2025 Week 13 - at Gardner-Webb

Mon Nov 17, 2025 8:33 am

AT

Saturday, November 22 at 12:30 PM
@ Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs, NC

Well, we should have had that game against SEMO. I like seeing us being competitive in games, but things fell apart in the second half. I also felt like we were relying too much on trying to hit "home run" long passes that mostly didn't connect.
Anyway, on to our final weekend of the 2025 season at Gardner-Webb. GWU has been surprisingly good this season. They were predicted to finish tied for 6th with Eastern Illinois, ahead of only Tennessee State and Charleston Southern, however they now find themselves at 3rd place, 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference. They opened the season beating a ranked Western Carolina 52-45, then lost at FBS Georgia Tech 59-12. Traveling back home, they beat the Citadel 23-13, then lost another at FBS Ohio, 52-35. In the OVC/Big South, they beat Charleston Southern 30-24, and Eastern Illinois 21-10. They lost against UT Martin, 37-7, beat Lindenwood 48-20, lost to the "top dog" Tennessee Tech, but only by 6 (27-21, then beat SEMO 27-24 and won at Tennessee State last weekend, 30-14.

Massey has us as the #91st team in the FCS, while they are 34th. It gives them a 73% chance of a win with a predicted score of 38-28. We could pull out a win, but it'll be tough. It'll be another warm November game, with weather predicted to be in the low 70s on Saturday in NC.

sealhall74 · Mon Nov 17, 2025 9:09 am

Rocky needs to make the road trip this weekend to meet up with brother in kind 'Bo'. My roadtrip will be to Orlando to watch Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball. Doing some scouting for JD Gravina.

https://gardner-webb.edu/live-mascot/bo-the-bulldog/

wiu712 · Sat Nov 22, 2025 12:33 pm

Game Day Weather:
Partly cloudy.
Near record high temperatures.
High 77 F.
Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
UV Index: 3 of 11

34blast · Sat Nov 22, 2025 4:13 pm

Good win today 29-24. I think it was 29-10 at one point in 3rd Q. We kinda quit playing offense and let them back in it. It looked like we were going to blow it as Garner-Webb was driving down the field and in a good position to take the lead on the final drive of the game. Garner-Webb on the last 2 plays inexplicably threw it in the middle of the field and let time run out. Good way to end the season. The defense has gotten better this season, but the offense has taken a step back.

Wiufan87 · Sat Nov 22, 2025 4:22 pm

Great win to end the season in another close conference game. Yes our defense has improved alot from last year. Up 29 to 10 was good. I think we will be pretty good next year have qb for future years and improved defense. Need to recruit beef on def line and bigger backers.

wiu712 · Sat Nov 22, 2025 4:25 pm

Western wins 29-24 !!

Western stops Gardner-Webb on the 6-yard line as time runs out to win the game. Western once lead 29-10.

Cason Carswell was 18 of 31 for 203 yards. 2 Touchdowns. 0 Interceptions. He was sacked 5 times for a loss of 38 yards.

Western had 336 Total Yards: 203 yards Passing, 133 yards Rushing.

Gardner-Webb had 448 Total Yards: 356 yards Passing. 92 yards Rushing.

Western finishes the season 4-8 overall (3-5 in the OVC - Big South).

Attendance at Gardner-Webb = 2,769

wiu712 · Sat Nov 22, 2025 6:43 pm

Final OVC - Big South Standings:
Tennessee Tech 8-0
Tennessee-Martin 6-2
Gardner-Webb 5-3
Lindenwood 5-3
Charleston-Southern 4-4
Western 3-5
Southeast Missouri State 3-5
Eastern Illinois 2-6
Tennessee State 0-8

NewNeck · Sun Nov 23, 2025 7:33 am

Great W for the ‘Necks. Impressive that Davis kept the team competitive after a 1-7 start. Would have been easy for them to fold imo. 7 one score games how does the program flip those into wins?

WIU plays playoff spoiler and ends GWUs chances. Holman wins OVC/BS rushing title with over 1000 yards. The defense played aggressive (especially LB Pierce & Buckner) and I loved how the offense used tight ends. Williams finishes as OVC/BS receiving TD leader.

WIU has a chance to be very good next year providing they keep talent. Anyone know schedule for ‘26? If ‘Necks have to open with back to back FBS teams again I may change my thoughts.

Im sure coaching staff/admin isn’t satisfied but on this is best 2 year stretch since 16-17. Hopefully university invests in this program.