RICHMOND, Ky. – Gardner-Webb ran for 405 yards and used a 21-0 burst in the third quarter to push through Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the 2022 FCS Playoffs.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-5) made the most of their first apperance in the event and advance to play at No. 5 William & Mary next Saturday (December 3) at 2:00 pm.

"I told our guys in the locker room this is a special group," said Tre Lamb. "Those type of teams don't come along very often. I could coach another 30 years and not have a group this special. Those guys bought in. We gave them something to buy into. I've never been around a group that loves each other as much as those kids do. It's pretty remarkable."

Narii Gaither rumbled for nearly 150 yards in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 245 yards and two scores on 28 carries Saturday. Bailey Fisher added 88 yards and three rushing touchdowns on seven carries and completed 14-of-20 passes for 118 yards and another touchdown.

Jayden Brown added 77 yards and a touchdown for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who rambled for 32 first downs and punted just three times in the game. GWU finished with 523 yards of total offense.

Gaither was the star early and often, carrying the rock often on a 65-yard drive to open the scoring. His 28-yard sprint with 11:43 to play put the Runnin' Bulldogs up quickly.

Eastern Kentucky (7-5) responded with a 27-yard pass from Parker McKinney to Jaden Smith after a long kickoff return to tie the game, but Fisher responded by directing Gardner-Webb on a 12-play, 67-yard drive after both teams exchanged punts. The Big South Conference Player of the Year dove in from 10 yards out for a 14-7 edge with 1:04 to play in the first.

The Colonels tied the score gain, this time on a McKinney slant to Cornelius McCoy that covered 69 yards with 44 seconds left in the quarter. Not to be outdone, Gardner-Webb got a long kickoff return from Brown and used a 42-yard scoring run from Gaither with no time on the clock to go back in front.

The two teams traded short field goals midway through the second quarter and McKinney found Smith gain from nine yards out to tie the score with 6:04 to go before halftime.

Gardner-Webb responded quickly, going 61 yards on just six plays to take the lead for good. Brown exploded on a 16-yard scoring dash to the left side with 2:44 to play before halftime for a 31-24 lead and the GWU defense held the Colonels to a field goal just before the break for a 31-27 lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs got a key defensive stop near midfield to begin the third quarter and – after an EKU punt – went 81 yards to extend the lead. Fisher threw his lone touchdown pass of the night, hitting TJ Luther on a fade route from 12 yards away for a 38-27 edge with 11:20 to play in the period.

Another stop and score exchange pushed the lead to 45-27 when Fisher scrambled for 12 yards and another touchdown with 6:42 to play in the quarter. That march covered 67 yards in just five plays. A big sack on third down by Willie Harris and Ty French gave Gardner-Webb the ball back late in the third, and Fisher struck again – this time from 16 yards out – for a 52-27 lead at the 2:03 mark.

Eastern Kentucky scored early in the fourth quarter to get closer, but McKinney's two-point conversion pass was picked off in the end zone and Jamari Brown picked off a pass in the end zone later in the quarter to thwart a potential scoring chance.

Two onsides kicks failed and McKinney's touchdown pass and two-pointer with 1:02 to play in the game were of little consequence as Gardner-Webb took a knee to run out the clock from there.

In addition to the big day rushing, Gardner-Webb got five catches for 62 yards from Luther and three catches for 33 yards from tight end Jonathan Burns. GWU rushed for 156 yards in the first quarter and gained 160 yards on the ground in the decisive third quarter.

Eastern Kentucky finished with 498 yards of total offense, with nearly 200 coming in the fourth quarter. The Colonels ran for just 44 yards on 22 carries.

Josiah Wright was active at safety, collecting nine solo hits to lead Gardner-Webb's defense. French finished with seven hits, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack and was in the backfield often. Brown had six tackles, two pass break ups and a pick and Raequan Ousley broke up three passes. Harris finished with 1.5 sacks from his end position and had a pair of quarterback hurries.

McKinney was 37-of-57 for 454 yards, five touchdowns and an interception and was sacked twice. McCoy finished with 155 yards on six catches and Smith had 123 yards on nine grabs.

Matthew Jackson led EKU with nine tackles and two tackles for loss.