Gardner-Webb Falls in Road Contest at ECU

Saturday, September 23

Greenville, NC

6:00 PM

Gardner-Webb University

1-3 , 0-1

East Carolina

1-3 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Gardner-Webb	0	0	0	0	0
East Carolina	13	10	7	14	44

Photo by: © Kobi Everett Photo

September 23, 2023 | Football

Box Score

Runnin' Bulldogs shutout for first time since 2018

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb mustered just 107 yards of total offense, falling to ECU 44-0 on a rainy Saturday night.

East Carolina (1-3) got on the board first, taking advantage of a short punt, with Alex Flinn finding Rahjai Harris for a nine-yard touchdown pass to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. After another short Gardner-Webb (1-3, 0-1 Big South-OVC) punt, ECU went 45-yards in 5:06, culminating in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Harris to swell the Pirate lead to 13-0.

After a Runnin' Bulldog fumble, Ty French recorded a sack on third and long, forcing an ECU field goal attempt. The sack gives French 27.5 for his career, passing Jason Burns (1988-1991) for the second-most career sacks in program history. Andrew Conrad nailed the field goal to give East Carolina a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

The Pirates got another chance at the endzone, scooping up a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving ECU field position at the Gardner-Webb 14 yard-line. Mason Garcia pounded the ball into the endzone, and East Carolina went on top 23-0 at halftime.

Another fumble by the Runnin' Bulldogs gave ECU a short field in the third quarter, but GWU forced the Pirates to attempt a 45-yard field goal in the swirling wind, which missed wide left. East Carolina added to their tally, as Kamarro Edmonds capped off an eight-play, 64-yard drive, finding pay dirt with an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Pirates ahead 30-0.

Javious Bond added a five-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter for ECU, and Edmonds slid into the endzone with a one-yard run at the end of the quarter, giving ECU a 44-0 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The 30 yards passing by GWU are the lowest for the Runnin' Bulldogs since Tre Lamb took over as head coach prior to the 2021 spring season
It is the first time Gardner-Webb has been shut out since Nov. 10, 2018, a 16-0 loss to Charleston Southern
With two receptions, Narii Gaither passed Philip Keefe for the most career pass receptions by a running back in Gardner-Webb history. Gaither now has 89 career receptions
Gaither had 45 yards rushing, moving him to 2,802 career rushing yards, only the second player in program history to rush for at least 2,800 yards in their GWU career.
The five GWU turnovers are the most since the Runnin' Bulldogs turned the ball over six times at #5 William & Mary on Dec. 3, 2022
Jaylen King finished with 35 yards rushing on 12 attempts in his first appearance at quarterback

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will have a bye week next Saturday before hosting Robert Morris in a Big South-OVC matchup. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM from Spangler Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7. Fans can purchase tickets to the contest at gwusports.com.