GREENSBORO – Gardner-Webb scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon and held on for a 35-27 win over North Carolina A&T.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (4-7, 2-5 Big South) trailed 20-7 after Kingsley Ifedi scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown with 14:56 to play in the game. The win snapped a nine-game road losing streak that dated back to October 5, 2019 at Western Carolina.

After Ifedi's touchdown run, Gardner-Webb began its charge.

After a quick gain by Narii Gaither, head coach Tre Lamb broke out the trickery, with receiver Justin Franklin turning a double pass into a 76-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jordan just 54 seconds later. It was Franklin's second touchdown pass of the season – both to Jordan – on just two attempts for 126 yards.

Momentum shifted heavily on the ensuing kickoff. Dominik Sojat hammered another high kick deep and the ball was mishandled at the five. After a short gain, the ball was fumbled again and Matthew Robinson recovered the loose ball to set Gardner-Webb up with supreme field position.

Bailey Fisher scored on the next play, diving in from the four-yard line. The extra point gave Gardner-Webb a 21-20 lead with 13:44 to play. The GWU defense stepped up again on the Aggies next drive, forcing a punt after three plays.

Gardner-Webb went to Gaither, who started with a 14-yard gain on the ground and moved the ball deep into North Carolina A&T territory with a 15-yard catch and a face mask penalty.

Fisher found Gaither again on a swing pass down to the Aggies' four-yard line, but the home team buckled down and pushed the 'Dogs back to the seven after a pair of running plays.

Fisher came through in the clutch, hitting Gaither on a seven-yard scoring play with 7:13 to play for a 28-20 lead.

Gardner-Webb capped its rally with another clutch defensive stand.

Shai Thomas stuffed Jah-Maine Martin on first down and A.J. Thomas picked off an Ifedi pass with 6:33 to play at the Aggies' 11-yard line.

A pair of penalties put Gardner-Webb into a third-and-goal situation from the 19-yard line, but Fisher found Gaither underneath and the speedster outran the Aggies to the end zone for a 35-20 lead with 4:53 on the clock.

North Carolina A&T had brief life once again after Aaron Harris darted 99 yards with the ensuing kickoff to trim the lead to 35-27 with 4:39 to go, but Gardner-Webb was able to get the ball back and run the clock down to 1:19 before punting.

Jamari Brown broke up a fourth-down pass attempt to end any chance of a comeback.

Gardner-Webb dominated the stat sheet, out gaining the home team 415-168 and winning the first down battle by a significant margin (22-11). Gardner-Webb averaged 6.5 yards per play and held the Aggies to just 3.0 yards per chance.

Fisher was effective through the air, completing 21-of-31 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score. 

Gaither was the star once again, rushing 22 times for 81 yards and leading the team with 11 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His 185 all-purpose yards were the third most this season in a game for the Rock Hill, S.C., junior. 

Justin Jordan caught four passes for a career-high 127 yards and two scores – a 32-yarder from Fisher and the game-turning, 76-yarder from Franklin.

Shai Thomas led the fierce defensive effort for the 'Dogs, collecting 10 total tackles (seven solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in his final career game. Ty French added nine total hits (six solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. The defensive end duo combined for three quarterback pressures as well and helped limit the Aggies to just 73 yards rushing (2.1 yards per carry).

William McRainey contributed eight tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.

North Carolina A&T used three different quarterbacks in the game, passing for 75 yards combined. The offense didn't log a gain longer than 15 yards on Saturday and the Aggies were hampered by 12 combined penalties for 144 yards on the day.

Special teams were strong for A&T, with a blocked field goal, a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a score. Stephen Davis, Jr., also had a long fumble return touchdown in the first half to stake the home team to a 10-7 lead at intermission.

Joseph Stuckey paced the defense with 13 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Alex Fumbah had eight hits and three tackles for loss, while Davis had five stops, a 52-yard fumble return touchdown and two pass break ups from his safety spot.

Both teams' seasons are complete.