CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb's second game playing up against an FBS foe in as many weeks proved too tough a task, as Charlotte beat the Runnin' Bulldogs 38-10 Saturday night.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (0-2) did find a running game midway through the first half, and
Narii Gaither closed the night by rushing 16 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Gardner-Webb had a tough time containing the 49ers (2-0) on the ground, and Charlotte took advantage for 306 rushing yards.
Gardner-Webb finished the game with just 214 total yards, including 164 on the ground. A potent deep passing attack one week ago did not get on track, with the Charlotte defense limiting GWU to just 6-of-22 passing for 50 yards. The 49ers sacked quarterback
Bailey Fisher twice, knocked away seven passes, recorded seven hurries and took advantage of six Gardner-Webb drops – a costly handful on wide open plays.
Charlotte took the opening drive 55 yards on just six plays to score – with Reynolds keeping on an option play for a 37-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game.
After punting on its first possession, Gardner-Webb made a break, getting a deflection from Charlotte, N.C., native
Deonte Grier on first down – which
Dameon Williams picked off and returned to the 49ers 39-yard line.
The drive stalled inside the 25 and
Austin McKay connected on a career-long field goal from 45 yards out to trim the lead to 7-3 with 8:31 on the clock.
Charlotte responded with a Shadrick Byrd scoring run with 1:32 to play in the quarter for a 14-3, but the 'Dogs drove down the field – using a steady diet of
Jalin Graham and
Narii Gaither on the ground to get into the 49ers' red zone.
An illegal block flag on a first down run down to the five by
Bailey Fisher negated a golden chance and a fourth-down run by Graham was spotted inches short of the line to gain. Charlotte countered with a long drive – going 87 yards to take a 21-3 lead on Calvin Camp's one-yard touchdown dive with 9:42 to play before halftime.
The Runnin' Bulldogs rallied on their ensuing drive, going 75 yards in just seven plays to pull within 21-10 at the 7:47 mark. A mix of
Justin Franklin catches and Gaither runs pushed the ball into the red zone and Gaither capped the drive with a 14-yard scoring run.
Charlotte scored again with 3:43 to play before the half on an 11-yard pass from Reynolds to Jairus Mack. After a Gardner-Webb fumble, Charlotte looked to score quickly again, but
Honus Wagner stepped in front of a Reynolds pass – after a
Charlie Jackson hit in the backfield – and returned the interception down to the Charlotte 20-yard line.
The drive stalled and a 35-yard field goal was wide left. Charlotte took its 28-10 lead into the break.
Charlotte marched 63 yards on its first drive of the second half – after forcing a quick punt by Gardner-Webb – and led 35-10 after ChaVon McEachern darted in from 13 yards away. The Runnin' Bulldogs put together a nice drive down to the Charlotte 26-yard line, but a fourth-down try was off the mark and Charlotte took over on downs.
A short field goal by Jonathan Cruz pushed Charlotte's lead early in the fourth quarter made the score 38-10 and both teams began to substitute heavily from there.
Charlotte managed 474 yards of total offense and converted 7-of-13 third downs. Gardner-Webb was just 2-of-15 on third down and held the football for five minutes or less in the first and fourth quarters.
Jamari Brown led the Gardner-Webb defense with 10 stops (eight solo) and Williams finished with five solo stops, a tackle for loss and an interception.
Tyler Murray had seven hits to lead the Charlotte defensive effort.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will open their home schedule next Saturday (9/18), hosting Division II Lincoln (Pa.) at 6:00 pm in Spangler Stadium. Tickets are available online at GWUSports.com or by calling the GWU Ticket office at (704) 406-4340.
