BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University football program will hit the road on Saturday for a non-conference match-up against Gardner-Webb at Spangler Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN+.

The Match-Up: This marks the seventh meeting between the two teams, and the series is tied 3-3. The two teams last met in 2019, when Gardner-Webb came away with the 21-12 win. The Eagles last defeated Gardner-Webb in 2017, winning 24-17 at home.

Last Time Out: NCCU (2-1) defeated rival North Carolina A&T 30-22 this past Saturday behind a late defensive stand and a career game from running back Plez Lawrence. Lawrence racked up 210 yards on 22 carries, scoring three times in recording the Eagles' first 200-yard rushing game since 2024. Freshman quarterback Nelson Layne added another touchdown pass, giving him four in the first three games of his Eagles career. Freshman kicker Riley Daniels is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals on the season, nailing a 37-yarder against the Aggies. The Eagles defense picked off Aggies quarterback Kevin White twice – including the game's final play when NCAT was threatening to score.

Eagles on the Road: NCCU is 18-17 on the road under head coach Trei Oliver after the season-opening loss at Texas Southern. The Eagles have been .500 or better on the road in each of the last three seasons. The Eagles were 5-1 on the road last season. They went 2-2 on the road in 2024, and 3-3 in 2023. In 2022, when NCCU won the MEAC title, the Eagles were 4-2 on the road.

Scouting Gardner-Webb: Gardner-Webb is 0-3 on the season, coming off a 24-23 loss to Liberty this past Saturday. The Runnin' Bulldogs are under new leadership, as Pete Bennett was named interim head coach following the team's season-opening loss to Austin Peay. Gardner-Webb was picked to finish fourth in the OVC this season. The Runnin' Bulldogs are averaging 17.6 points per game on offense so far this season, while giving up just over 25 points a contest on defense. Quarterback Cole Pennington has one touchdown pass and four interceptions in three games so far this season.

NCCU vs. The OVC: Of the eight football programs that currently make up the OVC, Gardner-Webb is the only team North Carolina Central has faced since 1978. The Eagles are 3-3 against the Runnin' Bulldogs. From 1946-78, the Eagles faced Tennessee State 11 times. NCCU was 4-7 in those match-ups.

The Coaches: Trei Oliver (NCCU, 1998) is in his eighth season as a college head coach. With 24 years of college coaching experience that includes five conference championships and three Black college football national titles, Oliver returned to his alma mater as North Carolina Central University's 24th head football coach in December 2018. After Saturday's win over North Carolina A&T, Oliver is three wins shy of 50 for his head coaching career.

Pete Bennett was named interim head coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs, named to that capacity following the team's season opener against Austin Peay. He was the team's special teams coordinator, joining Gardner-Webb in 2024. Previously, Bennett was on staff with NCCU in 2022 and 2023, and his career also has stops at Memphis, South Alabama, Central Arkansas and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

N.C. State of Mind: Oliver has made a point of playing schools from the state of North Carolina, and there are five on the schedule this year (Elizabeth City State, North Carolina A&T, Gardner-Webb, East Carolina and Campbell). Those five games will be played all in a row. So far this season, the Eagles have defeated both Elizabeth City State and North Carolina A&T. There have been at least two teams from the Tar Heel State on the schedule each year since Oliver took over as head coach. NCCU defeated both North Carolina teams on its schedule last season, winning games over Fayetteville State and North Carolina A&T. Since 2011, the Eagles are 26-21 against teams from North Carolina, and Oliver has a 14-6 advantage. The Eagles went 2-2 against teams from North Carolina in 2024, and they are 10-3 over the last three-plus seasons.

Non-Conference Success: NCCU is 25-15 in non-conference games under Oliver. Over the last three-plus seasons, the Eagles are 22-7 against opponents from outside the MEAC. This includes wins over three top 25 teams (No. 25 Elon [2023], No. 25 New Hampshire [2022], and No. 5 Jackson State [2022]). This season, the Eagles will face opponents from the SWAC, CAA Football, the OVC, the American, the CIAA and the Patriot League. The Eagles went 5-2 in non-conference play last season, after going 4-2 in 2024.

Strong Debut for Layne: Freshman quarterback Nelson Layne made his collegiate debut against Texas Southern, recording 100 passing and 100 rushing yards. Layne totaled 247 yards (131 passing, 116 rushing) and three touchdowns against the Tigers. Two of those touchdowns were on the ground, including a 60-yard scamper in the first quarter. Layne added two more touchdown passes against Elizabeth City State and one against North Carolina A&T, giving him four in his first three games.

Kicking Up a Storm: Freshman kicker Riley Daniels is a perfect 6-for-6 in field goals through his first three games as an Eagle. He had two successful field goals in the win over Elizabeth City State, after going 3-for-3 in the season opener against Texas Southern. Daniels kicked a season-long 37-yard field goal against North Carolina A&T.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.