HIGHLIGHTS

BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb rallied for 28 unanswered points in the second half and took a 52-34 win over Western Carolina Saturday night in front of a strong Spangler Stadium crowd.

Narii Gaither ran for 151 yards and a touchdown and freshman Donovan Jones sprinted for 102 yards and two scores, as Gardner-Webb (2-2) rumbled for 291 yards on the ground – and a healthy 7.3 yards per carry.

Bailey Fisher completed 14-of-22 passes for an efficient 261 yards and two scores through the air, while rushing for another touchdown. That effort helped the Runnin' Bulldogs to 552 yards offensively on just 62 plays. 

T.J. Luther hauled in six of those balls passes for 119 yards and a touchdown and finished with 253 all-purpose yards after an effective night returning kickoffs.

The offense was able to put together two touchdowns drives in the first half, but Western Carolina held a 20-17 lead at the break.

"What we were doing [in the first half] was working, we just shot ourselves in the foot," said head coach Tre Lamb, who improved to 4-1 at home during his tenure. "We got down there to their two-yard line and a negative play set us back and we wound up with a field goal. The first play of the game the snap hits off our center and bounces their way. We had a couple of bad snaps again later in the half and gave up three points after a fumble. We were better in the second half.

"We have to clean some things up and continue to learn how to close out games. We were better than they were, our kids played harder than they did and fortunately we were able to finish it out with a win."

The third quarter didn't start very well for the 'Dogs, as Western Carolina quarterback Rogan Wells kept on a read option and out-ran everyone to the end zone on an 82-yard touchdown play. That gave the Catamounts (0-4) 27-17 edge with 11:06 to play in the third quarter.

Gaither answered with heavy work on Gardner-Webb's next drive, a quick strike that saw the Rock Hill, S.C., junior find the end zone on an 18-yard dash with 9:40 to play. The scoring sprint took only 1:17 and was sparked by a 70-yard kickoff return by Luther.

The fast-breaking Cats answered again, with Raphael Williams catching a six-yard touchdown pass from Wells to cap an 83-yard scoring drive that lasted just 1:26. With the visitors holding onto a 34-24 lead, the Runnin' Bulldogs needed another score – and for its defense to come up with a critical stop.

Those things happened, and the game's tide turned dramatically over the final 21 minutes.

Fisher drove Gardner-Webb 66 yards on six plays to pull closer, hitting tight end Deland Thomas on a five-yard toss to make the score 34-31 with 6:21 to play in the third.

The defensive buckled down hard, forcing back-to-back punts – critical after the first punt was muffed to give Western Carolina golden field position. 

Backed up at his own 10, Fisher engineered a major scoring march. He hit Luther for 25 yards to gain some cushion, then found freshman Justin Franklin open for a 53-yard gain down to the Catamounts' six. Jones finished the drive with a short run, giving Gardner-Webb a 38-34 lead with 1:46 to play in the third quarter.

The lead would grow from there.

Jamari Brown stepped in front of a Wells' pass and darted 36 yards to pay dirt to push the lead to 45-34 with 1:02 to play in the quarter.

Gardner-Webb's defense held the Catamounts scoreless in the fourth quarter, getting a key fourth down stop and forcing two turnovers to halt drives. After the final miscue, a strip sack at the 17-yard line, Jones closed the deal.

The Miami, Fla., freshman scored on a 79-yard run for what would be the final margin – sending a raucous Family Weekend crowd of 5,689 into a frenzy. 

"The atmosphere was the best I've seen," said Lamb. "For this level of college football it was great. Our student section and home fans did a terrific job. Western Carolina brought a good crowd. It was a great atmosphere and a great night for Gardner-Webb football."

Gardner-Webb's defense was paced by William McRainey, who played all 99 defensive snaps and finished with 17 total tackles (12 solo), a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. T.J. Comstock had 10 stops (seven solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.

Western Carolina had 650 yards on offense, running 99 plays, but turned the football over five times in the game. Gardner-Webb scored 21 points off of those mistakes. The Catamounts scored six points off of four Gardner-Webb fumbles.

Quarterback Wells completed 37-of-58 passes for 427 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing score and 113 yards on the ground. He threw two picks and fumbled once in the game's late stages.

Williams caught 11 passes for 99 yards and a score to lead a group of 10 receivers who caught at least one pass. The Catamounts got two fumble recoveries and eight tackles from linebacker Ty Harris. Kareem Taylor led the defense with 11 stops.

The Runnin' Bulldogs completed their non-conference slate, and will visit nationally-ranked and defending Big South Conference champ Monmouth next Saturday in West Long Branch, N.J. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm from Kessler Stadium, just a half mile from the Jersey shore.