BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (4-3, 2-1) football team dropped a 37-7 contest against UT Martin (3-5, 3-1) on Saturday afternoon at Spangler Stadium.

In his first start at Gardner-Webb, redshirt junior Cole Pennington completed 18-of-31 passes for 236 yards. Redshirt sophomore Chris Lofton led the receiving corps with a team-high six catches and 130 yards. Redshirt junior running back Carson Gresock posted the only rushing score of the game for GWU.

Redshirt junior linebacker Jackson Marshall anchored the defense with 11 tackles to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss. Redshirt sophomore Cahari Haynes added 10 total tackles.

UT Martin wasted no time building a comfortable lead after taking the opening kickoff and going 56 yards on 18 plays before a 37-yard field goal put the first points on the board. The Skyhawks followed that up with a long drive of 72 yards, capped by a receiving touchdown from Dazalin Worsham.

The scoring continued after UTM took advantage of a Gardner-Webb turnover, scoring just two plays later for a 17-0 lead before another field goal off the foot of Cade Hechter pushed the margin to 20-0 with less than five minutes in the first half.

After the Skyhawks posted a field goal in the third, Gardner-Webb was finally able to put points on the board following a 7-play, 83-yard scoring drive that included 71 yards through the air. Lofton hauled in a 36-yard pass before Gresock finished the drive off with a direct-snap touchdown run from two yards out.

However, a penalty-aided drive for UT Martin on its next possession allowed the Skyhawks to extend their lead to 30-7 with 6:52 remaining in the game. A final touchdown run of 66 yards by UTM's Chris Franklin pushed the score its final margin, 37-7.

The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, October 25, making a trip to St. Charles, Mo. To take on Lindenwood. Game time is set for 3 p.m. EST. That contest is set to be aired on ESPN+.