Saturday, September 19
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.
6 PM
Gardner-Webb University
vs
North Carolina Central
Runnin' Bulldogs Open Home Slate Against North Carolina Central
September 18, 2026 | Football
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University football team returns home Saturday evening to open the 2026 home schedule against North Carolina Central. The Runnin' Bulldogs will look to pick up their first win of the season against an Eagles squad that enters the contest with a 2-1 record following a 30-22 victory over North Carolina A&T last weekend.
Gardner-Webb enters Saturday's contest after a narrow 24-23 loss at Liberty last weekend. The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to move the ball efficiently through the air, with Cole Pennington throwing for 186 yards against the Flames. Pennington has thrown for 876 yards through the first three games of the season and will look to lead the Gardner-Webb offense against an NCCU defense that has recorded seven sacks and four interceptions this season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will also look to establish their rushing attack against the Eagles. Randy Young provided a spark in last week's contest with a 65-yard touchdown run, while Gardner-Webb has averaged 70 rushing yards per game through the first three contests.
Defensively, Gardner-Webb will look to build on a strong performance against Liberty that featured four sacks and two forced fumbles. This also included a 35-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery by Sabin McLaughlin. The Runnin' Bulldogs will face an Eagles offense averaging 338.7 yards per game, including 193 rushing yards per contest. Plez Lawrence leads the Eagles' rushing attack after exploding for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries against North Carolina A&T. Quarterback Nelson Layne has also accounted for six touchdowns through three games.
Saturday marks the seventh meeting between Gardner-Webb and North Carolina Central, with the series tied at 3-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs won the most recent meeting, 21-12, in 2019 at Spangler Stadium. NCCU's last victory in the series came in 2017, a 24-17 win in Durham.
GAME INFORMATION
Gardner-Webb vs. North Carolina Central
Date: September 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Spangler Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+
Gardner-Webb enters Saturday's contest after a narrow 24-23 loss at Liberty last weekend. The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to move the ball efficiently through the air, with Cole Pennington throwing for 186 yards against the Flames. Pennington has thrown for 876 yards through the first three games of the season and will look to lead the Gardner-Webb offense against an NCCU defense that has recorded seven sacks and four interceptions this season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will also look to establish their rushing attack against the Eagles. Randy Young provided a spark in last week's contest with a 65-yard touchdown run, while Gardner-Webb has averaged 70 rushing yards per game through the first three contests.
Defensively, Gardner-Webb will look to build on a strong performance against Liberty that featured four sacks and two forced fumbles. This also included a 35-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery by Sabin McLaughlin. The Runnin' Bulldogs will face an Eagles offense averaging 338.7 yards per game, including 193 rushing yards per contest. Plez Lawrence leads the Eagles' rushing attack after exploding for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries against North Carolina A&T. Quarterback Nelson Layne has also accounted for six touchdowns through three games.
Saturday marks the seventh meeting between Gardner-Webb and North Carolina Central, with the series tied at 3-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs won the most recent meeting, 21-12, in 2019 at Spangler Stadium. NCCU's last victory in the series came in 2017, a 24-17 win in Durham.
GAME INFORMATION
Gardner-Webb vs. North Carolina Central
Date: September 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Spangler Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+
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