Strong Second Half Helps Runnin’ Bulldogs Earn First Win

Saturday, September 19

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.

6 PM

Gardner-Webb University

1-3 , 0-0

North Carolina Central

2-2 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
N.C. Central	0	17	3	0	20
Gardner-Webb	10	14	10	10	44

Game Notes

Strong Second Half Helps Runnin’ Bulldogs Earn First Win

September 19, 2026 | Football

Box Score

By: Tony Venegas, Assistant AD of Strategic Communication

BOILIING SPRINGS, N.C. — The Gardner-Webb football team made the most of its chance to play at home for the first time as the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled away for a 44-20 victory Saturday evening at Spangler Stadium.

Pete Bennett earned his first win as interim head coach at Gardner-Webb as outscored NCCU 20-3 in the second half to cap off the victory. With Saturday's result, Gardner-Webb is now 1-3 on the season while North Carolina Central is now 2-2.

The offense had a strong showing with 445 total yards led by Cole Pennington, completing 24-of-38 passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Kory Jones was Pennington's top target with six catches for 131 yards while Randy Young led the ground attack with 92 yards on 16 carries and a score.

Defensively, Tre Yanez continued his strong 2026 campaign leading the team with 12 tackles, including two for a loss and a sack. The Runnin' Bulldog defense finished with four sacks on the evening.

Turnovers proved to be the pivotal in the first quarter as Gardner-Webb moved the ball inside the five-yard on its opening drive but lost the ball on a fumble. After a Tyler Simpson field goal, the Runnin' Bulldogs got the ball quickly back thanks to a strip sack from A.J. Mebane that was recovered by Luke Gilbertson.

Gardner-Webb capitalized thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run from Zalen Watkins to take a 10-0 lead into the second quarter. The Eagles' next possession resulted in a touchdown but the Runnin' Bulldogs answered with a 14-yard touchdown from Randy Young.

The Eagles rallied with 10 straight points to pull even at 17 but the Runnin' Bulldogs moved quickly and scored when Pennington found Sean Brady for a 30-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left to take a halftime.

The second half saw Gardner-Webb seize control of the game for good. After a North Carolina Central field goal in the early stages of the third quarter, the Runnin' Bulldogs responded again as Pennington found Joey Shearin for a 1-yard touchdown from Pennington.

Tyler Simpson added a pair of field goals in the second half and Gardner-Webb sealed the win with a 35-yard pick-six from Hunter West to seal the victory. It is the second straight game that the Runnin' Bulldogs have had a defensive score.

Gardner-Webb wraps up nonconference play with a trip to Marshall next Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start from Huntington, West Virginia.