THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hosts NCAA Division II member Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday night in its 2021 home opener. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium and fans are encouraged to wear red as part of the Red Storm Rising "Red Out" Game. Saturday's action will stream live on ESPN+, with Phil Constantino and former Carolina Panther and two-time Super Bowl participant Eugene Robinson on the call. The game will also air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM and the TuneIn Radio app with Dave Friedman and Matt Hiers calling the audio from the press box..

*   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 (31, 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.

*   Gardner-Webb topped the 400-yard mark offensively against an FBS program for the first time ever in its
    30-25 loss at Georgia Southern. The Runnin' Bulldogs struck for 415 yards on the night.

*   Gardner-Webb has 15 graduate students on its 2021 active roster.

*   Three current players on Gardner-Webb's roster were State Players of the Year as seniors. Quarterback 
    Bailey Fisher (Rabun County HS, Ga.) earned Class 2A Offensive State Player of the Year honors in 2017. Defensive 
    back Jamari Brown (Eastside HS, Ga.) was named Class 4A Defensive State Player of the Year in 2018. Running
    back Donovan Jones (Champagnat Catholic, Fla.) was the Class 2A Offensive State Player of the Year in 2020.

*   Former Gardner-Webb linebacker and rising country music star Jon Langston will perform Saturday night in
    Paul Porter Arena following the football game. The concert, which is free to Gardner-Webb students, will begin
    at 9 pm. Other fans can purchase tickets online for $25. 

*   Gardner-Webb is receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches' Poll for the second consecutive week. The Runnin' Bulldogs 
    received votes in both major FCS polls last spring after their 2-0 start. GWU is one of four Big South teams either 
    ranked (Monmouth, Kennesaw State) or receiving votes (Charleston Southern) this week.

*   Gardner-Webb has won four home openers in a row, dating back to the 2017 season.


SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Lincoln (Pa.) have never met in the sport of football. Gardner-Webb is 19-0 against non-Division I opponents since becoming a full-fledged NCAA Division I FCS member prior to the 2002 season. The Runnin' Bulldogs last hosted a member of the CIAA in 2015, topping Virginia Union on September 19 that season.

HOME SWEET HOME
After opening on the road for two games – the second time doing so against a pair of FBS opponents since 2019 – Gardner-Webb returns home to the friendly confines of Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs have won four home openers in a row and have won seven times in home openers since the 2010 season. The losses came in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017

THE KEYSTONE STATE
Gardner-Webb has played only one game in its senior college history against a team from Pennsylvania, falling 55-10 at Pittsburgh on Heinz Field in 2012. The Runnin' Bulldogs now share a conference with Big South newcomer Robert Morris and will host the Colonials on October 23 for Homecoming Weekend.

THE NORTH CAROLINA EAST/WEST BBQ BOWL
Speaking of in-state rivalries, Gardner-Webb and Campbell announced on September 3 that the two football programs would begin playing in a rivalry trophy game this season. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Fighting Camels will compete each season for the North Carolina East/West BBQ Bowl trophy, beginning on October 9, 2021 in Boiling Springs, N.C. The winning school will keep the trophy until the next season's matchup and the losing school will provide a BBQ meal from their respective region – eastern style for the Camels and western or Lexington style, for the Bulldogs – to the winning squad. North Carolina BBQ expert Bob Garner will be on hand to present the trophy to the winning team. Garner has written three books on North Carolina's favorite food and has appeared on Food Network, ABC's "Good Morning America," the Travel Channel's "Road Trip," and he produces specials for PBS North Carolina.

DON'T REMIND ME
Lincoln (Pa.) lost 19-7 last week to Central State (Ohio), the same Central State that topped Gardner-Webb for the 1992 NAIA National Championship by a 19-16 score in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium on December 12, 1992. The Runnin' Bulldogs went 12-2 that season, losing only to Division I UCF and Central State.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb is the second-youngest skipper in Division I football at age 32, celebrating his birthday this week on September 16. Lamb is 2-4 in his brief tenure, with two of those losses coming to 85-scholarship FBS programs. Lincoln (Pa.) Lions head coach Josh Dean is in his third season in charge of the program and has gone 1-21 during that span. He won 11 games as head coach at Kentucky State University in a previous stop. 

MR. 5K
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 5,035 yards during his 27 games as a Division I starter at Tennessee Tech and now GWU. The Clayton, Ga., native passed for nearly 10,000 yards as a high school signal caller at Rabun County (Ga.) High and went on to earn 2018 OVC Freshman of the Year honors as well as 2019 second-team All-OVC honors. Fisher became the first Gardner-Webb quarterback to top 300 yards in his Gardner-Webb debut on September 4 at Georgia Southern, dicing up the Eagles' secondary for 315 yards and three toucdhowns in a 30-25 loss.

PARLEZ-VOUS-FRANCAIS
Gardner-Webb's coaching staff new 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 has continued to improve, and came out of the game with nine tackles in the season opener at Georgia Southern. He has 13 total tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss and three pressures so far through two games.

THE MAYOR
Running back Narii Gaither (5-10, 177, Jr.) is more than just a third-down back. He's more than a fast runner. The Rock Hill, S.C., native can survive and succeed between the tackles as well as catch the ball effectively on swing passes and down the field. He's a multi-faceted threat and a perfect fit in Gardner-Webb's offensive system. The All-Big South back broke out last spring, sprinting to a pair of 100-yard games to lead GWU to a 2-0 start. He went for 111 yards and two scores on just 19 carries in the win over No. 24 Elon and followed with 151 yards on 18 carries and two total scores vs. Presbyterian. He broke school and Big South records with a 96-yard run to paydirt and caught the game-winner in overtime. Gaither broke out at FBS Charlotte on September 11, rushing for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown. 

BULLDOZER
Only a handful of true freshman are good enough to start a season opener on the offensive line. Even fewer are capable of managing the pressure-packed nature of offensive tackle. Gardner-Webb's Clayton Frady (6-5, 295, So.) was up to the challenge this past spring, becoming the first true freshman to start a season opener at tackle since Will Millikan did so at South Alabama in 2015. The Sylva, N.C., native was just the third true freshman since Gardner-Webb's move to Division I to start at game at tackle – joining Demario Deese (2005), Jamie Dunaway (2009) and Millikan (2015). Frady earned All-Big South Conference honors, was runner up for the league's Freshman Offensive Player of the Year award and earned Hero Sports Freshman All-America honors.

FRONT FOUR FORTRESS
Gardner-Webb has built a defensive line perhaps as good as any other in the nation in the Football Championship Subdivision. The unit goes 11 deep without much drop off and has truckloads of experience. After keying a pass rush that produced only 10 sacks over 12 games in 2019, the group led the way to 15 sacks in just four games this past spring. In addition to All-America end Ty French (6-3, 230, So.), the 'Dogs return veteran starters Shai Thomas (6-2, 271, Sr.) and Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, Sr.), along with highly-touted tackle Charlie Jackson (6-4, 323, So.). Former starters Kendall Bailey (6-4, 262, Gr.) and Tremayne Booker (6-2, 273, Gr.) have significant experience and have moved from end to playing inside. Former three-star recruit Cash Devaughn (6-2, 293, RFr.) also creates some depth on the interior, as does former All-State lineman Willie Harris (6-1, 275, Fr.). Providing reserve production at end are talented pass rushers Ga'Marcus Freeman (6-2, 239, So.), Brice Bass (6-4, 250, So.) and Kyndall Clark (6-2, 234, Gr.).

YOUNG FACES TO WATCH ON OFFENSE
The two most promising faces during the preseason on offense produced very well in their college debuts. Receiver Justin Franklin (5-9, 175, Fr.) garnered 19 FBS offers heading into his senior season at Douglas County (Ga.) High and was the highest-rated Big South recruit in the 247Sports.com database for the Class of 2021. He came through with six catches for 72 yards and a score, and tossed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jordan to earn Big South Co-Freshman of the Week honors. Running back Donovan Jones (5-9, 180, Fr.) was Florida's Class 2A Offensive State Player of the Year following a second state title in 2020 and made the most of his opportunities at Georgia Southern. Jones carried three times for a team-high 23 yards, including a 19-yard burst for a first down to set up a fourth-quarter score.

CAPTAIN SOLO
Defensive back Dameon Williams (5-11, 175, Gr.) has made a profound mark on the Gardner-Webb defense so far in 2021, moving back to strong safety and patrolling all over the field. Williams has posted 12 solo stops, two forced fumbles and two pass break ups so far – as well as picking off a pass at FBS Charlotte on September 11. He returned that pick 24 yards to set up a Gardner-Webb field goal that trimmed the 49ers lead to 7-3 by the end of the first quarter. The former Norcross (Ga.) High native is also capable of playing cornerback in Gardner-Webb's 4-2-5 scheme.

ON THE AIR AGAIN
Gardner-Webb football will have a broadcast presence on a commercial radio station again this fall. All regular season games, along with 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 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 home games will stream live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month subscription), with Penn State graduate Phil Constantino, Gardner-Webb's Director of Broadcasting, serving as play-by-play voice. He will be joined this season by former Carolina Panther and University of Maryland star Al Wallace, along with several other voices in the booth. Former Panther and 16-year NFL veteran Eugene Robinson will call Saturday's game vs. Lincoln (Pa.).

THE TRE LAMB SHOW
Gardner-Webb will have an off-campus football coaches show this fall, beginning on Wednesday, September 1 in Shelby, N.C. The Tre Lamb Coaches Show will originate live from the Cleveland Country Club at 7:30 pm and will air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM and the TuneIn Radio app. Dave Friedman will serve as host and will be joined on the air by head coach Tre Lamb each Wednesday during the season. Fans are invited to attend the live show.

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.

GAINING GROUND
After struggling to find its rushing attack in the opener at Georgia Southern, Gardner-Webb got it going for a while at Charlotte in week two. The Runnin' Bulldogs carried 40 times for 164 yards and a touchdown, averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per carry. Narii Gaither led the way with 82 yards and a score. Jalin Graham broke through with five carries for 36 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) and quarterback Bailey Fisher showed escapability with 33 yards on 10 attempts.

LOCAL FLAVOR
Gardner-Webb has 28 student-athletes on its current roster who played high school football within an hour of campus. Boiling Springs, N.C., is located in football-rich Cleveland County, home to state championship programs at Burns, Crest, Shelby and Kings Mountain. The campus is also situated just 15 minutes north of Palmetto State powerhouse Gaffney High and is within an hour drive of several perennial state contenders in Charlotte, N.C., and Spartanburg, S.C. 

POINT OF NO RETURN
Gardner-Webb's punt team has been solid through two games, not allowing a single yard on returns. The coverage is a carry over from the spring, when the Runnin' Bulldogs allowed just one punt to be returned over four games. GWU has one of the most experienced batteries in the country, with graduate students Will Mullins (snapper) and Jack Pawloski (punter) handling primary duties again in 2021. With several offensive and defensive starters in coverage – including All-Big South running back Narii Gaither at a gunner position – the net punting stats should be strong all season.

STEPPING UP
With returning starter Malachi Buckner sidelined during the opener at Georgia Southern, versatile and hard-hitting safety Jamari Brown (5-11, 198, Jr.) stepped right in and didn't miss a beat. Brown had eight tackles in the season opener in Statesboro, Ga., making several big plays in the second half. He followed with his first career start at Charlotte (9/11) and came through with a career-high 10 total tackles (eight solo) in another strong performance. The Miami, Fla., native played his high school football in Georgia and was named the Peach State's Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year following his senior campaign at Eastside (Ga.) High near Atlanta.

ADJUSTMENTS
Gardner-Webb's defense has been matched up against 85-scholarship FBS programs – and potential bowl teams – in its first two weeks. Despite those odds, the Runnin' Bulldogs have made halftime adjustments that have shown results. Gardner-Webb is allowing just 10.0 ppg in the second half of games so far this season – 3.5 ppg in the third quarter and 6.5 ppg in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will stay at home, hosting regional rival Western Carolina next Saturday (September 25) at 6:00 pm in Spangler Stadium. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and will air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM and the TuneIn Radio app. Tickets are available by logging on to GWUSports.com or by calling the Gardner-Webb athletics office at (704) 406-4340.