BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb tied a school-record with eight rushing touchdowns and cruised to a 56-21 win over Limestone Thursday night in the 2022 season opener.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-0) ran for 412 yards on 57 carries – its most ground yardage since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000. The lead was 28-0 by the end of the first quarter and grew to 42-7 by halftime.

Janiero Crankfield scored three times, Bailey Fisher scored twice and Narii Gaither, Donovan Jones and Matthew Caldwell each scored one touchdown in the win. Gaither played just one half, racing for 137 yards on just 13 carries.

Crankfield, a redshirt freshman, carried nine times for 89 yards and his three scores, while Fisher (5-64) and Jones (5-61) each had effective nights on the ground.

Gardner-Webb scored on an 11-play, 72-yard drive to open the game, with Fisher capping the march from seven yards away. Gaither followed soon after with a one-yard run, then Cranfield and Fisher scored on short runs for a 28-0 lead.

Limestone got on the board when Mikey Jones caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback John Seter with 11:52 to play before intermission, but Crankfield and Jones scored for Gardner-Webb to put the home team up 42-7 by halftime.

Caldwell scored on a keeper midway through the third period and Crankfield rounded out Gardner-Webb's scoreboard assault with a 21-yard run with 1:25 to play in the quarter for a 56-14 lead.

Limestone scored on a 15-yard pass from Seter to Tre Stewart on the first play of the fourth quarter and Gardner-Webb took a knee deep inside Saints territory to run out the clock late.

Gardner-Webb finished with 37 first downs and 642 yards of total offense on 89 plays Thursday night – just the second home game on a Thursday in program history. Nine different Runnin' Bulldogs had a carry in the game and 13 men caught at least one pass.

Caldwell came off the bench to complete 12-of-15 balls for 137 yards and Fisher went 11-of-15 for 85 yards through the air. Tight end Anthony Herock caught four passes for 32 yards and had a touchdown reception called back. Justin Franklin caught three passes for 71 yards, including a 46-yarder to set up a touchdown.

Defensively, Gardner-Webb saw the field for just 59 plays. Cornerback Raequan Ousley had six tackles, a fumble recovery on special teams and two pass break ups. Tyler Arrington also had six hits and Josiah Wright had five.

Limestone had 216 of its 347 offensive yards after halftime, as Gardner-Webb went to a heavy dose of reserves over the final 30 minutes. The Saints had just 76 yards rushing on 23 carries, with Stewart carrying 11 times for 81 yards – and catching four passes for 40 yards.

Seter was effective against Gardner-Webb's reserves, coming off the bench to complete 20-of-32 passes for 259 yards and a pair of scores. Jones led the receiving corps, hauling in seven balls for 115 yards and a touchdown. Anthony McAfee scored on a short run as well for the Saints.

Ahmond Glass and Charlie Blazi led the Limestone defense with seven hits.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road next weekend, traveling to Conway, S.C., to face former Big South foe Coastal Carolina. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm on ESPN+.