Gardner-Webb opened the season by lighting up scoreboards behind quarterback Nate Hampton and one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS. Six weeks later, it’s the defense that has the Bulldogs barking loud in conference play.
Gardner-Webb smothered Eastern Illinois 21-10 on the road Saturday afternoon, improving to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the OVC/Big South. Coach Cris Reisert’s team limited the Panthers to just 229 total yards on 72 plays — a paltry 3.2 yards per snap. Gardner-Webb piled up eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss, the kind of defensive stat line that puts teams in league championship contention.
Linebacker Cahari Haynes, a Lawndale hometowner, Burns High alum and former Appalachian State transfer, led the charge with eight tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack, earning OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Week honors. Haynes and company spent the afternoon living in the backfield as Gardner-Webb turned a 21-0 first-half burst into its second straight league win.
5️⃣5️⃣ yards to the 🏠
Carson Gresock takes it 55 yards to the house to extend @GWUFootball lead to 21-0!#OVCBigSouthFB | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/bN9Y92hVtw — OVC-Big South Football Association (@OVCBigSouthFB) October 11, 2025
The offense did its part early. Running back Carson Gresock broke touchdown runs of 64 and 55 yards on his way to 137 yards on just six carries. Hampton delivered an efficient 14-for-22 performance for 195 yards and a score to Quasean Holmes, who added 83 rushing yards of his own. Anthony Lowe caught six passes for 93 yards as the Bulldogs racked up 446 total yards and more than 250 on the ground.
Both Holmes and Lowe were recognized by the OVC/Big South as “Notable Performers” this week.
After surrendering 45+ points in three of the first four games (albeit twice to FBS opponents), Gardner-Webb tightened the screws dramatically, allowing a season low 10 points and 229 total yards
The resurgence has caught national attention — the Bulldogs are now receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches and Stats Perform FCS Polls — and they look increasingly like a team that can make some noise along with early league leaders Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and Lindenwood. Eastern Illinois had been 2-0 in conference play.
Next up, Gardner-Webb returns home to host UT Martin on Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Spangler Stadium.
More North Carolina FCS College Football Coverage
WESTERN CAROLINA: Catamounts crush Furman 52-7 behind Taron Dickens, dominant defense
CAMPBELL: JJ Cowan’s big rushing day leads Camels to 38-21 win at Hampton
ELON: Upset bid falls short against visiting Villanova, 29-21
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL: Eagles roll past Florida A&M for fourth-straight win
FCS GAME DAY: Review scores, top performers and recaps from Saturday, Oct. 11 games involving North Carolina FCS teams
#OVCBigSouthFB Standings after week 7️⃣🏈 pic.twitter.com/2FSAylMy8P
— OVC-Big South Football Association (@OVCBigSouthFB) October 12, 2025
