COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Gardner-Webb (5-4, 3-2) football team nearly missed a top 10 upset as the Runnin' Bulldogs came up just short versus No. 8 Tennessee Tech (9-0, 6-0) on Saturday afternoon at Tucker Stadium.
Graduate running back Quasean Holmes totaled 130 yards on the ground while junior back Carson Gresock added to his team-leading rush touchdowns with two more against the Golden Eagles.
The Runnin' Bulldogs raced out to a 14-3 lead, the largest deficit of the season for Tennessee Tech, following one scoring drive each in the first two quarters of play, Gresock punching the ball over the goal line on both series while giving GWU a 14-10 halftime lead.
However, following a scoreless third period for both teams, Tennessee Tech scored the first 17 points of the fourth quarter, giving the Golden Eagles a two-score lead with 7:47 remaining in the game.
Redshirt junior quarterback Cole Pennington found graduate receiver Anthony Lowe for a 24-yard passing touchdown, trimming the deficit to 27-21 before the Dawgs defense forced TTU into a punt on its next series.
Unfortunately, that drive was stalled after a failed fourth down conversion attempt as Tennessee Tech kneeled on the ball to exhaust the remainder of the clock, securing the win.
Pennington finished with 167 yards through the air on 16-of-28 passing while Lowe hauled in three catches for 50 yards and a score.
Gardner-Webb returns to Spangler Stadium on Saturday, November 8, playing host to Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
