BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb football team returns to the gridiron Saturday, September 13, playing host to The Citadel in the 2025 home opener.
GAME INFORMATION
Who – The Citadel (1-1, 1-0 SoCon) at Gardner-Webb (1-1. 0-0 OVC/Big South)
Time- 7 p.m.
Location- Spangler Stadium/Norm Harris Field | Boiling Springs, N.C.
Video- https://bit.ly/3Kk6For
Live Stats- https://bit.ly/4nxaS6Q
Digital Program- https://digitalprograms.learfield.com/gwu/football/14124
The Runnin' Bulldogs will play in front of their home crowd for the first time this season after opening the season with a win at Western Carolina before traveling to face Georgia Tech last weekend.
Saturday's contest marks the third overall meeting with Gardner-Webb and The Citadel with the Bulldogs from Charleston taking the first two games of the series, including a 31-24 victory in Boiling Springs on September 17, 2016. The first ever meeting came on September 27, 2014, with The Citadel taking that contest 37-14.
Under the leadership of second year head coach Cris Reisert, the Runnin' Bulldogs made a statement in the first game of the season after coming back from a 35-7 deficit to take down then No. 19 Western Carolina, 52-45.
Graduate quarterback Nate Hampton earned the start under center for the first two games, competing 18-of-39 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns. Backup Cole Pennington saw his first extended action of the year against Georgia Tech where he went 14-of-21 through the air for 164 yards and touchdown.
Senior wideout Anthony Lowe leads the receiving corps for the Dawgs, hauling in a team-high 13 passes and 167 yards to go along with three scores. Redshirt sophomore Chris Lofton leads the team with 19.75 yards per catch after hauling in eight passes for 158 yards.
Graduate running back Quasean Holmes anchors the running game for GWU, putting up 164 yards on 27 carries, 6.1 yards per carry. Holmes has found the endzone one time on the season. Hampton also uses his legs for Gardner-Webb, sitting second on the team with 159 yards and a team-best four touchdowns.
Redshirt junior Sabin McLaughlin guides the defense with 13 total tackles, including nine of the solo variety while Jecari Bryson has 12 tackles on the year. Jamari Young and Robert Holtz have earned one sack each.
The Citadel comes into the game with a 1-1 overall record after dropping its opener to No. 1 North Dakota State, 38-0. The Bulldogs bounced back in their SoCon opener with an impressive 40-13 road win at Samford.
Cobey Thompkins leads the offense with 163 yards through the air on 10-of-14 passing and one score. The running game is anchored by Quentin Hayes who has 83 yards and one touchdown. Javonte Graves-Billips leads the team with 153 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
