THE GAME
Gardner-Webb opens Big South Conference play on Saturday April 3, 2021 when it hosts No. 18 Monmouth at Noon in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The Hawks (1-0, 1-0 Big South) are off to a strong start after rolling to a 35-17 win over Charleston Southern to open their spring season last Saturday in New Jersey. This week's game will stream live on ESPN+ (Phil Constantino, Al Wallace) and air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM (Dave Friedmann, Reginald Walker, Jr.).

HOT ROUTES
*    Three of Gardner-Webb's five spring opponents were ranked in the preseason top-25. Four of the five are either ranked or receiving votes this week.

*    The Gardner-Webb vs. Kennesaw State game, originally set for March 27, has yet to be rescheduled.

*    Gardner-Webb is receiving votes in both major FCS national polls again this week. The Runnin' Bulldogs reached a high of 61 votes on March 22 in the FCS STATS Poll, falling just outside the national top-25 (28th). GWU is also receiving voting attention in the AFCA Division I FCS Coaches' Poll.

*    After one week, Gardner-Webb ranks in the top-25 nationally in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, rushing offense and rushing defense. Complete national stats rankings on Page 4 of notes.

*    Speed demon Devron Harper was named preseason All-Big South at four different positions by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. Harper earned a nod at receiver, kickoff return man, punt return man and all-purpose back.

*    Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb (31, September 16, 1989) is the second youngest head coach in the FCS ranks currently, with only new Austin Peay skipper Scotty Walden (30, November 15, 1989) slightly younger.

*    Gardner-Webb's full-time coaching staff is the youngest in the Division I ranks, with an average of 28.9 years old per man.

*    Quarterback Carlton Aiken became the third different starting quarterback for Gardner-Webb in the past
    two seasons. Former Runnin' Bulldogs Jordan Smith and Kalen Whitlow each started games for GWU in 2019.

*    Aiken (Paulsboro, N.J.) is the lone man on the Gardner-Webb roster who hails from the Garden State. His hometown, near Philadelphia, Pa., is 90 miles from Monmouth's campus.
  
SERIES NOTES
Monmouth has dominated the series so far, winning five of the six meetings. Three of the Hawks wins have come at home in New Jersey, but Monmouth has wins in Spangler Stadium in 2015 and 2018. Gardner-Webb's lone win was a 34-33 overtime triumphy in the 2016 season finale – played in Boiling Springs ... The Hawks have put up an average of 38.8 points per game in the series and have scored 40 or more in the last three meetings.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb's Tre Lamb is in his first season as a college head coach. The second-youngest head coach in all of Division I football, Lamb has served as offensive coordinator at his alma mater Tennessee Tech and has called plays on the Division I level for four seasons. Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan is in his 28th season as head coach of the Hawks – and is the only head coach in that program's football history. Callahan has won 164 times during his career .

A COMEBACK, THEN A BLOWOUT
Gardner-Webb kicked off its first ever spring season in style, storming back from an early 17-0 deficit to wallop No. 24 Elon 42-20 on February 27. The Runnin' Bulldogs ground out 202 yards rushing, scored four rushing touchdowns and had a special teams score in the win. After Elon's early lead, Gardner-Webb outscored the Phoenix 42-3 the rest of the way. In its last two games against Elon (2016, 2021), Gardner-Webb has won twice while outscoring the Phoenix by a combined 63-0 in the second half.

THAT FAST MAN
Multi-talented Devron Harper (5-10, 165, So.) didn't have a major impact in the passing game vs. No. 24 Elon, but his ability in the return game paid major dividends. Harper had early kickoff returns of 37 and 42 yards – the second setting up GWU's first touchdown – and returned a punt 41 yards to pay dirt at the end of the third quarter. When the dust settled, Harper had 138 all-purpose yards and his second career return touchdown. The Conyers, Ga., native followed up with six catches for 106 yards in the win over Presbyterian and ranks among the national leaders in return yards and all-purpose yardage.

BIG PLAY ZAY
Gardner-Webb's Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 225, Jr.) has the size of a tight end and the speed and ability of a high-end receiver – a devastating combination on the FCS level. Gathings extended his Big South-record of 10+ catches and 100+ yards to five games in the season opener – hauling in 10 passes for 126 yards. Gathings caught 71 passes for 1,046 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, doing a large percentage of his damage in Big South Conference games. As a result he earned preseason FCS All-America honors from Hero Sports and College Sports Journal. Gathings missed the fourth quarter and overtime vs. Presbyterian with an ankle sprain, but is back at full strength. His streak was snapped as a result, as he finished with six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Gardner-Webb named five permanent team captains prior to the 2021 spring season. Offensive captains are: Izaiah Gathings (Jr.), Carter Francis (R-So.) and Narii Gaither (So.). Defensive captains are Shai Thomas (Sr.) and Dameon Williams (R-Jr.). The quintet has shown exceptional leadership during a very difficult past year for college football student-athletes.

PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?
Defensive end Ty French (6-3, 242, Fr.) lived up to his advance billing – and then some – in his college debut. The former Colquitt County (Ga.) High standout came out of the gate with two quick tackles for loss and finished the day with 12 total hits, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He added three quarterback presssures en route to earning Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week honors and Big South Freshman of the Week accolades. French's impact on the Gardner-Webb pass rush limited Elon to just one pass play longer than 20 yards all day. He followed with nine total hits and 1.5 sacks vs. Presbyterian – and enters the third game of his career ranked No. 1 nationally in tackles for loss.

STUBBORN NUMBERS
Something will have to give on Saturday. Gardner-Webb enters the game with the nation's No. 4 rusher (Narii Gaither) and the nation's No. 5 rushing defense (51.0 yards per game). Monmouth has the nation's No. 5 rusher (Juwan Farii) and the No. 2 rushing defense (28.0 yards per game).

THE BIG DOGS
Gardner-Webb's success on the ground through two games can be directily attributed to a retooled offensive line that has emphasized building depth and using its versatility. Six men have started so far, with Dan Wittekind (6-3, 305, Gr.), Gabe Thompson (6-3, 321, R-Fr.), Travis Polson (6-3, 274, R-Fr.) and Clayton Frady (6-5, 295, Fr.) starting both games. Kyle Schneider (6-4, 288, So.) and Will Webster (6-4, 285, Gr.) have each started one game so far. Talented veteran Jack Nichols (6-3, 308, Sr.) has been vital in the rotation at guard, leaning on the experience of 34 college starts. Carter Francis (6-2, 280, R-So.) has also been a big part of the rotation, playing both guard and center. Mike Brooks (6-3, 320, R-Fr.) is also a big factor and can play center, guard or tackle when needed. Coach Jake Thornton's bunch has pushed the 'Dogs to an average of 211.5 yards on the ground so far.

SACK LUNCHES
In 2019, Gardner-Webb's pass rush produced just 10 sacks in 12 games. Through two spring dates, Gardner-Webb's pass rush has equalled that total, while adding 24 tackles for loss and an eye-popping 15 quarterback pressures. The pass rush hasn't been limited to phenom Ty French (6-3, 242, Fr.), as nine different 'Dogs have been in on a sack this spring. GWU has seen 14 men in on tackles for loss through two games.

ON THE VERGE
Gardner-Webb has received votes in each of the major top-25 polls since beating No. 24 Elon in its 2021 spring opener. Monmouth, also receiving votes in the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches Poll this week, are ranked No. 18 in the Athlon Magazine Top 25. Four of the five Big South teams playing this spring are either ranked or receiving votes this week.

GREAT START
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb is the first football coach to start off with a 2-0 mark since Steve Patton did so during the Division II era in 1997. Patton went on to a 4-0 mark that season before his first loss and was 8-3 by season's end. As a program, Gardner-Webb hasn't started a season with a 2-0 record since 2010 – with wins over Division II Brevard and FBS member Akron in back-to-back weeks. The Runnin' Bulldogs haven't gone 3-0 to start a season since 1999 – its final year at the Division II level.

A RECORD BREAKER
Running back Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, So.) runs the 100-meter dash in 10.6 seconds. He showed much of that top end speed on March 6, when he broke one tackle and sprinted 96 yards for a touchdown against Presbyterian. The dash broke a Gardner-Webb record that stood since November 1, 1997 – when Amos Myles went to the house from 90 yards out against Tusculum. Gaither's run also broke a Big South Conference mark, which was set by Monmouth's Peter Guerriero on December 7, 2019 at James Madison with a 93-yard run. The run just missed the Ernest W. Spangler Stadium record, which was set by Wofford's Dane Romero with a 97-yard touchdown jaunt on November 19, 2005.

ON THE AIR AGAIN
Gardner-Webb football will have a broadcast presence on a commercial radio station again in 2021. All six spring 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 analyst Reginald Walker, Jr. will serve as talent. Walker is a former collegiate player at Penn State and veteran of the television industry. The station is available online via the TuneIn app.

THE STREAM TEAM
Each of Gardner-Webb's four spring home games will stream live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month subscription), with a new braodcast crew on tap. Penn State graduate Phil Constantino, Gardner-Webb's brand new Director of Broadcasting, will serve as play-by-play voice. He will be joined this season by former Carolina Panther and University of Maryland star Al Wallace. 

ZERO PROBLEMS
Quarterback Carlton Aiken and defensive end Shai Thomas were the first Gardner-Webb players to ever wear the #0 jersey in a college game for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The jersey number was previously unavailable as a choice until a recent NCAA rules change.

AGENT ZERO
Quarterback Carlton Aiken (6-2, 231, Gr.) has made clutch plays a part of his early work in a Gardner-Webb uniform. The Paulsboro, N.J., native overcame three interceptions vs. No. 24 Elon to make several key throws and bulldoze in for a pair of touchdowns in a 42-20 win. He followed up by passing for a career-best 297 yards and two touchdowns vs. Presbyterian while adding a 30-yard touchdown run. Aiken, who played two seasons at Division II Pace University, has two runs of 20+ yards this season to date.

HE'S NOT SHAI
Gardner-Webb defender Shai Thomas (6-2, 271, Sr.) has been in the mix for All-Big South Conference honors at linebacker for the past two seasons, narrowly missing out on postseason honors. A genuine need for a pass rusher in the new defensive scheme and Thomas adding nearly 20 pounds of muscle to his frame meant a move down to defensive end for the Anderson, S.C., native. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and five pressures so far in 2021.

SEEING DOUBLE
Gardner-Webb will, for the first time in its history, have players in double jersey numbers for the 2021 season and beyond. Players in jerseys 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 13, 14 and 15 have spots on both sides of the ball. The NCAA rule allowing double jersey numbers simply states that those players cannot be on the field at the same time. This is the first season Gardner-Webb has taken advantage of the opportunity.

CONFERENCE OPENERS
Since joining the Big South Conference for football in 2002, Gardner-Webb has gone 9-9 in league openers. GWU won its 2019 lid lifter in conference, smacking Hampton 35-27 on October 12 for a Homecoming win. Gardner-Webb and Monmouth have never faced off in a Big South opener.

THE MAYOR
Running back Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, So.) brings a healthy dose of positivity to all that he does. His breakout game against No. 24 Elon was no surprise, as he sparked Gardner-Webb's effective ground game with 19 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He followed with 18 carries for 151 yards and another score – and caught the game-winning pass in overtime. Gaither's 96-yard jaunt was a school and conference record. He now has three of Gardner-Webb's five explosive plays in the run game and ranks No. 4 nationally in rushing yards per game (131.0). The Rock Hill, S.C., native has already rushed for more yards in two games than he did in all of 2019.

MORE YOUTH
Gardner-Webb started six freshmen vs. No. 24 Elon, and all six played a major role in the win. In addition to Ty French, linebacker William McRainey (6-0, 217, Fr.) made his career debut and finished with six total tackles (four solo) in a strong performance. The offensive line featured three freshmen starters, including tackles Travis Polson (6-3, 274, R-Fr.) and Clayton Frady (6-5, 295, Fr.) along with guard Gabe Thompson (6-3, 321, R-Fr.). Tight end Anthony Herock (6-3, 235, Fr.) also started and had a 13-yard catch. Tight end Deland Thomas (6-4, 238, R-Fr.) started against Presbyterian.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will have an open date on April 10 before closing out the 2021 spring season on the road at Charleston Southern on April 17. Kickoff for that game is set for Noon (ESPN+).