THE GAME
Gardner-Webb will face its second-straight conference contender on Saturday night, hosting No. 16 Mercer at 6:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The contest will stream live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com) with Phil Constantino and former Penn State Nittany Lion Reginald Walker, Jr., on the call. The game will also air live on WGNC Radio 1450 AM/101.1 FM with Dave Friedman and Mike Pacheco in the booth.

DAWG WALK
Gardner-Webb fans are encouraged to arrive early on campus Saturday for tailgating and to participate in the Dawg Walk as members of the football team make their way from pregame meal at Tucker Student Center down to the locker room. The route begins at the Student Center's back patio. As the football team makes its way to the stadium, fans are encouraged to line the route, beginning on the sidewalk leading from the back of Tucker. The Marching Bulldogs will play for the celebration.

SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Mercer have never met in football ... The Bears' program restarted in 2013 as a member of the Pioneer League and posted the best debut season in Division I football history (10-2 record) ... Both schools were all-sports members of the Atlantic Sun Conference from 2002 until Gardner-Webb moved into the Big South in 2008.

FAMILIAR FACES
Despite never playing before in football, the two programs are familiar with one another. Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb worked as an assistant coach for the Bears under his uncle Bobby Lamb from 2014-2017. GWU defensive coordinator Josh Reardon worked on the Mercer staff as a defensive backs coach in 2017, running backs coach Dominique Davenport worked at Mercer from 2012-2017 (corners) and linebackers coach Mike Gray played safety for the Bears from 2013-2016 (180 career tackles). Mercer head coach Drew Cronic is familiar with the Lamb family, having worked under Bobby Lamb at Furman during a nine-year stint with the Paladins. The Bears Director of Football Operations, Bennett Houston, coached receivers and handled operations responsibilities in 2019 at Gardner-Webb and Mercer receivers coach La'Donte Harris worked in the same role at Gardner-Webb from 2013-2016. Mercer receiver and return man Devron Harper played at Gardner-Webb from 2019-2021


RED ZONE 'D'
Gardner-Webb's defense has been stellar at keeping teams out of the end zone when pressed inside its own 20-yard line this season. Opponents are converting just 57 percent of their red zone chances into touchdowns, scoring only four in seven trips. Gardner-Webb has allowed one field goal as well for a 71 percent overall effort protecting its red zone.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS
The Runnin' Bulldogs have been successful on each side of the ball on third down, converting 48 percent of the time offensively (19-of-40) and limiting opponents to a frigid 27 percent on the other side (10-of-37). 

GEORGIA SCHOOLS
Gardner-Webb's last win vs. a Division I team from the Peach State came at home on November 3, 2007 in a 66-0 win over Savannah State. GWU's last win over a team from Georgia overall also came at home in a 42-14 win over Division II Shorter on a rainy October 7, 2017. Gardner-Webb was 0-2 vs. the state last season, falling 30-25 at FBS Georgia Southern in the opener and losing a 34-31 heartbreaker in the final seconds at No. 10 Kennesaw State on October 30.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb is the second-youngest skipper in Division I football at age 33. He is 7-11 in his brief tenure, with three of those losses coming to 85-scholarship FBS programs. Drew Cronic is a 61-16 for his seven-year career as a college head coach with stops at Reinhardt (Ga.), Lenoir-Rhyne and Mercer. Cronic, a 1998 Georgia graduate, is 14-10 during his three years with the nationally-ranked Bears.

DEEP THREAT
Gardner-Webb's TJ Luther leads the nation with an average of 30.0 yards per catch through three games and has posted three 100-yard receiving games during his brief time in Boiling Springs. He had 188 yards through the air in the narrow loss at Coastal Carolina (9/10) and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass to give GWU a halftime lead at Elon (9/17). The Wofford transfer is familiar with Mercer after turning two catches into 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns vs. the Bears in 2018. He had six catches for 195 yards and those two scores in three career matchups with Mercer from 2018-2020.

RECORD BALANCE
In just two games this season, Gardner-Webb has smashed its 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 did not play at Elon.

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 had a half sack at Coastal Carolina (9/10) and added another sack at Elon (9/17).

TIGHT SQUEEZE
Gardner-Webb has been close to breaking the door down in the column over the past two seasons, with six of its nine losses coming by just one possession. Two of those losses came last season in double overtime in back-to-back weeks. Gardner-Webb has seen each of its last five losses come by one possession, including nailbiters this season at FBS Coastal Carolina and CAA contender Elon.

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)

THE PEACH CURTAIN
All four starters, and six of the eight defensive linemen on Gardner-Webb's two-deep, hail from the Peach State. Three of those standouts are among the team's top four tacklers so far, with Buck Buchanan Award candidate and All-America end Ty French (6-3, 230, Jr.) of Colquitt County (Ga.) High among that group. Tackles Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, R-Sr.) from Towers (Ga.) High in Atlanta and Charlie Jackson (6-4, 323, Jr.) of Monroe Area (Ga.) High each had nine tackles at Elon. Defensive ends Brice Bass (6-4, 250, Jr.) of Stockbridge (Ga.) High, Willie Harris (6-1, 274, So.) of Bleckley County (Ga.) High and Nick Hunter (6-5, 210, So.) also factor heavily into the rotation.

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 FISH
Quarterback Bailey Fisher is one of the top men at his position in the country, evidenced by his appearance in the top-10 of 12 different offensive categories among the NCAA FCS active career leaders. Fisher is second on the list of players with at least 4,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing – accumulating 7,712 yards through the air and 1,045 yards on the ground. Fisher ranks in the top-25 in all of Division I (FBS/FCS) in eight different offensive categories.

FRENCH CONNECTION
Defensive end Ty French also ranks highly among active career leaders in the FCS, ranking second in the subdivision in tackles for loss per game (1.44) and ranking fourth in total sacks per game (0.82). French ranks 10th among all Division I active career leaders (FBS/FCS) in TFL per game. He also ranks 15th in forced fumbles per 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.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS
The Runnin' Bulldogs have been successful on each side of the ball on third down, converting 48 percent of the time offensively (19-of-40) and limiting opponents to a frigid 27 percent on the other side (10-of-37). 

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.

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 embark on a four-game road swing that will have the Runnin' Bulldogs away from Spangler Stadium until Homecoming on October 29. Those games include tilts at Marshall (Oct. 1), Robert Morris (Oct. 8), Liberty (Oct. 15) and Charleston Southern (Oct. 22). Kickoff time next week at Marshall is set for 3:30 pm (ESPN+).