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Inside Wofford Football

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – On Saturday night, the Wofford football team was defeated 43-36 by Gardner-Webb at Spangler Stadium. The game was tied at 36 with 5:37 remaining, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to score the winning touchdown with 2:04 left in the game.
 
The Terriers are 1-2, while Gardner-Webb is 2-2. Wofford was led by fullback Lorenzo Long with 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Evan Jacks added 97 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Gardner-Webb was led by quarterback Lucas Beatty, who was 22-of-33 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns
 
"You have to play in all three phases and if you don't, good teams beat you," said head coach Mike Ayers. "We did some real good things on both sides of the ball, but we did not tackle well. I think they did a nice job of picking on us. We had some serious hits on them, but did not knock the ball loose and they made the plays. There were way too many penalties. Penalties continued drives and afforded them the ability to score. We had a lot of guys get nicked up tonight on defense. We are going to be young there but we are going to have to coach them up. You know that you had a shot, but it seems like in the second half we could not get them stopped. Credit goes to them, they executed better than we did when it came to crunch time."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and went 72 yards in ten plays in a drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Juanne Blount. Gardner-Webb had a 7-0 lead with 10:07 left in the first quarter. Wofford gained to first downs and then Evan Jacks went 45 yards up the middle for a touchdown. The score was tied at 7-7 with 7:08 on the clock.
 
On the next drive by Gardner-Webb, they gained two first downs before punting. Wofford had a 23-yard run by Ray Smith on third down and then Will Irwin was open for a 28-yard gain. Will Gay added a 14-yard run to move the ball inside the ten. A three-yard run by Lorenzo Long on the first play of the second quarter gave Wofford a 14-7 lead.
 
After a 36-yard kickoff return to begin their next drive, the Runnin' Bulldogs gained two first downs, including one on a pass interference call in the endzone. Seth Cranfill caught a six-yard pass for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 with 11:48 on the clock in the second quarter. Wofford went three-and-out and punted. Brian Sanders had a 52-yard punt and Gardner-Webb started at the 35-yard line, but went three-and-out.
 
With the ball back, the Terriers regained the lead on a 58-yard touchdown run up the middle by Lorenzo Long. Wofford had a 21-14 lead with 7:45 on the clock in the second quarter. Gardner-Webb was backed up after a penalty plus a sack and was forced three-and-out. The punt was partially blocked at Wofford took over at the 42-yard line.
 
The Terriers converted a fourth-and-two with a three yard run by Chase Nelson, his first career carry. On a fourth-and-six, Evan Jacks threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Wade Francis for a 28-14 lead with 1:12 left in the half. Gardner-Webb gained four quick first downs and scored on a three-yard touchdown pass to Seth Cranfill with 6.8 seconds on the clock. The PAT was missed and the Wofford lead was 28-20 at the half.
 
To open the second half, Lorenzo Long had a 45-yard run down the far sideline. On fourth-and five from the 24-yard line, the run by Evan Jacks came up short and Gardner-Webb took over. After a couple big penalties by Wofford, the Runnin' Bulldogs scored on a 29-yard touchdown run by Tyrell Maxwell. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed at the Wofford lead was 28-26 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
 
On the next drive by Wofford, Evan Jacks was intercepted by Spencer Havird and returned 24 yards to the seven yard line. Gardner-Webb took a 29-28 lead on a 22-yard field goal with 7:08 on the clock in the third quarter. Wofford went three-and-out and punted on the next drive.
 
Gardner-Webb used passes of 21 yards and 38 yards to move inside the five. Lucas Beatty scored from one yard out to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 36-28 lead with 3:29 left in the third quarter. Wofford went three-and-out and punted, but Gardner-Webb punted back to the Terriers after gaining two first downs. Wofford drove 76 yards in eleven plays and scored on an 11-yard run by Evan Jacks. The two-point run by Ray Smith was good and the score was tied at 36 with 5:37 left in the fourth quarter.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs went down the field, again aided by a pair of Wofford penalties. A five-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Cook with 2:04 left in the game gave Gardner-Webb a 43-36 lead. Wofford had fourth-and-three with 1:28 on the clock when a completion to Wade Francis kept the drive alive. Another first down catch by Francis moved the ball across midfield, but a pass on fourth-and-ten with 32 seconds remaining was short and the Runnin' Bulldogs took over on downs. A kneel down ended the game.
 
Wofford had 425 total yards, with 322 on the ground. Gardner-Webb had 358total yards, 232 of which were passing. Gardner-Webb had a 25 to 18 advantage in first downs. Wofford was 7-of-15 on third downs and 3-of-5 on fourth down. Gardner-Webb was 6-of-11 on third down. Wofford had ten penalties for 91 yards to six for Gardner-Webb. Gardner-Webb had a 30:22 to 29:38 time of possession advantage.   
 
Wofford vs. Gardner-Webb Post-Game Notes
 
Gardner-Webb has won the last two games in the series against Wofford, but the Terriers hold a 16-8 lead in the series.
 
The Terriers recorded their first two sacks of the season. Steven Cornellier and Darryl Vining each recorded their first career sacks.
 
Lorenzo Long had his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season. He had 19 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Wofford has had a 100+ yard rusher in all three games this season.
 
Players who left the game did not return due to injury included WR Will Irwin (shoulder), LB Travis Thomas (achilles), and DB Jaleel Green (back).
 
Game captains were Anton Wahrby and Tarek Odom.
 
Attendance was 6,450 at Spangler Stadium.
 
Wofford returns home on Saturday, September 27 for the final non-conference game of the season against UVa.-Wise. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.