By Jared McMurry
Despite given numerous opportunities to convert on Presbyterian miscues, the Gardner-Webb (4-7, 0-4) football team fell to Presbyterian Blue Hose (6-5, 3-2) 14-7 Saturday afternoon.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs had three possessions in the first half that started inside Presbyterian territory. Their best chance to score came late in the second quarter when a 28 yard field goal attempt turned the momentum of the game completely around. Paul Schumacher’s kick was blocked and returned 80 yards by Presbyterian’s Ed Britt for a touchdown.
Coach McCray noted that the team and coaching staff were both disappointed in the incapability to convert on the opportunities they were given. “The most disappointing thing to me is that we finally had the advantage in field position and we didn’t capitalize on it,” he said.
With very little offense for either team, the contest quickly turned into a punt fest. Gardner-Webb booted the ball away 10 times, while Presbyterian was forced to punt seven times, but also turned the ball over four times.
The second half was much like the first, until a big run by Darrell Bridges gave the Blue Hose the ball deep in Gardner-Webb territory early in the fourth quarter. Bridges who ran the ball 24 times for 135 yards on the afternoon would later score on the drive to give his team a 14-0 lead.
The Runnin’ Bulldog offense went back to work quickly and was able to finally find the end zone when Lucas Beatty hooked up with Kenny Cook to cut the deficit to seven with just under five minutes to play.
Gardner-Webb was able to hold the Blue Hose offense in check and get the ball back with a decent amount of time left on the clock. Unfortunately a penalty set the Runnin’ Bulldogs offense back and a fourth down Beatty pass was intercepted.
“Penalties just killed us today,” McCray said.
One reason the Runnin’ Bulldog offense struggled on the day was all the pressure the Blue Hose brought. Presbyterian’s pass rushers got to Gardner-Webb quarterbacks for eight sacks on the day.
“We didn’t handle their man coverage well at all,” Coach McCray said. The Gardner-Webb offense was held to 206 total yards on the afternoon.
McCray did note that his defense kept the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the game with a very consistent effort.
Gardner-Webb will conclude the 2014 season with a road game at Monmouth next Saturday.
To see more photos from the game visit here.