Runnin’ Bulldogs Fall to Eastern Illinois at Home

Saturday, October 10

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.

3:30 PM

Gardner-Webb University

2-5 , 1-1

Eastern Illinois

2-4 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Eastern Ill.	0	0	7	14	21
Gardner-Webb	0	0	0	7	7

Game Notes (PDF)

Photo by: Abby Williams - GWU Sports Photography

October 10, 2026 | Football

Box Score

By: Tony Venegas, Assistant AD of Strategic Communication

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Battling rainy and windy conditions at Spangler Stadium, the Gardner-Webb football team battled through a scoreless first half but ultimately fell to Eastern Illinois, 21-7, on Saturday afternoon.

The contest also marked the first start of the season for Jared Doolittle, with both Doolittle and Lan Farmer seeing their first playing time of the year at quarterback for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

The loss moves the Runnin' Bulldogs to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while Eastern Illinois improves to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

Neither team found the end zone in the opening two quarters as both defenses kept the opposing offenses in check amid the challenging weather conditions. Eastern Illinois broke through in the third quarter when Charles Kellom scored on a one-yard run to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb answered in the fourth quarter when Lan Farmer connected with Kory Jones for a 37-yard touchdown pass, with the extra point tying the game at 7-7 with 9:41 remaining.

Eastern Illinois responded with a touchdown drive capped by a four-yard run from quarterback Cole LaCrue, taking a 14-7 lead with 2:31 left. The Panthers added another rushing touchdown from Kellom with 1:18 remaining to secure the 21-7 victory.

Farmer led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 58 rushing yards and completed 12 of 21 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Christian Vann added 42 yards on the ground, while Deuce Young contributed 36 rushing yards. Jones led Gardner-Webb's receiving corps with 37 yards and the team's lone touchdown.

Defensively, Tre Yanez, Tye Holsey, Cahari Haynes and Preston Hamilton each recorded six total tackles to lead Gardner-Webb. Holsey and Ruben Tshilombo each tallied two tackles for loss, while Renardo Lewis led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 2.5 tackles for loss. Yanez added 1.5 tackles for loss.

Gardner-Webb finished with 246 yards of total offense and 13 first downs. Eastern Illinois was led by Kellom, who rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.

UP NEXT