THE GAME
Gardner-Webb will close out its 2021 season on Saturday, traveling to nearby Greensboro, N.C., to take on Big South newcomer North Carolina A&T. The game will stream live on ESPN3, with Spencer Turkin and Stan Lewter calling the action. Phil Constantino and Reginald Walker, Jr., will bring the action from the radio booth, with the game airing on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM (TuneIn Radio App).

SERIES NOTES
North Carolina A&T leads the all-time series over Gardner-Webb by a 2-0 margin ... The two teams met in a home-and-home series in 2017 and 2018 ... The Aggies, ranked nationally on both occasions, outscored Gardner-Webb 90-9 in the two meetings ... In 2017, the season opener against A&T was in Boiling Springs and the Aggies went on to a 12-0 record and a win over Grambling in the Celebration Bowl.

SERIES HISTORY
09/02/17 – #24 N.C. A&T 45, GWU 3 (Boiling Springs)
09/08/18 – #6 N.C. A&T 45, GWU 6 (Greensboro)

AGAINST THE OLD NORTH STATE
North Carolina A&T is Gardner-Webb's third in-state Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent this season, with the Runnin' Bulldogs going 1-1 so far this season in those meetings. The loss came in the final moments to Campbell on October 9, as the Camels scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of a 42-28 decision. Gardner-Webb controlled the second half in a 52-34 win over Western Carolina on September 25. Since Coach Tre Lamb's arrival, Gardner-Webb has gone 2-1 against in-state FCS foes, which includes a spring season win over No. 24 Elon (2/27).

THE 11th MONTH
Gardner-Webb is 1-11 in its last 12 games in the month of November, dating back to the 2017 season. The lone win during that stretch came on November 3, 2018 vs. Presbyterian in Spangler Stadium. GWU hasn't won a road game in November since beating No. 8 Charleston Southern on November 5, 2016 (17-10). GWU went 2-0 that season in November.

ROAD GAMES ARE TOUGH
Gardner-Webb has endured a difficult time away from home in recent seasons, going a combined 2-22 in road games since 2017. The 'Dogs defeated Presbyterian on November 3, 2018 and Western Carolina on October 5, 2019 for their lone victories during that span. Gardner-Webb's last season with a winning road mark came in 2006 with wins at Jacksonville (9/2), at Southeastern Louisiana (9/30) and at Liberty (10/21).

A STREAK THAT MUST END
Gardner-Webb has dropped nine Big South road games in a row, with its last win coming on November 3, 2018 at home vs. Presbyterian. The last road win in league play came on October 27, 2018 – a 35-7 win at Campbell in Buies Creek.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb is the second-youngest skipper in Division I football at age 32, celebrating his birthday on September 16. Lamb is 5-9 in his brief tenure, with two of those losses coming to 85-scholarship FBS programs. Autry Denson is in his third season as the head coach at Charleston Southern and is 11-14 during that time.

BITING NAILS 
Five of Gardner-Webb's seven losses this season have come down to the final moments. The Runnin' Bulldogs stuffed Georgia Southern's final offensive chance and drove well into the FBS Eagles' territory in the season opener – but dropped a 30-25 decision on the road. Against Campbell in the 2021 N.C. East/West BBQ Bowl on October 9, the 'Dogs  made another key defensive stop with less than four minutes to play in a tie game. A muffed punt at the 10-yard line set the Camels up nicely for a quick go-ahead score. Campbell added another late score for a 42-28 win in Boiling Springs. On October 30, Gardner-Webb stormed back with two touchdowns in the final three minutes to take a 30-27 lead with 43 seconds left at No. 10 Kennesaw State. The Owls used a timely kickoff return out near midfield and tossed the game-winning touchdown with just 11 seconds to go. On November 6, Gardner-Webb was stopped on fourth down in the first overtime period at Hampton and the Pirates scored on first down to end the game, 26-21. On November 13, Gardner-Webb tied the game with less than a minute to play in regulation, traded field goals with Charleston Southern in the first overtime, but fell by a 32-24 score when the Bucs scored and connected on its two-pointer.

TOTAL THREAT
Quarterback Bailey Fisher (5-11, 207, Jr.) crossed the 5,000-yard passing mark in Gardner-Webb's September 11 loss at FBS Charlotte and has now passed for 6,747 yards during his 35 games as a Division I starter at Tennessee Tech and now GWU. Fisher topped the 7,000-yard mark in career total offense at No. 10 Kennesaw State, and now has at 7,747 yards with 68 touchdowns accounted for in those 35 starts. Fisher has accounted for 20 touchdowns through 10 starts at Gardner-Webb and became the first GWU quarterback to top 300 yards passing in his team debut on September 4 at Georgia Southern (315 yards, 3 TD). Fisher has thrown just five interceptions, with two coming in late game situations and Gardner-Webb trailing by double digits. He had a season-high 354 yards passing at No. 10 Kennesaw State (10/30).

ALMOST FORGOTTEN
Fisher has now rushed for 1,000 yards on the nose for his career after totaling 68 yards on the ground on November 13 vs. Charleston Southern. His 68-yard touchdown run was the longest of the season for the quarterback. His 413 yards of total offense vs. the Buccaneers marked a season high as well.

FRENCH DUDE
Gardner-Webb's coaching staff knew it had a jewel when Ty French (6-3, 230, So.) enrolled in the fall of 2020. The former Colquitt County (Ga.) High star was a three-star recruit with a high motor, great character and sterling work ethic. The undersized label was erased when he quickly adjusted to the college weight room and packed on nearly 20 pounds. His performance this past spring raised eyebrows – as he ranked in the national top-10 in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (8.0), while adding 10 quarterback hurries in just four games. His dominance earned first-team All-Big South honors, Freshman All-America honors from Hero Sports and the 2020/21 Big South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year award. French exploded once again against Robert Morris on October 23, earning National FCS Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting nine tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He has 52 stops, 12.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks this season. French also has 22 quarterback pressures in 13 career games. French is back in the lineup this weekend after missing the CSU game with an injury.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Gardner-Webb has four different ball carriers who have at least one touchdown run of 40 yards or more this season. Narii Gaither (43 yards, TD), Donovan Jones (79 yards, TD), Jalin Graham (73 yards, TD) and Dexter Brown (47, TD). Gaither leads the league with an average of 6.5 yards per carry overall.

RAPID PACE
Gardner-Webb has at least one scoring drive of at least 70 yards in every game this season, and 21 drives of that length or better so far through 10 games. More impressively, 11 of those drives have lasted two minutes or less. That quick strike capability has been aided by chunk plays, with Gardner-Webb posting 42 "big plays" on the season – rushing plays longer than 20 yards and passing plays longer than 25 yards. Narii Gaither has 17 of those plays this year.

FULL HOUSE FOR BIG SOUTH
The Big South is celebrating its 20th season of sponsoring football in 2021, and the league membership is at an all-time high of nine members. New members North Carolina A&T and Robert Morris are playing their first full seasons.

WILLIAM THE TACKLER ... AND SCHOLAR
Linebacker William McRainey (6-0, 217, So.) has been a rising star since arriving on campus with the Class of 2020. 
He leads the Big South Conference and ranks No. 12 nationally with 101 total tackles and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III Football team earlier this week. In addition to his excellent numbers on the field, McRainey carries a 3.55 GPA in accounting. The sophomore also has 10.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He had a 71-yard fumble return for a touchdown vs. Campbell, one of Gardner-Webb's league-best four defensive scores this season. McRainey has twice been named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
 
THE MAYOR
Running back Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, Jr.) has been nearly unstoppable overall this season, but has raised the bar during home games at Spangler Stadium. Gaither averaged a healthy 103.2 yards per game through five home dates, despite playing less than two quarters in the home-opening blowout of Lincoln (Pa.). He also had 13 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown and has scored five total touchdowns on the home turf. Gaither ran for 151 yards and a touchdown vs. Western Carolina and followed with 150 yards and two scores vs. Campbell. The Rock Hill, S.C., native has kicked into high gear away from home over the past three weeks, averaging 171.0 all-purpose yards in very tight games. He has more 200+ all-purpose yardage games this season (2) than any other performer in the league. Gaither also has more 100-yard rushing games (4) than any other Big South back.

FUTURE SCHEDULE NOTES
Gardner-Webb has its slate of FBS opponents almost complete for the next few seasons, with dates at Coastal Carolina (2022), Liberty (2022), Appalachian State (2023), East Carolina (2023), Charlotte (2024) and Georgia Tech (2025) and Liberty (2026) on tap.

DEFENSIVE SURGE
Over its last three games, Gardner-Webb's defense has made notable improvements statistically, allowing an average of just 361.0 yards per game and 129.0 yards per game on the ground (three rushing TD). During that time, the 'Dogs have recorded 13 sacks, recovered four fumbles and picked off six passes. By comparison, in its six previous dates, Gardner-Webb had allowed 450.2 yards per game overall and 229.5 on the ground, although two of those six opponents were 85-scholarship FBS teams.

FIVE YARDS
Gardner-Webb was in the backfield often against Robert Morris, limiting the Colonials to a net gain of five rushing yards by the end of a 28-17 win on October 23. That final total was the lowest against a Division I opponent in Gardner-Webb's history, besting the 10 rushing yards allowed against No. 11 Richmond on September 14, 2013.

ROOKIES
Gardner-Webb started three true freshman, and played eight total true freshmen, on defense at Hampton on November 6. Cornerbacks TJ Jones (5-10, 170) and Jamari Nelson (5-11, 160) started opposite each other after doing the same on the prep level at Eau Gallie (Fla.) High. Jones had six stops (five solo) and Nelson nearly intercepted a pass. Defensive tackle Willie Harris (6-1, 270) started and had five solo tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. The youth movement will continue, as Jones and Nelson also started vs. Charleston Southern.

TRIPLE THREAT
In addition to his excellence under center – both passing and running – quarterback Bailey Fisher has shown off a strong leg as an occassional punter. Fisher has averaged 43.5 yards per attempt (11 attempts), including a booming 59-yarder vs. Western Carolina on September 25. Six of his 10 kicks have been downed inside the 20-yard line and four have gone longer than 50 yards.

TRANSITION POINTS
 Gardner-Webb ranks No. 2 nationally with four defensive touchdowns this season, tied with Big South Conference foe Campbell in that category. The Runnin' Bulldogs rank No. 14 nationally in takeaways with 20 and rank No. 24 nationally with nine recovered fumbles. GWU has scored defensive touchdowns vs. Western Carolina, Campbell, Robert Morris and Hampton – going 2-2 in games where the defense comes up with a score.