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Gardner-Webb Named FedEx Ground National FCS Team of the Week
November 21, 2022 | Football
BOILING SPRINGS – Stats Perform named Gardner-Webb its FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week following a 38-17 win over North Carolina A&T Saturday afternoon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-5, 5-0 Big South) won their first Big South football title since 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history.
Head coach Tre Lamb's team erased a 14-10 deficit midway through the second quarter, racing to 21 unanwered points to seize control of the game. Narii Gaither ran for 107 yards in the win and scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to put his team up 31-14.
Gaither's two-yard run with 4:40 to play before halftime capped a short drive set up by a turnover and his 20-yard sprint with 11:56 to play in the third quarter set the stage for a terrific result.
Jayden Brown also scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 93 yards in the win. His one-yard plunge with 9:30 to play effectively put the game out of reach – as Gardner-Webb's defense did the rest to close out the game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs ran for 240 yards in the game as a team against an Aggies defense that came in ranked No. 6 nationally against the run. Those 240 rushing yards were more than any other team gained all season against North Carolina A&T – more than North Dakota State or Duke – in September games.
Gardner-Webb's defense was impressive as well, suffocating a strong Aggies' ground game for much of the day. When the final horn sounded, GWU held A&T to just 87 yards on the ground – with 61 coming on one play. That snapped a nine-game streak with at least 125 yards on the ground for the Aggies and set the stage for a dominant last 35 minutes of play.
William McRainey led the way with 10 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble – which he also recovered.
The Shalotte, N.C., junior was also named honorable mention FCS National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts by Stats Perform.
Brown, who totaled 136 all-purpose yards in the win to go with his two scores, was named honorable mention FCS National Freshman of the Week on Monday by Stats Perform.
Gardner-Webb opens the 2022 FCS Playoffs on Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 pm in Richmond, Ky., against Eastern Kentucky University. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and air live on WGNC Radio 1450 AM / 101.1 FM.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-5, 5-0 Big South) won their first Big South football title since 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history.
Head coach Tre Lamb's team erased a 14-10 deficit midway through the second quarter, racing to 21 unanwered points to seize control of the game. Narii Gaither ran for 107 yards in the win and scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to put his team up 31-14.
Gaither's two-yard run with 4:40 to play before halftime capped a short drive set up by a turnover and his 20-yard sprint with 11:56 to play in the third quarter set the stage for a terrific result.
Jayden Brown also scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 93 yards in the win. His one-yard plunge with 9:30 to play effectively put the game out of reach – as Gardner-Webb's defense did the rest to close out the game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs ran for 240 yards in the game as a team against an Aggies defense that came in ranked No. 6 nationally against the run. Those 240 rushing yards were more than any other team gained all season against North Carolina A&T – more than North Dakota State or Duke – in September games.
Gardner-Webb's defense was impressive as well, suffocating a strong Aggies' ground game for much of the day. When the final horn sounded, GWU held A&T to just 87 yards on the ground – with 61 coming on one play. That snapped a nine-game streak with at least 125 yards on the ground for the Aggies and set the stage for a dominant last 35 minutes of play.
William McRainey led the way with 10 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble – which he also recovered.
The Shalotte, N.C., junior was also named honorable mention FCS National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts by Stats Perform.
Brown, who totaled 136 all-purpose yards in the win to go with his two scores, was named honorable mention FCS National Freshman of the Week on Monday by Stats Perform.
Gardner-Webb opens the 2022 FCS Playoffs on Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 pm in Richmond, Ky., against Eastern Kentucky University. The game will stream live on ESPN+ and air live on WGNC Radio 1450 AM / 101.1 FM.
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