THE GAME
Gardner-Webb heads back north to open the 2022 Big South Conference season, traveling to Robert Morris for a Noon kickoff on Saturday, October 8 in Moon Township, Pa. The game will stream live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com) with Doug Shovlin and Ray Thomas on the call. Dave Friedman and Reginald Walker, Jr., will call the game on WGNC1450 AM / 101.1 FM (TuneIn Radio App) as well.
SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series 1-0 after defeating Robert Morris on October 23, 2021 in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium ... The Runnin' Bulldogs defense recorded six sacks in that game and forced five turnovers in a 28-17 victory on Homecoming weekend ... GWU led 21-0 early on and led 21-7 at the half ... Saturday will mark Gardner-Webb's first visit to the Pittsburgh area since playing at Pitt on September 22, 2012 (L, 55-10).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Gardner-Webb will play a program-record seven road games this season, including four this month. The four-game road swing ties the longest in program history, with the previous set happening from September 12-October 17 in 2009. GWU went 2-2 that year with wins at Western Carolina and Charleston Southern sandwiching losses at NC State and Buffalo. Gardner-Webb will play at Marshall (10/1), at Robert Morris (10/8), at Liberty (10/15) and at Charleston Southern (10/22) before getting back home to play Bryant (10/29) in Spangler Stadium.
BIG SOUTH OPENERS
Gardner-Webb last won a Big South Conference opener on the road in 2010 at Charleston Southern ... GWU has opened league play on the road 13 times since 2002, including every season from 2002-2008 ... The Runnin' Bulldogs are 9-11 overall in Big South openers and 5-8 when opening Big South play away from home.
RESULTS IN BIG SOUTH OPENERS
Oct 5, 2002 - W, 31-21 at Liberty
Oct 4, 2003 - W, 38-17 at Coastal Carolina
Oct 2, 2004 - L, 17-9 at Liberty
Oct 15, 2005 - L, 34-31 at Coastal Carolina
Oct 21, 2006 - W, 27-24 at Liberty
Oct 20, 2007 - W, 36-32 at VMI
Oct 4, 2008 - L, 13-10 at Charleston Southern
Oct 17, 2009 - W, 27-20 vs. Charleston Southern
Oct 16, 2010 - W, 35-25 at Charleston Southern
Oct 8, 2011 - L, 35-3 vs. Liberty
Oct 6, 2012 - L, 42-35 at Liberty
Oct 12, 2013 - L, 42-7 at Coastal Carolina
Oct 25, 2014 - L, 34-0 at Liberty
Oct. 10, 2015 - W, 34-20 vs. Liberty
Oct 8, 2016 - W, 24-3 vs. Presbyterian
Oct 21, 2017 - L, 17-3 at Kennesaw State
Oct 13, 2018 - L, 56-17 vs. Kennesaw State
Oct 12, 2019 - W, 35-27 vs. Hampton
Apr 3, 2021 - L, 48-19 vs. Monmouth
Oct 2, 2022 - L, 54-17 at Monmouth
THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb is the second-youngest skipper in Division I football at age 33. He is 7-13 in his brief tenure, with four of those losses coming to 85-scholarship FBS programs. Bernard Clark, Jr., is in his fifth season as head coach at Robert Morris and has posted a 13-27 overall mark. Clark played for the legendary Miami (Fla.) teams in the late 1980s and was a third-round NFL draft pick in 1990 by the Cincinnati Bengals.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE LAND
Gardner-Webb's strength of schedule is tied with Harvard for the nation's toughest among FCS programs according to NCAA data for previous opponents. The five programs Gardner-Webb has played so far have combined to go 20-5 to date, winning at an 80.0 percent clip. Two – #12 Mercer and #14 Elon – are currently ranked in the FCS top-25 polls. Both Coastal Carolina and Marshall have received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Even Division II Limestone (4-1) is now receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll.
RECORD BALANCE
In its first two games this season, Gardner-Webb smashed Division I era single-game records for rushing yards and passing yards. The 'Dogs ran for 412 yards and eight touchdowns in its opening win over Limestone (9/1) and followed with a record 448 yards through the air in a 31-27 loss at Coastal Carolina (9/10).
THE MAYOR OF ROCK HILL
Gardner-Webb deploys one of the most talented offensive players in the country in Narii Gaither (5-10, 181, Sr.). The Rock HIll, S.C., native is a preseason FCS All-America choice as an all-purpose back and is one of only two men in the nation returning after leading his team in both rushing yards and receptions. Gaither, who nearly reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark last season despite playing in just eight full games, was also recently named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List – given annually to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He didn't disappoint in the season opener, churning out 137 yards and a score on just 13 carries – despite playing less than two full quarters. Gaither had just one carry for nine yards at Coastal, missing the final 65 snaps with an injury. He has not played since.
GREAT EIGHT
Gardner-Webb tied a school record with eight rushing touchdowns in its opening night win over Limestone (9/1) and did not pass for a touchdown for the first time since a February 27, 2021 win over No. 24 Elon during the spring season. Five different GWU players scored on the ground, with Janiero Crankfield (3) and Bailey Fisher (2) leading the way.
BONJOUR
Another star returning for Gardner-Webb plays defense and does so at a very high level. Defensive end Ty French (6-3, 234, Jr.) is a preseason FCS All-America choice, as well as one of the nation's most feared pass rushers. A disruptive force on the edge, the Moultrie, Ga., native had 14.5 tackles for loss last season and recorded 7.0 sacks over his final four starts of the season. A two-time, first-team All-Big South selection, French was recently named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Buchanan Award is given each season to the top defender in the Football Championship Subdivision. French has 3.5 sacks so far this season, collecting a pair to go with three hurries at Marshall (10/1).
TIGHT SQUEEZE
Gardner-Webb has been close to breaking the door down in the column over the past two seasons, with six of its 11 losses coming by just one possession. Two of those losses came last season in double overtime in back-to-back weeks. Gardner-Webb had a stretch of five-straight losses come by one possession, including nailbiters this season at FBS Coastal Carolina (31-27) and CAA contender Elon (30-24).
DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Gardner-Webb has four active ball carriers who has at least one touchdown run of 40 yards or more during their time in Boiling Springs – Narii Gaither (43 yards, TD), Donovan Jones (79 yards, TD), Jalin Graham (73 yards, TD) and Bailey Fisher (68 yards, TD)
TY ANDERSON
Linebacker Ty Anderson (6-1, 210, Fr.) was named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week and honorable mention FedEx Ground/Stats Perform National Freshman of the Week after a breakout game at Marshall (10/1). The Thomasville, Ga., native registered nine total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries for a defense that forced eight Marshall punts. Anderson also accounted for the game's lone score by Gardner-Webb, taking an interception back 45 yards for a touchdown that tied the game 7-7 near the end of the first quarter. Anderson is the third GWU Freshman of the Week selection by the Big South in five games, joining Janiero Crankfield (9/1) and Jay Billingsley (9/10).
PARTNERSHIP
The Big South Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) have created an association of their football member institutions, to begin with the 2023 NCAA Division I football season. The unique agreement combines the two conferences' football membership to ensure NCAA championship access. It will provide the football member institutions a schedule of games against all the teams in their home conference and additional games against schools from the other conference. This new model for FCS football also creates more stability for the multisport conferences.
BIG GAME
All-America end Ty French (6-3, 230, Jr.) had one of the best days of his career vs. Robert Morris last October 23, earning Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors after collecting nine total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss (minus-27), 3.0 sacks (minus-27), four quarterback pressures and two fumble recoveries. His strip sack in the end zone gave GWU a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. French and the GWU defense limited the Colonials to just five yards rushing.
HOLD THE LINE
Gardner-Webb's defense recorded 10 tackles for loss on Saturday at Marshall, paced by a hat trick from linebacker Brendan Jackson (6-2, 210, So.). GWU allowed just 66 yards rushing to the Thundering Herd in the first half of Saturday's game.
HIGHLY RATED
Gardner-Webb signed the two highest-rated recruits since the current rating system was implemented by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. Receiver AJ Johnson (6-3, 204, Fr.) was a four-star recruit and was selected for the Under Armour All-America Game. He was rated as one of the nation's top-20 receiver prospects. Linebacker Ty Anderson (6-1, 210, Fr.) was rated as highly as the No. 24 recruit at his position nationally. The duo combined for more than 20 Power 5 offers
BEST IN STATE
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
HELLO OLD FRIENDS
GWU will face one more former Big South Conference foe in 2022, traveling to Liberty (10/15) after facing off at Coastal Carolina (9/10) and Elon (9/17). Elon is now a member of the CAA, while Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) and Liberty (C-USA) compete in the FBS.
PRESEASON HONOR
Narii Gaither (5-10, 181, Sr.) was named Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in July, and is only the second Gardner-Webb man to earn that honor in league history. Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell was also named prior to the 2017 season after earning the postseason award in 2016. Gardner-Webb has seen seven men earn Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, including four consecutive between 2007 and 2010.
ELITE COMPANY
Gaither is one of only three backs to pace the Big South Conference in total rushing yards for two consecutive seasons, joining Liberty's Dre Barnes (2002-2003), Stony Brook's Miguel Maysonet (2010-2012) and Coastal Carolina's De'Angelo "Hop" Henderson (2014-2015) also accomplishing the feat. Maysonet is the only man to lead the league for three consecutive seasons.
THE GREAT NATE
Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, R-Sr.) has enjoyed a strong 2022 so far, posting 4.5 tackles for loss on the season to go with 33 total hits. He has recorded at least a half TFL in each of Gardner-Webb's five games this season.
A CUT ABOVE
Transfer Cutrell Haywood (6-0, 217, Gr.) joined the program in January from the University of Idaho and made a quick, strong impression. The Stockton, Calif., native totaled 145 receptions during his time with the Vandals, including a pair of 50-catch campaigns. He was an All-State choice at Stagg High, leading the entire state of California in yardage after catching 100 balls for 1,644 yards and 22 scores. He had 11 catches for 96 yards and a score at Coastal Carolina (9/10).
TACKLES AND BOOKS
All-Big South linebacker William McRainey (6-0, 219, Jr.) has started each game of his career so far and led the league, while ranking No. 15 nationally with 109 total tackles last season. The Shallotte, N.C., native earned 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and is an Academic All-America candidate again in 2022. McRainey had 14 hits at Marshall.
THE BIG MAN
Starting tackle Travis Burke (6-8, 285, R-Fr.) is the tallest man to start a game for Gardner-Webb since junior college transfer Alex Vega (6-8, 385) started for the Runnin' Bulldogs during the 1995 season. Other recent starters near that height – defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 245) in 2013 and tackle Corey O'Daniel (6-7, 345) in 2010 both earned All-Big South honors, with Riddick named FCS National Defensive Lineman of the Year.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will head to Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday to battle former Big South foe and current FBS Independent Liberty at 3:30 pm in Williams Stadium. The game will stream on ESPN+ and will air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM (TuneIn Radio App).
