BOILING SPRINGS – Jayln Cagle ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, including a 65-yard sprint in the fourth quarter to lead Gardner-Webb to a 21-12 win over North Carolina Central Saturday night.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) snapped a four-game losing streak, dating back to last season, after opening the season against two FBS programs.
 
"We needed to win a ballgame however we could," said head coach Carroll McCray. "The defense bowed its neck when they had to and Jayln [Cagle] made the big play on offense we needed. It's easier to build on a win than the other option. The crowd was tremendous tonight. Really involved and that helped our kids."
 
The game was bogged down at times with the two teams combining for eight turnovers – five for Gardner-Webb – and 10 offensive series that went three-and-out. The Runnin' Bulldogs turned the tide of the game with clutch defense, holding the Eagles (0-3) to 1-of-5 on fourth down tries and four field goals in five red zone trips.
 
A fumble on its first drive slowed the energy of a vocal Spangler Stadium crowd, and North Carolina Central drove all the way down to the GWU four-yard line before Darien Reynolds rushed a throw on third down to force a short field goal.
 
Adrian Oliva connected on a 21-yarder for a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Kobe Rodgers picked off a pass in the end zone to thwart another Eagles' drive later in the opening quarter, but Jordan Smith was picked off to give the ball right back.
 
North Carolina Central pushed down to the GWU 25-yard line after that, but Josh Ramseur barreled through for a stop on 4th-and-1 to regain possession for the home team.
 
Gardner-Webb inserted Kalen Whitlow at quarterback on its next drive and the graduate transfer sparked the offense, marching the 'Dogs down the field. Whitlow kept on a five-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs the lead.
 
Whitlow connected on pass plays of 22 yards to Devron Harper and 28 yards to Cagle to set up another scoring chance later in the second, but the drive stalled and a bad snap and exchange on a field goal try ended the opportunity.
 
A.J. Keene picked off a pass near midfield to give Gardner-Webb possession with less than two minutes before the half – and a 7-6 lead – but the Eagles' Deonta Fair intercepted Whitlow in the end zone to give North Carolina Central life.
 
Quarterback Davius Richard was intercepted once more, however, this time by Malachi Buckner with 52 seconds remaining before halftime. The Eagles had one last surge, sacking Whitlow and forcing a fumble on second down.
 
Richard was able to get Central down to the Gardner-Webb 23, and Olivo connected on a 40-yarder at the horn for a 9-7 halftime lead.
 
A fourth-down stop to start the third quarter gave Gardner-Webb possession, and Jordan Smith returned to find Izaiah Gathings for a 43-yard pass play down to the Eagles' one-yard line. Cagle bulled in two plays later for a 14-9 lead – one that the 'Dogs would not give back up.
 
Central drove down to the Gardner-Webb eight as the fourth quarter started, but Darien Reynolds and John Singleton teamed up to stuff Isaiah Totten for no gain on fourth down. The two teams exchanged punts over the next three drives, before the Eagles finally were able to chip away to get inside the red zone.
 
Olivo made good on another field goal, this time from 32 yards, to trim Gardner-Webb's lead to 14-12 with 6:29 remaining in the game.
 
Gardner-Webb got the ball back in need of a big play from its offense, either to maintain possession or stretch the lead. After a four-yard run on first down, Cagle shook loose on a middle run and sprinted 65 yards to the end zone for what would be the final margin with 5:28 to go.
 
The Eagles used a broken play for a 28-yard gain when Richard stepped out of a sure sack to find Jordan Freeman down to the Gardner-Webb 29. A few plays later, Gardner-Webb had its back to the wall again, but a strong play by Quinton Jones and Buckner forced another Olivo field goal attempt.
 
This time, Olivo was wide right on a 22-yard try, giving Gardner-Webb the ball back. 
 
After forcing three timeouts, Gardner-Webb got a 39-yard punt from Jack Pawloski and played good defense once again. A sack by Stormy Mosteller put the Eagles' behind the chains on third down, and Richard's fourth-down throw was tipped away by Jones to seal the win.
 
Smith dropped to a knee twice in victory formation to run out the clock.
 
In addition to Cagle, Gardner-Webb got 42 yards on the ground from A.J. Moses and finished with 196 yards as a team on 40 attempts.
 
Smith and Whitlow each passed for 73 yards, with Whitlow going 7-for-9 in his first work of the season. Harper led Gardner-Webb with four catches for 41 yards, Cagle added 29 yards on two grabs and Chuma Awanna had two catches for 24 yards. 
 
Pawloski was likely the key piece for Gardner-Webb Saturday, punting six times for an average of 46.0 yards per attempt – with several of his punts coming from either his own end zone or its shadows in key situations.
 
Reynolds shined at linebacker, collecting 13 tackles (seven solo), two pass break ups, a tackle for loss and two quarterback pressures. John Singleton added nine hits (five solo) and 1.5 tackles for loss and Buckner turned in a fine game at safety with six hits, (four solo), a 17-yard interception and two pass break ups. He also had a tackle for loss.
 
With its three interceptions, Gardner-Webb now has more this season (7) in three games than it did the entire 2018 campaign (6) in 11 games.
 
North Carolina Central out gained Gardner-Webb 399-342, but had 10 penalties for 89 yards, four unsuccessful fourth down tries and three interceptions.
 
Totten gained 79 yards on 21 carries and Richard passed for 242 yards on 23-of-46 attempts with the three picks. Tyler Barnes caught four balls for 75 yards and Daeshawn Stephens had four catches for 36 yards in the loss.
 
Olivo provided all the offense with his four field goals. Stephen Stokes had seven tackles and a 41-yard interception return, as five different Eagles' combined on the turnovers gained Saturday night.
 
Gardner-Webb will face another tough road test next Saturday, traveling to face Wofford (0-2) on September 21 in Spartanburg, S.C. The game is slated for a 6 pm kickoff on ESPN+.
 
Dave Friedman and Reggie Walker will provide the call on WGNC radio (1450 AM / 101.1 FM / TuneIn app).