CHARLESTON, Ill. – Redshirt junior Carson Gresock ripped off a season-high 137 yards on six carries to go along with a pair of scores, leading the Gardner-Webb (4-2, 2-0) football team to a 21-10 win at Eastern Illinois (3-3, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon.
Graduate quarterback Nate Hampton produced a solid effort after completing 14-of-22 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Hampton added 33 yards on the ground. On the receiving end of the lone passing touchdown was graduate Quasean Holmes, who finished the contest with 97 all-purpose yards, including 83 on the ground.
Graduate Anthony Lowe led the receiving corps with a game-high six catches and 93 yards while junior Jabre Bevineau added three receptions for 49 yards. Redshirt sophomore Cahari Haynes anchored a stingy defense with eight stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. In total, Gardner-Webb tallied a season-best eight sacks.
The Runnin' Bulldogs amassed 446 yards of total offense with more than half (251) coming on the ground while EIIU finished the game with only 229 yards on 72 plays, a 3.2 average per play.
After forcing a turnover on downs for the Panthers, Gardner-Webb wasted no time earning the early advantage, marching 59 yards on eight plays, capped by a 14-yard receiving touchdown by Holmes.
Eastern Illinois was aided by a roughing the passer call on 3rd-and-18 that gave the Panthers a fresh set of downs before taking the ball down to the GWU 32-yard line. However, a penalty against EIU stalled the drive while forcing another punt.
Gardner-Webb quickly doubled its lead on the next possession after Gresock found paydirt for the first of two times, racing up the middle for a 64-yard rushing touchdown. Gresock was at it again minutes later, this time breaking a 55-yard run for a score to give the Dawgs a 21-0 lead. Eastern Illinois posted a field goal late in the half but trailed by three scores heading into halftime.
Scoring was at a premium in the second half as Eastern Illinois trimmed the deficit to 21-10 following a 2-play, 19-yard drive that was set up by a 29-yard punt return by Cooper Willman.
However, that would be the last points of the game as Gardner-Webb held on for its second consecutive OVC/Big South win in a row.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, October 18 as they play host to the Skyhawks of UT Martin inside Spangler Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
