Postgame Interview with Tre Lamb

STATESBORO Ga. – Gardner-Webb drove into Georgia Southern territory with less than a minute to go Saturday night with a chance to take the lead, but the Runnin' Bulldogs fell just short against its FBS foe, 30-25.

Gardner-Webb (0-1) leaned on the crisp right arm of quarterback Bailey Fisher throughout the night and fought hard until the final horn. Fisher completed 27-of-45 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns – hitting three different receivers for those scores.

The Runnin' Bulldogs rolled up 427 yards of total offense and managed 20 first downs against an Eagles' secondary that led the nation in interceptions last season and ranked among the best in FBS in pass efficiency defense.

"I don't believe in moral victories. We don't go into these games to play close, we play to win. We believed we could win, we thought we could win. We came up just short," said head coach Tre Lamb. "If we can play like this against a team that is bigger, stronger and older than us – with 25 more scholarships than us – we are going to win a lot of games in our league."

Georgia Southern was sturdy enough against Gardner-Webb's rushing attack – limiting GWU to 62 yards – and used its own triple-option attack to control the clock and hold on for the win.

The Eagles took an early 3-0 lead on a 49-yard field goal by Britton Williams with 4:20 to play in the first quarter. Gardner-Webb held the ball for more than five minutes to start the quarter, but stalled out near midfield.

The Runnin' Bulldogs responded on its next drive, with Fisher hitting T.J. Luther over the middle for a 41-yard score with just 51 seconds left in the quarter.

Georgia Southern seized control of the game just before the half, scoring 10 points in the final four minutes to go up 20-6 at the break.

Gardner-Webb's defense buckled down in the third quarter, stopping Georgia Southern's initial drive on fourth down and halting the Eagles again on their second march of the half. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs finally pulled closer, using a double pass that saw Fisher hit Justin Franklin behind the line – and the freshman receiver threw a strike to a wide open Justin Jordan for a 50-yard score that trimmed the Eagles' lead to 20-12 with 5:54 to play in the third.

The score remained the same until early in the fourth quarter.

Georgia Southern's ground game churned down inside the 10-yard line, but Janathian Turner broke through the line for a tackle in the backfield to force a field goal. Williams connected on his third three-pointer of the night for a 23-12 edge.

Gardner-Webb continued to hang around, and pulled closer midway through the fourth quarter with a six-play, 74-yard march down the field. Fisher found tight end Deland Thomas on a six-yard touchdown pass with 9:32 to play. The two-point try was off the mark and GWU trailed 23-18 with plenty of time left.

The Eagles responded after a facemark call on the kickoff return improved field position significantly. Logan Wright banged in from eight yards out six plays later to cap a 58-yard drive and give the home team a 30-18 lead with 6:32 to play.

Fisher wasn't done, ripping accurate passes all over the field to get Gardner-Webb going again. After Donovan Jones sprinted up the middle for a 19-yard gain – down to the Georgia Southern 21-yard line – Fisher hit Franklin on a 12-yard gain and found the freshman again three plays later on a perfect fade for a seven-yard touchdown.

The extra point cut the lead to 30-25 with 2:59 to play in the game.

Gardner-Webb's defense forced a three-and-out quickly on the ensuing series and Georgia Southern punted the ball away with only 23 seconds melting off the clock.

Fisher zipped a 17-yard pass to Franklin on second down, Narii Gaither bulled eight yards for another first down and Jones converted a short gain into a first down at the Georgia Southern 29 with just over a minute to go.

The Eagles' pass rush caused problems from there, with a pressure, two sacks and a run for no gain ending the drive with 10 seconds left. Georgia Southern took a knee to end the game from there.

Georgia Southern finished the game with 500 yards of total offense, with 365 yards coming on the ground. That led to 35:49 in time of possession, which kept the ball away from Gardner-Webb's explosive passing attack.

Wright ran 26 times for 178 yards and Amare Jones had 98 yards on 19 carries. Jones also passed for 45 yards. Freshman Cam Ransom came on at quarterback to complete eight passes for 90 yards and a score for the Eagles, but was not as effective running the option.

Fisher's passing led Gardner-Webb's offense, which converted 7-of-12 third down chances and averaged 6.6 yards per play. The 'Dogs scored touchdowns on both of its trips inside the red zone.

Gardner-Webb's new corps of receivers was spectacular. Luther caught six passes for 164 yards and a score, averaging 27.3 yards per catch. Franklin caught six balls for 72 yards and a touchdown and Thomas also caught six passes for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Justin Jordan finished with five catches for 74 yards and a long touchdown. Narii Gaither and Quayvon Skanes also caught passes on the night.

Gardner-Webb's defense, which was on the field for 85 snaps, got 11 tackles from William McRainey, nine from Malachi Buckner and Ty French and eight each from Shai Thomas and Jamari Brown.

Turner finished with six hits (four solo) and two tackles for loss to lead the defensive interior. Dameon Williams had six solo stops and a key pass break up from his cornerback spot.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road again next Saturday, traveling to face Charlotte (1-0) at 6:00 pm in the Queen City (ESPN3).