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.