BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb's defense stepped up with a dominant performance Saturday afternoon, recording six sacks and forcing five turnovers to key a 28-17 win over Robert Morris to cap Homecoming Week.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2 Big South) jumped out to a 21-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter, when Bailey Fisher hit T.J. Luther on a 12-yard pass play in the end zone with 14:54 to play before halftime.

Narii Gaither scored the game's first touchdown, as Gardner-Webb drove 71 yards on just eight plays to go up 7-0 with 11:00 left in the first quarter. Ty French made the first of several spectacular plays to push the lead to double digits, storming the backfield to sack Robert Morris quarterback George Martin while ripping the ball away for a fumble recovery in the end zone. That effort put the 'Dogs up 14-0 with 3:36 to play in the first.

Robert Morris (2-4, 1-3 Big South) finally got on the scoreboard with 1:08 to play before halftime, going 55 yards in 10 plays. Anthony Purge bulled in from two yards out to cut the lead to 21-7.

Gardner-Webb got a stop out of the locker room, forcing a Colonials' punt and drove 57 yards on just three plays to pull further in front. Fisher hit Darius Hough on a 23-yard hookup to get started and, after an eight-yard dash by Gaither, Fisher found a wide open Justin Franklin in the end zone for a 26-yard score. The extra point put Gardner-Webb up 28-7 with 12:14 to play in the quarter.

Gardner-Webb's defense kept Robert Morris out of the end zone for the rest of the quarter, but the Colonials were able to pull slightly closer on a 39-yard field goal from Nick Bisceglia with 4:32 to play in the third.

Robert Morris drove into Gardner-Webb's red zone on its first possession of the fourth quarter, but Martin was sacked for a three-yard loss by Shai Thomas and French on fourth down to end the threat at the 13-yard line with 9:17 to go.

An interception by Robert Morris kept the game's outcome briefly in doubt, when Tavin Harville stepped in front a ball at the Colonials' 40-yard line with 5:39 on the clock. Martin connected with James Westry six plays later from 34 yards out to cut into the lead. The touchdown and kick made the score 28-17 with 4:12 to play.

Gardner-Webb's offense got some much needed push up front on its next drive. Fisher rambled for 18 yards on first down and Gaither sprinted left for a 19-yard gain down to the Robert Morris 38-uard line. After a pair of short gains, the 'Dogs were forced to punt – but the Colonials were forced to burn their final timeouts.

Jack Pawloski got off a quick kick and pinned the Colonials at their own one-yard line with 99 seconds left on the game clock.

Any chance at a scoring march was quickly snuffed out, as Malachi Buckner picked off a Martin pass at the 24-yard line. Gardner-Webb went into victory formation and ran out the clock – snapping a nine-game Big South Conference losing streak.

Gardner-Webb finished the game with 262 yards of total offense, with Fisher completing 17-of-22 attempts for 163 yards and a pair of scores. Fisher also ran for 24 yards.

Gaither came alive for 64 yards on 12 carries and a score, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. Franklin, Luther and Gaither each had four catches on the day – as Fisher completed his first nine passes in a hot start.

Defensively, Buckner picked off two passes and Jamari Brown had another – with two thwarting deep marches by the Colonials. French was the lead dog, however, finished with nine tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pressures and a touchdown.

Freshman Willie Harris fit well as a pass rushing tackle, posting four hits and 1.5 sacks. Brice Bass and Thomas also had sacks on the day as Gardner-Webb totaled 12 tackles for loss for minus-55 yards. The 'Dogs also broke up eight passes, recorded six hurries and allowed only one red zone score by Robert Morris despite being on the field for more than 35 minutes.

Robert Morris managed just five yards on the ground after all of the negative yardage plays and had only 207 yards of total offense – an average of just 2.6 yards per play. 

Alijah Jackson managed 61 yards on 21 carries and caught a pair of Martin passes. Martin was 25-of-45 for 202 yards, but was sacked six times, fumbled twice – once on a bad snap – and was picked off three times.

Sydney Audiger led the Robert Morris effort on defense with eight tackles, one forced fumble and a tackle for loss. Ricardo Watson had seven stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in the game. He also forced a fumble.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road over the next two weeks, beginning on Saturday, October 30 at No. 11 Kennesaw State. The Runnin' Bulldogs and the Owls will kick off at 1:00 pm in the Peach State.