Gardner-Webb Rolls To 48-0 Win At Robert Morris In Big South Conference Opener

Saturday, October 8

Moon Township, PA

12:00 PM

Gardner-Webb University

2-4 , 1-0

Robert Morris

0-5 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Gardner-Webb	7	13	14	14	48
Robert Morris	0	0	0	0	0

Gardner-Webb Rolls To 48-0 Win At Robert Morris In Big South Conference Opener

October 08, 2022 | Football

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MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Gardner-Webb ran for 306 yards and dominated early and often Saturday afternoon, racing to a 48-0 win at Robert Morris in both teams' Big South Conference opener.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-4, 1-0 Big South) posted its first shutout in league play since November 13,, 2004 at Charleston Southern (18-0) and welcomed back All-America running back and Big South Player of the Year Narii Gaither for the first time in four games.

Gardner-Webb's offensive starters played less than three full quarters in the win.

Gaither was effective, leading the ground game with 106 yards rushing on just 11 carries, and added an 11-yard catch. Jayden Brown added a career-high 85 yards and two scores on 10 carries and seven different GWU runners had carries in the game.

Bailey Fisher completed 20-of-24 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns – and ran for another – to power a Gardner-Webb offense that produced 574 total yards and 27 first downs. TJ Luther was the top target, catching six balls for 124 yards and a long touchdown. Karim Page and Cutrell Haywood each caught four passes.

Fisher's four-yard keeper with 9:20 to play in the first quarter on Gardner-Webb's first drive took the lid off and his four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Deland Thomas with 11:59 to play before halftime gave Gardner-Webb a 14-0 lead.

Fisher hit Luther soon after, connecting on a 62-yard touchdown for a 20-0 lead with 10:10 to play before intermission. Gardner-Webb marched 75 yards on 16 plays to open the second half and Fisher connected with Haywood on a nine-yard touch pass for a 27-0 lead at the 8:10 mark.

Brown took over from there, scoring on a seven-yard run with 5:41 to play in the third and darting 41 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 41-0 edge. Matthew Caldwell kept on a read option play from one-yard out with 5:00 left in the game for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb's defense was dominant throughout, limiting the Colonials (0-5, 0-1 Big South) to just 12 first downs, 177 total offense yards and 76 yards on the ground. Robert Morris was sacked six times and coughed up three turnovers while averaging just 3.0 yards per play.

William McRainey led the defensive charge for Gardner-Webb, collecting 10 total tackles (nine solo). He has 24 total hits combined over the past two games.

All-America end Ty French finished five total tackles (four solo), 2.0 sacks and a quarterback hurry and Willie Harris posted 2.5 sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries. Honus Wagner also had a sack in the win and forced a fumble.

AJ Thomas and Raequan Ousley each had interceptions and Salik McRae recovered Wagner's forced fumble.

Gardner-Webb will step out of Big South Conference play for the last time next weekend, traveling to face Liberty at 3:30 pm on Saturday, October 15 in Lynchburg, Va. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and will air live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM (TuneIn App) with Dave Friedman and Reginald Walker, Jr.