SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Gardner-Webb stormed back in the fourth quarter to knock off Bryant 45-44 in overtime on Saturday, Nov. 4.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs started strong, as Jayden Brown took the opening kick to the 42-yard line. After Jaylen King converted a fourth down deep in Bryant territory, he found Narii Gaither from six yards out for a touchdown pass, and Gardner-Webb took a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
 
After forcing a three-and-out on defense, Gardner-Webb once again took the ball down the field, this time 91-yards, as King powered his way to pay dirt from four yards out, extending the GWU advantage to 14-0.
 
Bryant put together a drive, but a pass break-up by Jimmy Bowdry forced the Bulldogs into a field goal situation, and GWU held a 14-3 lead with 8:28 left in the second quarter. After the field goal, Bryant forced a fumble on the ensuing Gardner-Webb possession. Bryant took advantage of the takeaway, as Zevi Eckhaus found Jalen Powell in the endzone to cut the GWU lead down to 14-10 with 5:28 left in the opening half.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs worked quickly on their next possession, and on third down, King evaded a sack, buying enough time to connect with Caleb Borders from 24 yards out to swell the GWU lead up to 21-10.
 
On the next Bryant possession, William McRainey tipped an Eckhaus pass into the hands of Brendan Jackson, who set the Runnin' Bulldog offense up deep in Bryant territory. Jay Billingsley nailed the 42-yard field goal, and Gardner-Webb took a 24-10 lead into halftime.
 
Bryant got their offense going in the opening drive of the second half, as the Bulldogs went on a six-play, 75-yard drive, with Fabrice Mukendi punctuating the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, cutting the Gardner-Webb lead down to 24-17 with 12:07 left in the third quarter. Bryant went on another long drive later in the period, but a pass break-up by Jamari Brown forced a field goal attempt by Bryant that sailed right, keeping GWU ahead by seven.
 
On the next Gardner-Webb possession, Bryant forced their second fumble of the afternoon, taking over at the GWU 45-yard line. Eckhaus found Anthony Frederick from 22 yards out, and Bryant tied the game at 24-24 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
 
Gardner-Webb took the ball down to the Bryant 40-yard line, but Bryant stopped GWU on fourth down. Bryant scored for the third time in as many second possessions, as Eckhaus found Matthew Proschka for a 33-yard touchdown, and Bryant went on top 31-24 with 2:13 left in the third quarter.
 
Bryant stopped Gardner-Webb and took the ball all the way down to the GWU 16-yard line. The Runnin' Bulldogs forced another field goal for the Bulldogs, which went wide right again, keeping the score 31-24 in favor of Bryant with 11:08 left in the game. On the next drive for Gardner-Webb, Robert Crockett III picked off King and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, pushing Bryant ahead 38-24.
 
GWU finally put together a drive in the second half, converting two fourth downs and marching 82 yards down the field, as King powered into the endzone from three yards out, and Gardner-Webb cut the Bryant lead down to 38-31 with 4:06 remaining in the game. Gardner-Webb forced a three-and-out, and got the ball to the Bryant 29 yard-line with 2:16 left in the game.
 
After a late hit on King by Bryant pushed GWU to the nine yard-line, Gardner-Webb found themselves at the one yard-line on fourth and goal. Gino English powered in for a touchdown, and GWU tied the game at 38 apiece with 18 seconds left in the game. Bryant only gained eight yards on their final pass in regulation, and the two squads headed to overtime.
 
Bryant took possession first in overtime, and Eckhaus fired an eight-yard pass to Konor Lathrop to give Bryant a 44-38 lead. The Bulldogs elected to go for two, and McRainey knocked down the pass to keep it a six-point game.
 
On the first play of Gardner-Webb's possession, Jayden Brown rushed up the middle 21 yards to get the Runnin' Bulldogs down to the three-yard line. English found AJ Johnson in the endzone to tie the game, and Billingsley's extra point gave Gardner-Webb the 45-44 victory.
 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The win is Gardner-Webb's first overtime win since Mar. 6, 2021, a 31-24 win over Presbyterian. GWU is now 8-8 all-time in overtime.
• With his touchdown reception in the first quarter, Narii Gaither is now the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions by a running back. Gaither now has nine touchdown catches, passing Philip Keefe (1992-95) for the record.
• With 89 rushing yards, Narii Gaither now has 3,042 career rushing yards, becoming just the second player in program history to rush for 3,000 yards. Darrell Middleton (1986-89) is the only player in program history with more rushing yards in their career (4,032).
• With 24 receiving yards, Gaither now has 840 receiving yards in his career, also passing Philip Keefe for the school record for the most receiving yards by a running back.

 
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb travels to Cookeville, Tenn. for their final road game of the season against Tennessee Tech. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM eastern/1:30 PM central on Saturday, Nov. 11.