# 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team

The 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team represented Gardner–Webb University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Cris Reisert and played their home games at the Ernest W. Spangler Stadium located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. They finished the season 4–8, 3–5 in Big South–OVC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Runnin' Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the conference.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | UT Martin | 61 (5) |
| 2 | Eastern Illinois | 53 (2) |
| 3 | Southeast Missouri State | 51 (2) |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 41 |
| 5 | Gardner-Webb | 40 |
| 6 | Charleston Southern | 27 |
| 7 | Tennessee Tech | 24 |
| 8 | Lindenwood | 18 |
| 9 | Western Illinois | 9 |

### Transfers
#### Outgoing

| Player | Position | New school |
| Jackson Head | TE | Austin Peay |
| Maleek Huggins | WR | Bethune-Cookman |
| Charlie Jackson | DL | Charlotte |
| Zach Billings | LS | Charlotte |
| T.J. Jones | RB | Duquesne |
| Ephraim Floyd | WR | East Tennessee State |
| Jimmy Bowdry | DB | East Tennessee State |
| AJ Johnson | WR | East Tennessee State |
| Kendall Williams | TE | East Tennessee State |
| Ty Anderson | LB | East Tennessee State |
| Karim Page | WR | East Tennessee State |
| Tyson Moorer | OL | East Tennessee State |
| Jaylen King | QB | East Tennessee State |
| Nick Hunter | DL | East Tennessee State |
| Justin Franklin | WR | East Tennessee State |
| Ryan Barrett | DB | East Tennessee State |
| Tywan Royal | DB | East Tennessee State |
| Jai Barnes | DL | East Tennessee State |
| Jonathan Burns | TE | East Tennessee State |
| Rashad Whitehead | DL | East Tennessee State |
| JaQuan Adams | OL | East Tennessee State |
| Willie Harris | DL | East Tennessee State |
| Will McCraw | OL | East Tennessee State |
| Gabe Thompson | OL | East Tennessee State |
| William McRainey | LB | East Tennessee State |
| Gino English | QB | East Tennessee State |
| Brandon Wilson | DL | East Tennessee State |
| Hakeem Meggett | WR | East Tennessee State |
| Grant Bullard | LB | East Tennessee State |
| Ja’Kai Young | DB | James Madison |
| Brice Bass | DL | Texas State |
| Brendan Jackson | LB | Troy |
| Jayden Brown | RB | UConn |
| Tray Dunson | DB | UTEP |
| Ty French | LB | West Virginia |
| DJ Tyler | WR | Wofford |

#### Incoming

| Player | Position | Previous school |
| Trevor Moffitt | LB | Appalachian State |
| Jaden Lindsay | OL | Appalachian State |
| Miles Richardson | DB | Austin Peay |
| Karl Odrick | DL | Ball State |
| Camden Overton | TE | Chattanooga |
| Steven Rose | DB | Delaware |
| Jamari Young | LB | East Carolina |
| Tyler Riddell | QB | East Tennessee State |
| Jeff Bowens | DB | Illinois State |
| Collin Carroll | TE | James Madison |
| Jackson Marshall | LB | Marshall |
| Ren Hefley | QB | Middle Tennessee |
| Taylor Shields | WR | Murray State |
| Jordan Bly | WR | Old Dominion |
| QuaSean Holmes | RB | Saint Francis (PA) |
| Colten Gauthier | QB | South Carolina |
| Edward Saydee | RB | Temple |
| Nick Bigelow | P | Tennessee Tech |
| Ja’kheo Mitchell | DB | Utah State |
| Quinton Cannon | LB | Western Michigan |
| Anthony Enechukwu | DB | Western Michigan |
| Henry Wilson Jr. | WR | Western Michigan |
| Josh Sterns | WR | Western Kentucky |
| Ze’Vian Capers | WR | Western Kentucky |
| Marquis Black | DL | Western Kentucky |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Wofford* | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | ESPN+ | L 20–21 | 4,378 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at James Madison* | Bridgeforth StadiumHarrisonburg, VA | ESPN+ | L 6–13 | 24,570 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | at Charlotte* | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | ESPN+ | L 26–27 | 16,715 |
| September 21 | 7:00 p.m. | at Presbyterian* | Bailey Memorial StadiumClinton, SC | ESPN+ | W 42–21 | 1,843 |
| September 28 | 4:00 p.m. | Tennessee Tech | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | ESPN+ | L 21–52 | 2,451 |
| October 5 | 3:00 p.m. | at UT Martin | Graham StadiumMartin, TN | ESPN+ | L 17–35 | 6,101 |
| October 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Lindenwood | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | ESPN+ | W 42–35 | 3,780 |
| October 26 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Southeast Missouri State | Houck StadiumCape Girardeau, MO | ESPN+ | L 24–30 | 7,295 |
| November 2 | 2:00 p.m. | at Charleston Southern | Buccaneer FieldCharleston, SC | ESPN+ | W 17–14 | 1,977 |
| November 9 | 1:30 p.m. | Eastern Illinois | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 2,451 |
| November 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Tennessee State | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | ESPN+ | L 20–23 | 3,763 |
| November 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at Western Illinois | Hanson FieldMacomb, IL | ESPN+ | L 28–45 | 2,021 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs. Wofford

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Terriers | 8 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 21 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC
* Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 4,378
* Referee: Drew Myers
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
| Statistics | WOF | GWEB |
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total yards | 379 | 300 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 62 |
| Passing yards | 260 | 235 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–35–0 | 18–28–0 |
| Time of possession | 36:11 | 23:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wofford | Passing | Amari Odom | 22/35, 260 yards, 1 TD |
| Wofford | Rushing | J.T. Smith Jr. | 12 carries, 47 yards |
| Wofford | Receiving | Kyle Watkins | 7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 18/28, 238 yards 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 10 carries, 46 yards 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Ze'Vian Capers | 6 receptions, 73 yards |

### at James Madison (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Dukes (FBS) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
at Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 24,570
* Referee: Jeff Page
* TV announcers (FloSports): Curt Dudley (play-by-play), Brian Barlow (analyst) and David Hulvey (sideline)
| Statistics | GWEB | JMU |
| First downs | 16 | 15 |
| Total yards | 269 | 285 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 150 |
| Passing yards | 160 | 135 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–30–2 | 14–22 |
| Time of possession | 33:58 | 26:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 17/30, 160 yards, 2 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 22 carries, 87 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Camden Overton | 5 receptions, 65 yards |
| James Madison | Passing | Alonza Barnett III | 14/22, 135 yards |
| James Madison | Rushing | George Pettaway | 10 carries, 84 yards |
| James Madison | Receiving | George Pettaway | 4 receptions, 32 yards |

### at Charlotte (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
| 49ers (FBS) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 27 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, NC
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: E at 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
* Game attendance: 16,715
* Referee: Reid Jackson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play) and Reggie Walker (analyst)
| Statistics | GWEB | CLT |
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total yards | 390 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 50 | 13 |
| Passing yards | 340 | 336 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–38–2 | 27–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:30 | 27:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 23/37, 340 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 11 carries, 42 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Anthony Lowe | 7 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD |
| Charlotte | Passing | Deshawn Purdie | 16/23, 194 yards, 1 INT |
| Charlotte | Rushing | Hahsaun Wilson | 6 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Charlotte | Receiving | Bryce Kennon | 5 receptions, 70 yards |

### at Presbyterian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 42 |
| Blue Hose | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Bailey Memorial Stadium • Clinton, SC
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 84 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 1,843
* Referee: Jake Grombach
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | GWEB | PRES |
| First downs | 26 | 15 |
| Total yards | 485 | 322 |
| Rushing yards | 247 | 25 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 297 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–28–1 | 22–36–0 |
| Time of possession | 37:22 | 22:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 19/26, 238 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Carson Gresock | 22 carries, 134 yards, 3 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Giovanni Adopte | 5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Presbyterian | Passing | Collin Hurst | 14/22, 199 yards, 2 TD |
| Presbyterian | Rushing | Antonio Wright | 4 carries, 16 yards |
| Presbyterian | Receiving | Cincere Gill | 2 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |

### vs. Tennessee Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 52 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,451
* Referee: Gabe Tomlin
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | TNTC | GWEB |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 414 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 340 | 103 |
| Passing yards | 74 | 226 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 5–10–0 | 27–41–2 |
| Time of possession | 24:42 | 31:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee Tech | Passing | Jordyn Potts | 5/10, 74 yds, 1 TD |
| Tennessee Tech | Rushing | Aidan Littles | 10 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee Tech | Receiving | D.J. Linkins | 2 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Ren Hefley | 13/20, 116 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Carson Gresock | 13 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Jordan Bly | 6 receptions, 6 yards, 1 TD |

### at UT Martin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Skyhawks | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
at Graham Stadium • Martin, TN
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,101
* Referee: Zach Erdmann
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | GWEB | UTM |
| First downs | 17 | 21 |
| Total yards | 303 | 402 |
| Rushing yards | 146 | 235 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 167 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–24–1 | 15–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:21 | 30:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 10/14, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 17 carries, 112 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Giovanni Adopte | 3 receptions, 52 yards |
| UT Martin | Passing | Kinkead Dent | 15/23, 167 yards, 1 TD |
| UT Martin | Rushing | Patrick Smith | 15 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD |
| UT Martin | Receiving | Tyler Dostin | 3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD |

### vs. Lindenwood

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 7 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 1:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 3,780
* Referee: John Kellermeier
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | LIN | GWEB |
| First downs | 23 | 32 |
| Total yards | 457 | 491 |
| Rushing yards | 213 | 306 |
| Passing yards | 244 | 185 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–27–1 | 16–21–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:44 | 32:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lindenwood | Passing | Nate Glantz | 12/27, 244 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Lindenwood | Rushing | Steve Hall | 11 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD |
| Lindenwood | Receiving | Jeff Caldwell | 6 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 16/21, 185 yards, 4 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Quasean Holmes | 26 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Jordan Bly | 4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD |

### at No. 6 Southeast Missouri State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| No. 6 Redhawks | 0 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 30 |
at Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 7,295
* Referee: Michael Lennie
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | GWEB | SEMO |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 274 | 432 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 120 |
| Passing yards | 167 | 312 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–31–2 | 35–58–2 |
| Time of possession | 25:56 | 34:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 14/31, 167 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 13 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Edward Saydee | 4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Southeast Missouri State | Passing | Paxton DeLaurent | 35/58, 312 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Southeast Missouri State | Rushing | Cole Ruble | 16 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD |
| Southeast Missouri State | Receiving | Dorian Anderson | 7 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD |

### at Charleston Southern

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
at Buccaneer Field • Charleston, SC
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 1,977
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | GWEB | CHSO |
| First downs | 24 | 13 |
| Total yards | 346 | 222 |
| Rushing yards | 124 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 222 | 128 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–29–0 | 13–27–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:04 | 22:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 17/24, 212 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 25 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Taylor Shields | 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Charleston Southern | Passing | Kaleb Jackson | 13/27, 128 yards, 1 INT |
| Charleston Southern | Rushing | Tyson Greenwade | 15 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD |
| Charleston Southern | Receiving | Noah Jennings | 4 receptions, 53 yards |

### vs. Eastern Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 67 °F (19 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,451
* Referee: Brad Carrell
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | EIU | GWEB |
| First downs | 21 | 25 |
| Total yards | 465 | 464 |
| Rushing yards | 7 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 458 | 337 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–36–1 | 26–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:46 | 32:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Illinois | Passing | Pierce Holley | 20/36, 458 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Eastern Illinois | Rushing | MJ Flowers | 15 carries, 45 yards |
| Eastern Illinois | Receiving | Cooper Willman | 11 receptions, 291 yards, 3 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 26/34, 337 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Carson Gresock | 9 carries, 50 yards, 2 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Taylor Shields | 3 receptions, 86 yards |

### vs. Tennessee State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 13 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 2 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 20 |
at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 3,763
* Referee: Drew Myers
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | TNST | GWEB |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 363 | 333 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 126 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 207 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–31–0 | 19–43–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:19 | 27:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee State | Passing | Draylen Ellis | 18/28, 220 yds, 2 TD |
| Tennessee State | Rushing | Jaden McGill | 15 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee State | Receiving | Karate Brenson | 8 receptions, 82 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 19/43, 207 yds, 1 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Edward Saydee | 18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Camden Overton | 7 receptions, 74 yards |

### at Western Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Leathernecks | 7 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy, 32 °F (0 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,021
* Referee: Brenden McCain
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | GWEB | WIU |
| First downs | 25 | 21 |
| Total yards | 348 | 511 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 81 |
| Passing yards | 293 | 430 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 28–47–0 | 24–34–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:56 | 29:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyler Ridell | 23/35, 234 yards, 3 TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Quasean Holmes | 9 carries, 24 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Anthony Lowe | 5 receptions, 84 yards |
| Western Illinois | Passing | Nathan Lamb | 23/33, 352 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Western Illinois | Rushing | Torrance Farmer Jr. | 16 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD |
| Western Illinois | Receiving | Matthew Henry | 6 receptions, 210 yards, 2 TD |