The 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team represented Gardner–Webb University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Cris Reisert and played their home games at the Ernest W. Spangler Stadium located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. They finished the season 4–8, 3–5 in Big South–OVC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.
Preseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Runnin' Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the conference.
Transfers Outgoing Jackson HeadTEAustin PeayMaleek HugginsWRBethune-CookmanCharlie JacksonDLCharlotteZach BillingsLSCharlotteT.J. JonesRBDuquesneEphraim FloydWREast Tennessee StateJimmy BowdryDBEast Tennessee StateAJ JohnsonWREast Tennessee StateKendall WilliamsTEEast Tennessee StateTy AndersonLBEast Tennessee StateKarim PageWREast Tennessee StateTyson MoorerOLEast Tennessee StateJaylen KingQBEast Tennessee StateNick HunterDLEast Tennessee StateJustin FranklinWREast Tennessee StateRyan BarrettDBEast Tennessee StateTywan RoyalDBEast Tennessee StateJai BarnesDLEast Tennessee StateJonathan BurnsTEEast Tennessee StateRashad WhiteheadDLEast Tennessee StateJaQuan AdamsOLEast Tennessee StateWillie HarrisDLEast Tennessee StateWill McCrawOLEast Tennessee StateGabe ThompsonOLEast Tennessee StateWilliam McRaineyLBEast Tennessee StateGino EnglishQBEast Tennessee StateBrandon WilsonDLEast Tennessee StateHakeem MeggettWREast Tennessee StateGrant BullardLBEast Tennessee StateJa’Kai YoungDBJames MadisonBrice BassDLTexas StateMatthew CaldwellQBTroyBrendan JacksonLBTroyJayden BrownRBUConnTray DunsonDBUTEPTy FrenchLBWest VirginiaDJ TylerWRWofford
Incoming Trevor MoffittLBAppalachian StateJaden LindsayOLAppalachian StateMiles RichardsonDBAustin PeayKarl OdrickDLBall StateCamden OvertonTEChattanoogaSteven RoseDBDelawareJamari YoungLBEast CarolinaTyler RiddellQBEast Tennessee StateJeff BowensDBIllinois StateCollin CarrollTEJames MadisonJackson MarshallLBMarshallRen HefleyQBMiddle TennesseeTaylor ShieldsWRMurray StateJordan BlyWROld DominionQuaSean HolmesRBSaint Francis (PA)Colten GauthierQBSouth CarolinaEdward SaydeeRBTempleNick BigelowPTennessee TechJa’kheo MitchellDBUtah StateQuinton CannonLBWestern MichiganAnthony EnechukwuDBWestern MichiganHenry Wilson Jr.WRWestern MichiganJosh SternsWRWestern KentuckyZe’Vian CapersWRWestern KentuckyMarquis BlackDLWestern Kentucky
Schedule
Game summaries vs. Wofford
Statistics WOFGWEB First downs 21 16 Total yards 379 300 Rushing yards 119 62 Passing yards 260 235 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–35–0 18–28–0 Time of possession 36:11 23:49 Team Category Player StatisticsWofford Passing Amari Odom 22/35, 260 yards, 1 TD Rushing J.T. Smith Jr. 12 carries, 47 yards Receiving Kyle Watkins 7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TDGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 18/28, 238 yards 1 TD Rushing Edward Saydee 10 carries, 46 yards 1 TD Receiving Ze'Vian Capers 6 receptions, 73 yards
at James Madison (FBS)
Statistics GWEBJMU First downs 16 15 Total yards 269 285 Rushing yards 109 150 Passing yards 160 135 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–30–2 14–22 Time of possession 33:58 26:02 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 17/30, 160 yards, 2 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 22 carries, 87 yards Receiving Camden Overton 5 receptions, 65 yardsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 14/22, 135 yards Rushing George Pettaway 10 carries, 84 yards Receiving George Pettaway 4 receptions, 32 yards
at Charlotte (FBS)
Statistics GWEBCLT First downs 18 20 Total yards 390 349 Rushing yards 50 13 Passing yards 340 336 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–38–2 27–35–1 Time of possession 32:30 27:30 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 23/37, 340 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 11 carries, 42 yards Receiving Anthony Lowe 7 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TDCharlotte Passing Deshawn Purdie 16/23, 194 yards, 1 INT Rushing Hahsaun Wilson 6 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD Receiving Bryce Kennon 5 receptions, 70 yards
at Presbyterian
Statistics GWEBPRES First downs 26 15 Total yards 485 322 Rushing yards 247 25 Passing yards 238 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–28–1 22–36–0 Time of possession 37:22 22:38 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 19/26, 238 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Gresock 22 carries, 134 yards, 3 TD Receiving Giovanni Adopte 5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TDPresbyterian Passing Collin Hurst 14/22, 199 yards, 2 TD Rushing Antonio Wright 4 carries, 16 yards Receiving Cincere Gill 2 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
vs. Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNTC GWEB First downs 21 22 Total yards 414 329 Rushing yards 340 103 Passing yards 74 226 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–10–0 27–41–2 Time of possession 24:42 31:21 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Jordyn Potts 5/10, 74 yds, 1 TD Rushing Aidan Littles 10 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD Receiving D.J. Linkins 2 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TDGardner–Webb Passing Ren Hefley 13/20, 116 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Gresock 13 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jordan Bly 6 receptions, 6 yards, 1 TD
at UT Martin
Statistics GWEBUTM First downs 17 21 Total yards 303 402 Rushing yards 146 235 Passing yards 157 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–1 15–25–0 Time of possession 29:21 30:39 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 10/14, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 17 carries, 112 yards Receiving Giovanni Adopte 3 receptions, 52 yardsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 15/23, 167 yards, 1 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tyler Dostin 3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
vs. Lindenwood
Statistics LIN GWEB First downs 23 32 Total yards 457 491 Rushing yards 213 306 Passing yards 244 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–27–1 16–21–0 Time of possession 27:44 32:16 Team Category Player StatisticsLindenwood Passing Nate Glantz 12/27, 244 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Steve Hall 11 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jeff Caldwell 6 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TDGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 16/21, 185 yards, 4 TD Rushing Quasean Holmes 26 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jordan Bly 4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD
at No. 6 Southeast Missouri State
Statistics GWEBSEMO First downs 13 25 Total yards 274 432 Rushing yards 107 120 Passing yards 167 312 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–31–2 35–58–2 Time of possession 25:56 34:04 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 14/31, 167 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 13 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD Receiving Edward Saydee 4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TDSoutheast Missouri State Passing Paxton DeLaurent 35/58, 312 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Cole Ruble 16 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dorian Anderson 7 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
at Charleston Southern
Statistics GWEBCHSO First downs 24 13 Total yards 346 222 Rushing yards 124 94 Passing yards 222 128 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–29–0 13–27–1 Time of possession 37:04 22:56 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 17/24, 212 yards, 1 TD Rushing Edward Saydee 25 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD Receiving Taylor Shields 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TDCharleston Southern Passing Kaleb Jackson 13/27, 128 yards, 1 INT Rushing Tyson Greenwade 15 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD Receiving Noah Jennings 4 receptions, 53 yards
vs. Eastern Illinois
Statistics EIU GWEB First downs 21 25 Total yards 465 464 Rushing yards 7 127 Passing yards 458 337 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–36–1 26–34–0 Time of possession 27:46 32:14 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Pierce Holley 20/36, 458 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing MJ Flowers 15 carries, 45 yards Receiving Cooper Willman 11 receptions, 291 yards, 3 TDGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 26/34, 337 yards, 1 TD Rushing Carson Gresock 9 carries, 50 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taylor Shields 3 receptions, 86 yards
vs. Tennessee State
Statistics TNST GWEB First downs 19 18 Total yards 363 333 Rushing yards 143 126 Passing yards 220 207 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 19–43–1 Time of possession 32:19 27:41 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 18/28, 220 yds, 2 TD Rushing Jaden McGill 15 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD Receiving Karate Brenson 8 receptions, 82 yardsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 19/43, 207 yds, 1 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD Receiving Camden Overton 7 receptions, 74 yards
at Western Illinois
Statistics GWEB WIU First downs 25 21 Total yards 348 511 Rushing yards 55 81 Passing yards 293 430 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–47–0 24–34–1 Time of possession 30:56 29:04 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 23/35, 234 yards, 3 TD Rushing Quasean Holmes 9 carries, 24 yards Receiving Anthony Lowe 5 receptions, 84 yardsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 23/33, 352 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Torrance Farmer Jr. 16 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD Receiving Matthew Henry 6 receptions, 210 yards, 2 TD
References