FCS PLAYOFFS: Gardner-Webb hands EKU eight-straight postseason loss

Nathan Hutchinson, Richmond Register, Ky.
·3 min read

Nov. 27—Gardner-Webb (7-5) came into a playoff match-up with EKU with one of the top-ranked passing offenses in the country (283.8 yards a game).

The Runnin' Bulldogs, though, only threw the ball 20 times on Saturday against the Colonels at Roy Kidd Stadium.

Instead, they hit the ground, running.

And racked up 405 yards on 51 carries (7.9 yards an attempt).

Gardner-Webb scored six rushing touchdowns and completely overwhelmed a banged-up EKU defense on the way to a 52-41 win. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored three, third-quarter TDs to blow up a close game.

The Colonels scored two late touchdowns after falling behind by 25 points.

Gardner-Webb was making its ever appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. The Runnin' Bulldogs move on to the second round to face No. 5 seed William & Mary (10-1) next Saturday.

"It just really boils down to (the fact) that we couldn't stop the run," EKU coach Walt Wells said. "They ran the ball on us."

The Colonels were back in the playoffs for the first time in eight years and were looking for their first postseason win in 28 years.

Instead, EKU suffered its eighth-straight playoff loss.

The Colonels are now 16-20 all-time in the postseason. Prior to Saturday, they had never allowed more than 48 points in a playoff game.

EKU's Parker McKinney set a career-high with 454 yards passing and threw five touchdowns for the third time this season, completing 37 of his 57 attempts.

Cornelius McCoy led EKU with 155 receiving yards, while Jaden Smith and Jayden Higgins each caught two touchdowns. Smith finished with a career-high 123 yards receiving. Matthew Jackson led the team with nine tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss.

The Colonels never led, but did have 498 yards of total offense.

Gardner-Webb had a 31-27 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, however, EKU punted on three-straight possessions, while the Runnin' Bulldogs scored on three-straight drives.

"They have a good offense," McKinney said. "They came in with a good gameplan coming in. They have a good quarterback, running back and receivers. So, we knew we needed to put up points. It was frustrating coming off the field when we didn't convert on a third down. We just felt like we should have scored touchdowns."

Narii Gaither had 245 yards rushing on 28 attempts for GWU. He averaged 8.8 yards a carry and had two rushing TDs. Quarterback Bailey Fisher was 14-of-20 passing 118 yards and touchdown, while also rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.

The Colonels beat an FBS team earlier in the season (Bowling Green), won a share of the first-ever ASUN conference title and earned the league's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

The ending of the season was certainly disappointing, though.

"The program made some strides, but tonight, we took a step back," Wells said. "We've got to continue to understand who we are what and what we have to do in recruiting."