By Jared McMurry
Following a tough road loss to Liberty, the Gardner-Webb football team (4-4, 0-1) will face another tough test against undefeated and highly ranked Coastal Carolina (8-0, 2-0) in another Big South matchup.
Ranked number two in the most recent FCS poll, the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina will travel to Boiling Springs for a mid-afternoon kickoff this Saturday. The Runnin’ Bulldogs will try to keep their home winning streak alive when the Chanticleers come to Spangler Stadium this weekend.
“We took some bumps and bruises Saturday, and lost a few more guys,” Coach McCray said about Saturday’s loss at Liberty.
McCray also noted that this week’s opponent is going to be the best offense his team has faced all season, including Liberty’s. “Coastal will be the best offense we have played period,” he said. “They are very big up front, especially on the offensive line.”
Leading Coastal Carolina in the running game is De’Angelo Henderson, replacing Lorenzo Taliaferro who was taken in the fourth round of the most recent NFL Draft. Henderson has filled in nicely, rushing for nearly 1000 yards and finding the end zone 14 times through the first eight games of the season.
Coach McCray expects Henderson to be the centerpiece of the Chanticleers offense, with quarterback Alex Ross playing a key role. McCray also mentioned how well Coastal Carolina fills in their lineup once guys move on from the program.
“Just looking at their depth chart, every guy who is a new starter this year was a backup last year and getting game experience,” he said. “That is exactly how we are trying to build our program here at Gardner-Webb.”
Runnin’ Bulldogs quarterback Lucas Beatty was given very little time to make a play last week, and McCray fully expects his team to rise to the occasion after that struggling performance.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our boys respond and watching them matchup in this game,” he said.
If one thing is on the side of Gardner-Webb they have not lost a game at home since October of 2013, and Coastal Carolina has had to hang on to win in several close road match-ups this season.
Kickoff between the Runnin’ Bulldogs and Chaticleers will be at 3:30 Saturday afternoon in Boiling Springs.