sparked a major production surge. Hamilton has collected 62 total tackles in just 23 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.

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 49 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.

THAT'S MINES
With three years at safety under his belt, veteran Devin Mines (5-10, 190, Sr.) moved to a more versatile SPUR linebacker position prior to the 2019 season and has excelled. The Charlotte, N.C., senior hit the 200-tackle mark for his career with seven stops and a fumble recovery vs. Charleston Southern (11/2). He has 48 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, two pass break ups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to his credit this season in seven games played.

KEENE ISLAND
Cornerback A.J. Keene (5-10, 170, Sr.) is often a forgotten man within Gardner-Webb's defensive accolades, but the Savannah, Ga., native has played a key role in 2019. Keene has started all nine games and has performed well, making 24 total tackles (18 solo), breaking up five passes and picking off a pair of passes for 21 yards in returns. Teams have often made the choice to throw to the other side of the field instead of testing Keene's prowess.

AIR FORCE
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. Whitlow started the following week against Hampton (10/12) and came alive for 352 yards passing and three touchdowns to earn Big South Offensive Player of the Week honors. Against Charleston Southern (11/2) he passed for 316 yards and four scores, nearly engineering a big comeback in the fourth quarter. Whitlow has completed 109-of-174 passes for 1,431 yards and 13 touchdowns in his seven games played, throwing just four interceptions in that same time span. He ranks among the Big South and national leaders in passing efficiency (151.78), yards per completion and yards per attempt.

FUTURE SCHEDULES
Gardner-Webb has added a handful of future FBS opponents for coming seasons, playing three FBS games against nearby foes, GWU will travel to face Georgia Tech in 2020, Georgia Southern in 2021 and Liberty in 2022. The Runnin' Bulldogs will also take on Ohio University in 2021, marking the fourth time GWU has visited Athens, Ohio, since 2007.

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. He was named to the initial Jerry Rice Award Watch List this past week as a result. 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 fifth nationally in combined returns (725), fifth in kickoff return touchdowns (1) and among the national leaders in yards per reception (16.1) and kickoff return average (23.9 ypr). 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.