CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University football team kicks off the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30 with a trip to face the Catamounts of Western Carolina. This marks the 12th meeting all time between the two programs. Western Carolina leads the all-time series 6-5, but Gardner-Webb picked up a 52-34 win in the last meeting on September 25, 2021.
Gardner-Webb, in its second season with head coach Cris Reisert, look to improve on a 4-8 overall and 3-5 league mark from a season ago. The Runnin' Bulldogs return seven starters on offense and five on the defensive side of the ball.
Among the returners on offense is wide receiver Anthony Lowe, who led the Dawgs with 523 yards on 40 catches. He also provided three touchdowns. The backfield returns Carson Gresock and Quasean Holmes who combined for more than 800 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defensively, Gardner-Webb returns a big presence on the line as Antonio O'Berry and Robert Holtz combined for 15.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Jackson Marshall contributed three sacks and 7.5 TFLs.
Western comes into the contest after a 2024 season that saw the Catamounts go 7-5 overall while earning a 6-2 mark in SoCon action, including wins over ranked opponents in Elon and Chattanooga.
Quarterback Taron Dickens will lead the way for the Catamounts after being named a FCS Preseason All-American. Dickens completed 74% of his passes last year while throwing for more than 1,400 yards.
Dickens will have several weapons in the passing game, including returning receivers AJ Colombo and Malik Knight. Colombo hauled in 61 passes for a team-leading 590 yards and five scores last season while Knight added 392 yards through the air.
The Catamounts also return the bulk of its backfield as Branson Adams rushed for 771 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Western Carolina is led by Hayward McQueen Jr. McQueen tallied 61 total tackles to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Joining him on the defense is Samaurie Dukes, who finished with 55 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
