BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University football program struggled in the second half Saturday evening at Spangler Stadium, falling 44-20 to Gardner-Webb.
The Eagles fell to 2-2 on the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs scored first on their second trip to the red zone when Tyler Simpson made a 27-yard field goal for an early 3-0 lead.
Following an Eagles fumble, Gardner-Webb extended the lead to 10-0 after Zaylin Watkins capped a 4-play drive with a 1-yard score in the closing seconds of the opening quarter.
Zion Dobson got the Eagles on the board from 11 yards out early in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 10-7 following the PAT by Riley Daniels.
Gardner-Webb added seven more behind the legs of Randy Young, who scored from 14 yards out to take a 17-7 lead.
The Eagles added a score on the next possession, when reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week Plez Lawrence scored from two yards out, bringing NCCU within a field goal.
Daniels tied the game at 17 when he made his seventh field goal of the season, this one from 32 yards out, with 1:46 left in the half.
But GWU (1-3) scored a touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half to take a 24-17 lead at the break when Cole Pennington connected with Sean Brady on a 30-yard pass and catch.
NCCU scored on a 32-yard field goal by Daniels on the Eagles' opening possession of the second half, closing the gap to 24-20.
Gardner-Webb extended its lead to 31-20 when Joey Shearin caught a 1-yard touchdown pass with 8:06 left in the third quarter, kicking off what would be a string of 20 unanswered points to end the game.
Tyler Simpson hit two field goals in that span, and the Runnin' Bulldogs iced the game when Hunter West picked off freshman quarterback Nelson Layne with 1:35 remaining and returned it 35 yards for the score.
The Eagles managed just 218 total yards, their lowest total since 237 against Old Dominion last season. Lawrence led the Eagles on the ground, with 59 yards and a score on nine carries.
Defensive back Joshua Truesdale led the way on defense with 17 tackles.
The Eagles will be on the road this coming Saturday, when they head to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN+.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
Game Notes
- The Eagles have dropped both games on the road so far this season.
- Saturday's game marked the Eagles' first loss to a North Carolina-based foe since the UNC game early in the 2024 season.
- This marks Gardner-Webb's second straight win over the Eagles.
- Saturday's game is the first one in which freshman quarterback Nelson Layne has not thrown a touchdown pass.
- Plez Lawrence and Zion Dobson both had a rushing touchdown for the Eagles.
- Freshman kicker Riley Daniels kicked two more field goals, and is 8-for-9 on the season.
- Sophomore defensive back Joshua Truesdale racked up a season-high 17 tackles (12 solo).
