North Carolina Central at Gardner-Webb

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Gardner-Webb beat North Carolina Central 44–⁠20. It was their third meeting; Gardner-Webb leads the series 2–⁠1.

AwayNorth Carolina Central2–⁠5 in 2026
20
HomeGardner-Webb2–⁠6 in 2026
44

Final at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, Boiling SpringsTV: ESPN+Attendance 5,144

At kickoff
87°F, calmWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Shelby Municipal Airport, 7 km from the stadium
Official
Mike LenieGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
North Carolina Central0173020
Gardner-Webb1014101044

Standouts

  • PassingCole Pennington24 of 38, 309 yards, 2 TDGardner-Webb
  • RushingRandy Young16 carries, 92 yards, 1 TDGardner-Webb
  • ReceivingKory Jones6 catches, 131 yardsGardner-Webb
  • DefenseTre Yanez12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 for lossGardner-Webb

Player stats

North Carolina Central

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Nelson Layne10/1515001
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Plez Lawrence959151
Zion Dobson1121111
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Tyree Saunders248041
R.J. Lancaster347036
Chance Peterson240035
Zion Dobson315010
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Joshua Truesdale17100
Tevin Tucker6000
Zarion Walters61.500
Joshua Maxwell6000
M.J. Campbell5210
Amari Sifford4110

Gardner-Webb

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cole Pennington24/3830920
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Randy Young1692118
Christian Vann1577029
Zalen Watkins2312
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Kory Jones6131040
Sean Brady362130
Jalile Bost546020
Giovanni Adopte231025
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Tre Yanez12210
Cahari Haynes6000
Trey Weems5210
Preston Hamilton4000
Anthony Mebane2110
Terrill Hopkins1110
Hunter West0001

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

North Carolina CentralGardner-Webb
218Total yards445
150Passing yards309
68Rushing yards136
10.0Yards per pass8.1
2.2Yards per rush3.7
10First downs23
3–⁠11Third downs7–⁠16
0–⁠0Fourth downs2–⁠2
2Turnovers1
8–⁠75Penalties9–⁠99
24:56Possession35:04
2Sacks (by defense)4

Efficiency

North Carolina CentralGardner-Webb
25%Success rate43%
−0.19EPA per play0.28
1.68Explosiveness1.35
−0.04Rushing EPA0.20
−0.25Passing EPA0.28
21%Passing-down success33%
16%Havoc by its defense21%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

North Carolina Central 53% to win. Gardner-Webb won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Gardner-Webb −7, over/under 53.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Gardner-Webb 69%, North Carolina Central 31%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Gardner-Webb end zoneNorth Carolina Central end zoneQ1 Gardner-WebbFumble, 15 playsQ1 North Carolina CentralPunt, 6 playsQ1 Gardner-WebbField goal, 8 playsQ1 North Carolina CentralFumble, 1 playQ1 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 4 playsQ1 North Carolina CentralTouchdown, 6 playsQ2 Gardner-WebbPunt, 3 playsQ2 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 playsQ2 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 North Carolina CentralTouchdown, 3 playsQ2 Gardner-WebbPunt, 3 playsQ2 North Carolina CentralField goal, 4 playsQ2 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 North Carolina CentralEnd of half, 1 playQ3 North Carolina CentralField goal, 6 playsQ3 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 9 playsQ3 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 playsQ3 Gardner-WebbField goal, 9 playsQ3 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 playsQ3 Gardner-WebbPunt, 4 playsQ4 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 playsQ4 Gardner-WebbField goal, 6 playsQ4 North Carolina CentralMissed FG, 7 playsQ4 Gardner-WebbPunt, 5 playsQ4 North Carolina CentralPick-six, 1 play (Gardner-Webb scores)Q4 North Carolina CentralEnd of game, 2 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Gardner-Webb drives left to right, North Carolina Central right to left.
  1. Q1 Gardner-WebbFumble, 15 plays, 72 yards
  2. Q1 North Carolina CentralPunt, 6 plays, 33 yards
  3. Q1 Gardner-WebbField goal, 8 plays, −29 yards
  4. Q1 North Carolina CentralFumble, 1 play, −8 yards
  5. Q1 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 4 plays, 17 yards
  6. Q1 North Carolina CentralTouchdown, 6 plays, 75 yards
  7. Q2 Gardner-WebbPunt, 3 plays, 55 yards
  8. Q2 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 plays, 27 yards
  9. Q2 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 5 plays, 47 yards
  10. Q2 North Carolina CentralTouchdown, 3 plays, 51 yards
  11. Q2 Gardner-WebbPunt, 3 plays, 1 yard
  12. Q2 North Carolina CentralField goal, 4 plays, −44 yards
  13. Q2 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 7 plays, 45 yards
  14. Q2 North Carolina CentralEnd of half, 1 play, −10 yards
  15. Q3 North Carolina CentralField goal, 6 plays, −21 yards
  16. Q3 Gardner-WebbTouchdown, 9 plays, 65 yards
  17. Q3 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 plays, 22 yards
  18. Q3 Gardner-WebbField goal, 9 plays, −6 yards
  19. Q3 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 plays, 40 yards
  20. Q3 Gardner-WebbPunt, 4 plays, 46 yards
  21. Q4 North Carolina CentralPunt, 3 plays, 40 yards
  22. Q4 Gardner-WebbField goal, 6 plays, −6 yards
  23. Q4 North Carolina CentralMissed FG, 7 plays, 52 yards
  24. Q4 Gardner-WebbPunt, 5 plays, 62 yards
  25. Q4 North Carolina CentralPick-six, 1 play (Gardner-Webb scores), 5 yards
  26. Q4 North Carolina CentralEnd of game, 2 plays, 5 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Gardner-Webb 10, North Carolina Central 0
Gardner-Webb Fumble, 15 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35#36 R.Daniels kickoff 65 yards to the GWU00, Touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GWU29 (#2 Z.Walters)
15:002nd & 6 at own 29No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #2 K.Jones caught at GWU26, for 8 yards to the GWU37 (#3 C.Williams), 1ST DOWN
15:001st & 10 at own 37No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #13 M.Green caught at GWU37, for 7 yards to the GWU44 (#26 J.Truesdale)
15:002nd & 3 at own 44No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #2 K.Jones caught at GWU49, for 10 yards to the NCCU46 (#28 A.Sifford), 1ST DOWN
15:001st & 10 at opp 46No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 2 yards gain to the NCCU44 (#99 K.Thompson; #48 K.Blanton)
15:002nd & 8 at opp 44No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #6 J.Bost caught at NCCU41, for 5 yards to the NCCU39 (#3 C.Williams)
15:003rd & 3 at opp 39No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 2 yards gain to the NCCU37 (#40 J.Laguerre; #99 K.Thompson)
15:004th & 1 at opp 37No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 3 yards gain to the NCCU34 (#26 J.Truesdale), 1ST DOWN
15:001st & 10 at opp 34No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #82 D.Haney caught at NCCU29, for 5 yards to the NCCU29 (#26 J.Truesdale)
15:002nd & 5 at opp 29No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short middle to #2 K.Jones thrown to NCCU25 broken up by #28 A.Sifford
15:003rd & 5 at opp 29No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #13 M.Green caught at NCCU20, for 9 yards to the NCCU20 (#3 C.Williams), 1ST DOWN
15:001st & 10 at opp 20No Huddle-Shotgun #82 D.Haney rush right for 10 yards loss to the NCCU30 (#0 M.Campbell; #2 Z.Walters)
15:002nd & 20 at opp 30PENALTY GWU False Start 5 yards from NCCU30 to NCCU35. NO PLAY
15:002nd & 25 at opp 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #0 G.Adopte caught at NCCU30, for 6 yards to the NCCU29 (#26 J.Truesdale)
15:003rd & 19 at opp 29No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #0 G.Adopte caught at NCCU10, for 25 yards to the NCCU04 (#26 J.Truesdale), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY NCCU Offside declined
7:371st & goal at opp 4No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush right for 1 yard gain to the NCCU03 fumbled by #34 C.Vann at NCCU04 forced by #40 J.Laguerre recovered by NCCU #38 J.Johnson at NCCU03, End Of Play
North Carolina Central Punt, 6 plays
7:371st & 10 at own 3No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 2 yards gain to the NCCU05 (#0 T.Weems; #6 A.Mebane)
7:372nd & 8 at own 5No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass incomplete short right to #8 P.Lawrence thrown to NCCU08 QB hurried by #6 A.Mebane
7:373rd & 8 at own 5No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short right to #19 R.Lancaster caught at NCCU13, for 8 yards to the NCCU13 (#16 T.Smallwood), 1ST DOWN
7:371st & 10 at own 13No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush left for 2 yards gain to the NCCU15 (#99 R.Lewis; #93 P.Hamilton)
7:372nd & 8 at own 15No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 5 yards loss to the NCCU10 (#0 T.Weems)
7:373rd & 13 at own 10No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short left to #5 C.Peterson caught at NCCU13, for 5 yards to the NCCU15 (#24 C.Haynes)
4:214th & 8 at own 15#36 R.Daniels punt 33 yards to the NCCU48 #13 M.Green return 12 yards to the NCCU36 (#21 J.Pullen; #9 B.Camp)
Gardner-Webb Field goal, 8 plays
4:211st & 10 at opp 36No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 0 yards to the NCCU36 (#97 T.Swanigan; #46 J.Maxwell)
4:212nd & 10 at opp 36No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #0 G.Adopte thrown to NCCU30 QB hurried by #99 K.Thompson
4:213rd & 10 at opp 36No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete deep right to #81 S.Brady caught at NCCU14, for 22 yards to the NCCU14, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN
4:211st & 10 at opp 14No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 13 yards gain to the NCCU01 (#29 T.Tucker), 1ST DOWN
4:211st & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU00 TOUCHDOWN nullified by penalty, clock 00:00 PENALTY GWU Holding (#63 M.Felton) 10 yards from NCCU01 to NCCU11. NO PLAY
4:211st & goal at opp 11No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush right for 1 yard gain to the NCCU10 (#99 K.Thompson; #41 I.Lawson)
4:212nd & goal at opp 10No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short left to #2 K.Jones thrown to NCCU02 broken up by #28 A.Sifford
4:213rd & goal at opp 10No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #0 G.Adopte thrown to NCCU00
2:004th & goal at opp 10#91 T.Simpson field goal attempt from 27 yards GOOD (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull), clock 02:00Gardner-Webb 3, North Carolina Central 0
2:001st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the NCCU00, Touchback
1:531st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne sacked for loss of 8 yards to the NCCU17 (#6 A.Mebane), fumble by #15 N.Layne recovered by GWU #11 L.Gilbertson at NCCU17, End Of Play
Gardner-Webb Touchdown, 4 plays
1:531st & 10 at opp 17No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush right for 15 yards gain to the NCCU02 (#29 T.Tucker), 1ST DOWN
1:531st & goal at opp 2No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #87 C.Carroll caught at NCCU01, for 1 yard to the NCCU01 (#24 W.Harris)
1:532nd & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 0 yards to the NCCU01 (#24 W.Harris)
0:163rd & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #8 Z.Watkins rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:16 #91 T.Simpson kick attempt good (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull)Gardner-Webb 10, North Carolina Central 0
North Carolina Central Touchdown, 6 plays
0:161st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the NCCU00, Touchback
0:161st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush left for 0 yards to the NCCU25 (#1 T.Yanez; #27 C.Isaacs)
Q2 15:002nd & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short left to #22 Z.Dobson caught at NCCU22, for 3 yards to the NCCU28 (#1 T.Yanez)
Q2 15:003rd & 7 at own 28No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short right to #22 Z.Dobson caught at NCCU26, for 10 yards to the NCCU38 (#1 T.Yanez), 1ST DOWN
Q2 15:001st & 10 at own 38No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 0 yards to the NCCU38 (#0 T.Weems; #1 T.Yanez)
Q2 15:002nd & 10 at own 38No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete deep right to #0 T.Saunders caught at GWU35, for 41 yards to the GWU21 (#7 T.Sanders), 1ST DOWN
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 21No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass incomplete short middle to #0 T.Saunders thrown to GWU10 broken up by #37 E.Luckett III PENALTY GWU Roughing The Passer (#6 A.Mebane) 10 yards from GWU21 to GWU11, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
Q2 12:381st & 10 at opp 11No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush right for 11 yards gain to the GWU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 12:38, 1ST DOWN #36 R.Daniels kick attempt good (H: #40 J.Marcantel, LS: #56 J.Kuriyan)Gardner-Webb 10, North Carolina Central 7
2nd quarter8 drives, then Gardner-Webb 24, North Carolina Central 17
Gardner-Webb Punt, 3 plays
12:301st & 10 at own 35#36 R.Daniels kickoff 65 yards to the GWU00 #82 D.Haney return 19 yards to the GWU19 (#28 A.Sifford; #9 B.Camp)
12:301st & 10 at own 19No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GWU20 (#26 J.Truesdale; #94 G.Dorsey)
12:302nd & 9 at own 20No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington sacked for loss of 11 yards to the GWU09 (#28 A.Sifford)
12:303rd & 20 at own 9No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush right for 18 yards gain to the GWU27 (#26 J.Truesdale), out of bounds PENALTY GWU Holding declined
10:284th & 2 at own 27#45 A.Bontekoe punt 47 yards to the NCCU26 fair catch by #80 G.Lawton III at NCCU26
North Carolina Central Punt, 3 plays
10:281st & 10 at own 26No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 6 yards gain to the NCCU32 (#16 T.Smallwood; #93 P.Hamilton)
10:282nd & 4 at own 32No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush left for 1 yard gain to the NCCU33 (#93 P.Hamilton)
10:283rd & 3 at own 33No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass incomplete short right to #19 R.Lancaster thrown to NCCU40 QB hurried by #18 R.Tshilombo and #1 T.Yanez
9:074th & 3 at own 33#36 R.Daniels punt 23 yards to the GWU44 fair catch by #8 B.Marcus III at GWU44 PENALTY NCCU Kick Catch Interference (#56 J.Kuriyan) 15 yards from GWU38 to NCCU47
Gardner-Webb Touchdown, 5 plays
9:071st & 10 at opp 47No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #2 K.Jones caught at NCCU43, for 9 yards to the NCCU38 (#46 J.Maxwell), out of bounds
9:072nd & 1 at opp 38No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 3 yards gain to the NCCU35 (#3 C.Williams), 1ST DOWN
9:071st & 10 at opp 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete deep right to #2 K.Jones thrown to NCCU10 PENALTY NCCU Pass Interference (#28 A.Sifford) 15 yards from NCCU35 to NCCU20, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
9:071st & 10 at opp 20No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 4 yards gain to the NCCU16 (#46 J.Maxwell; #29 T.Tucker)
9:072nd & 6 at opp 16No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short left to #85 B.Blankenship thrown to NCCU14 PENALTY GWU Holding (#69 J.Edwards) 10 yards from NCCU16 to NCCU26. NO PLAY
9:072nd & 16 at opp 26No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #6 J.Bost caught at NCCU15, for 12 yards to the NCCU14 (#12 J.Clifford Jr.)
6:533rd & 4 at opp 14No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush right for 14 yards gain to the NCCU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:53, 1ST DOWN #91 T.Simpson kick attempt good (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull)Gardner-Webb 17, North Carolina Central 7
North Carolina Central Touchdown, 3 plays
6:431st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the NCCU00 #80 G.Lawton III return 49 yards to the NCCU49 (#51 J.Alongi)
6:431st & 10 at own 49No Huddle #15 N.Layne pass complete deep middle to #5 C.Peterson caught at GWU16, for 35 yards to the GWU16 (#21 N.Lucas; #16 T.Smallwood), 1ST DOWN
6:431st & 10 at opp 16No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 14 yards gain to the GWU02 (#32 D.Thompson; #24 C.Haynes), 1ST DOWN
5:161st & goal at opp 2No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 2 yards gain to the GWU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 05:16 #36 R.Daniels kick attempt good (H: #40 J.Marcantel, LS: #56 J.Kuriyan)Gardner-Webb 17, North Carolina Central 14
Gardner-Webb Punt, 3 plays
5:161st & 10 at own 35#36 R.Daniels kickoff 0 yards to the NCCU35, out of bounds at NCCU35
5:161st & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short middle to #6 J.Bost thrown to NCCU50 QB hurried by #46 J.Maxwell
5:162nd & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short left to #0 G.Adopte thrown to GWU45 QB hurried by #0 M.Campbell and #2 Z.Walters
5:163rd & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #82 D.Haney caught at GWU34, for 6 yards to the GWU41 (#26 J.Truesdale)
5:164th & 4 at own 41PENALTY GWU False Start (#27 C.Isaacs) 5 yards from GWU41 to GWU36. NO PLAY
5:164th & 9 at own 36#45 A.Bontekoe punt 38 yards to the NCCU26 #80 G.Lawton III return 38 yards to the GWU36 (#11 L.Gilbertson) PENALTY GWU UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (#11 L.Gilbertson) 15 yards from GWU36 to GWU21, 1ST DOWN
North Carolina Central Field goal, 4 plays
5:161st & 10 at opp 21No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush left for 5 yards loss to the GWU26 (#1 T.Yanez)
5:162nd & 15 at opp 26PENALTY NCCU False Start (#58 V.Goree) 5 yards from GWU26 to GWU31. NO PLAY
5:162nd & 20 at opp 31No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short left to #0 T.Saunders caught at GWU24, for 7 yards to the GWU24 (#37 E.Luckett III)
2:003rd & 13 at opp 24No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush right for 9 yards gain to the GWU15 (#10 S.McLaughlin), out of bounds
2:002nd & 20 at opp 31Timeout North Carolina Central, clock 02:00
1:464th & 4 at opp 15#36 R.Daniels field goal attempt from 32 yards GOOD (H: #40 J.Marcantel, LS: #56 J.Kuriyan), clock 01:46Tied at 17
Gardner-Webb Touchdown, 7 plays
1:461st & 10 at own 35#36 R.Daniels kickoff 65 yards to the GWU00, Touchback
1:461st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short middle to #13 M.Green thrown to GWU32 broken up by #12 J.Clifford Jr.
1:462nd & 10 at own 25PENALTY NCCU Offside (#99 K.Thompson) 5 yards from GWU25 to GWU30. NO PLAY
1:462nd & 5 at own 30No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush left for 29 yards gain to the NCCU41 (#26 J.Truesdale), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
1:461st & 10 at opp 41No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short left to #6 J.Bost thrown to NCCU32
1:462nd & 10 at opp 41No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 1 yard loss to the NCCU42 (#0 M.Campbell; #16 B.Palmer)
1:463rd & 11 at opp 42No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #81 S.Brady caught at NCCU32, for 10 yards to the NCCU32, End Of Play
0:334th & 1 at opp 32No Huddle-Shotgun #8 Z.Watkins rush middle for 2 yards gain to the NCCU30 (#0 M.Campbell; #2 Z.Walters), 1ST DOWN
0:333rd & 11 at opp 42Timeout Gardner-Webb, clock 00:33
0:211st & 10 at opp 30No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete deep left to #81 S.Brady caught at NCCU01, for 30 yards to the NCCU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:21, 1ST DOWN #91 T.Simpson kick attempt good (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull)Gardner-Webb 24, North Carolina Central 17
0:281st & 10 at opp 30Timeout Gardner-Webb, clock 00:28
North Carolina Central End of half, 1 play
0:141st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson onside kickoff 18 yards to the NCCU47, End Of Play
0:141st & 10 at own 47No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne sacked for loss of 10 yards to the NCCU37 (#0 T.Weems)
3rd quarter6 drives, then Gardner-Webb 34, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central Field goal, 6 plays
14:511st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 56 yards to the NCCU09 #84 D.McDaniel Jr. return 33 yards to the NCCU42 (#32 D.Thompson) PENALTY GWU Horse Collar Tackle (#32 D.Thompson) 14 yards from NCCU42 to GWU44
15:001st & 10 at opp 44No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 0 yards to the GWU44 (#93 P.Hamilton)
15:002nd & 10 at opp 44PENALTY NCCU False Start 5 yards from GWU44 to GWU49. NO PLAY
15:002nd & 15 at opp 49PENALTY NCCU False Start 5 yards from GWU49 to NCCU46. NO PLAY
15:002nd & 20 at own 46No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete deep right to #19 R.Lancaster caught at GWU18, for 36 yards to the GWU18, out of bounds at GWU18, 1ST DOWN
15:001st & 10 at opp 18No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass incomplete short right to #19 R.Lancaster thrown to GWU00
15:002nd & 10 at opp 18No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush right for 0 yards to the GWU18 (#0 T.Weems; #1 T.Yanez)
15:003rd & 10 at opp 18No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush right for 3 yards gain to the GWU15 (#24 C.Haynes; #1 T.Yanez), out of bounds
11:584th & 7 at opp 15#36 R.Daniels field goal attempt from 32 yards GOOD (H: #40 J.Marcantel, LS: #56 J.Kuriyan), clock 11:58Gardner-Webb 24, North Carolina Central 20
Gardner-Webb Touchdown, 9 plays
11:511st & 10 at own 35#36 R.Daniels kickoff 58 yards to the GWU07 #82 D.Haney return 28 yards to the GWU35 (#9 B.Camp)
11:511st & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #10 R.Young thrown to GWU35
11:512nd & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 12 yards gain to the GWU47 (#3 C.Williams), 1ST DOWN
11:511st & 10 at own 47No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short left to #10 R.Young thrown to GWU42
11:512nd & 10 at own 47No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #6 J.Bost thrown to GWU47 PENALTY NCCU Pass Interference (#9 B.Camp) 15 yards from GWU47 to NCCU38, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
11:511st & 10 at opp 38No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #6 J.Bost caught at NCCU23, for 20 yards to the NCCU18 (#29 T.Tucker), 1ST DOWN
11:511st & 10 at opp 18No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush right for 4 yards gain to the NCCU14 (#29 T.Tucker; #2 Z.Walters)
11:512nd & 6 at opp 14No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #7 T.Johnson caught at NCCU12, for 2 yards to the NCCU12 (#12 J.Clifford Jr.)
11:513rd & 4 at opp 12No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #34 C.Vann caught at NCCU10, for 8 yards to the NCCU04 (#26 J.Truesdale), 1ST DOWN
11:511st & goal at opp 4No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 3 yards gain to the NCCU01 (#94 G.Dorsey; #99 K.Thompson)
8:062nd & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short right to #92 J.Shearin caught at NCCU00, for 1 yard to the NCCU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:06 #91 T.Simpson kick attempt good (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull)Gardner-Webb 31, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central Punt, 3 plays
11:51PENALTY GWU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (#92 J.Shearin) 15 yards from GWU35 to GWU20. NO PLAY
7:581st & 10 at own 20#91 T.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the NCCU15 #80 G.Lawton III return 22 yards to the NCCU37 (#38 W.Mattison)
7:581st & 10 at own 37No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush right for 8 yards loss to the NCCU29 (#53 M.Finau; #8 Z.Watkins)
7:582nd & 18 at own 29No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short left to #22 Z.Dobson caught at NCCU26, for 2 yards to the NCCU31 (#8 Z.Watkins; #1 T.Yanez)
7:583rd & 16 at own 31No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne sacked for loss of 9 yards to the NCCU22 (#15 T.Hopkins)
5:534th & 25 at own 22#36 R.Daniels punt 37 yards to the GWU41 fair catch by #8 B.Marcus III at GWU41
Gardner-Webb Field goal, 9 plays
5:531st & 10 at own 41No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush left for 4 yards gain to the GWU45 (#40 J.Laguerre), out of bounds
5:532nd & goal at opp 0No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete deep right to #2 K.Jones caught at NCCU15, for 40 yards to the NCCU15 (#26 J.Truesdale), 1ST DOWN
5:531st & 10 at opp 15No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #2 K.Jones thrown to NCCU00
5:532nd & 10 at opp 15No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 4 yards gain to the NCCU11 (#46 J.Maxwell)
5:533rd & 6 at opp 11No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #6 J.Bost caught at NCCU03, for 9 yards to the NCCU02 (#26 J.Truesdale; #9 B.Camp), 1ST DOWN
5:531st & goal at opp 2No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU01 (#46 J.Maxwell)
5:532nd & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 0 yards to the NCCU01 (#33 T.Alston)
5:533rd & goal at opp 1No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington rush right for 3 yards loss to the NCCU04 (#26 J.Truesdale)
1:554th & goal at opp 4#91 T.Simpson field goal attempt from 21 yards GOOD (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull), clock 01:55Gardner-Webb 34, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central Punt, 3 plays
1:551st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the NCCU00, Touchback
1:551st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass complete short left to #19 R.Lancaster caught at NCCU24, for 3 yards to the NCCU28 (#1 T.Yanez)
1:552nd & 7 at own 28No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU29 (#1 T.Yanez; #24 C.Haynes)
1:553rd & 6 at own 29No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush right for 2 yards gain to the NCCU31 (#28 T.Bell)
0:074th & 4 at own 31#36 R.Daniels punt 34 yards to the GWU35
Gardner-Webb Punt, 4 plays
0:071st & 10 at own 35No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #2 K.Jones caught at NCCU46, for 38 yards to the NCCU27 (#10 J.Dukes), 1ST DOWN
Q4 15:001st & 10 at opp 27No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right thrown to NCCU16
Q4 15:002nd & 10 at opp 27No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU26 (#0 M.Campbell)
Q4 15:003rd & 9 at opp 26No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington sacked for loss of 12 yards to the NCCU38 (#0 M.Campbell)
Q4 12:374th & 21 at opp 38#45 A.Bontekoe punt 19 yards to the NCCU19
4th quarter5 drives, then Gardner-Webb 44, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central Punt, 3 plays
12:371st & 10 at own 19No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne pass incomplete deep right to #19 R.Lancaster thrown to NCCU40 QB hurried by #8 Z.Watkins
12:372nd & 10 at own 19No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush middle for 1 yard loss to the NCCU18 (#11 L.Gilbertson)
12:373rd & 11 at own 18No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush right for 4 yards gain to the NCCU22 (#23 T.Holsey), out of bounds
11:114th & 7 at own 22#36 R.Daniels punt 37 yards to the GWU41, out of bounds at GWU41
Gardner-Webb Field goal, 6 plays
11:111st & 10 at own 41No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GWU42 (#46 J.Maxwell; #10 J.Dukes)
11:112nd & 9 at own 42No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short left to #2 K.Jones caught at NCCU45, for 26 yards to the NCCU32 (#26 J.Truesdale; #28 A.Sifford), 1ST DOWN
11:111st & 10 at opp 32No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete short right to #87 C.Carroll thrown to NCCU17 broken up by #9 B.Camp
11:112nd & 10 at opp 32No Huddle-Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 7 yards gain to the NCCU25 (#26 J.Truesdale; #29 T.Tucker)
11:113rd & 3 at opp 25No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass complete short middle to #6 J.Bost caught at NCCU25, for 0 yards to the NCCU25 (#9 B.Camp)
8:274th & 3 at opp 25#91 T.Simpson field goal attempt from 42 yards GOOD (H: #42 A.Bonde, LS: #50 J.Mull), clock 08:27Gardner-Webb 37, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central Missed FG, 7 plays
8:271st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 53 yards to the NCCU12 fair catch by #80 G.Lawton III at NCCU12
8:271st & 10 at own 25No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush left for 6 yards gain to the NCCU31 (#1 T.Yanez; #28 T.Bell)
8:272nd & 4 at own 31No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush left for 3 yards gain to the NCCU34 (#24 C.Haynes)
8:273rd & 1 at own 34No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 51 yards gain to the GWU15 (#3 J.Ravenell), 1ST DOWN
8:271st & 10 at opp 15No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GWU11 (#90 I.Thomas; #24 C.Haynes)
8:272nd & 6 at opp 11No Huddle-Shotgun #8 P.Lawrence rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GWU10 (#99 R.Lewis)
8:273rd & 5 at opp 10No Huddle-Shotgun #15 N.Layne sacked for loss of 13 yards to the GWU23 (#1 T.Yanez)
4:444th & 18 at opp 23#36 R.Daniels field goal attempt from 40 yards NO GOOD (H: #40 J.Marcantel, LS: #56 J.Kuriyan), clock 04:44
Gardner-Webb Punt, 5 plays
4:441st & 10 at own 23No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush left for 5 yards gain to the GWU28 (#26 J.Truesdale)
4:442nd & 5 at own 28No Huddle-Shotgun #10 R.Young rush right for 16 yards gain to the GWU44 (#6 J.Martin II), 1ST DOWN
4:441st & 10 at own 44Shotgun #10 R.Young rush middle for 2 yards loss to the GWU42 (#2 Z.Walters)
4:442nd & 12 at own 42Shotgun #34 C.Vann rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GWU46 (#26 J.Truesdale; #2 Z.Walters)
2:003rd & 8 at own 46Shotgun #12 C.Pennington pass incomplete deep right to #0 G.Adopte thrown to NCCU25 broken up by #6 J.Martin II QB hurried by #2 Z.Walters
2:002nd & 12 at own 42Timeout Gardner-Webb, clock 02:00
1:434th & 8 at own 46#45 A.Bontekoe punt 39 yards to the NCCU15 fair catch by #84 D.McDaniel Jr. at NCCU15 PENALTY GWU Kick Catch Interference (#37 E.Luckett III) 15 yards from NCCU15 to NCCU30
1:321st & 10 at own 30Hunter West 35 Yd Interception Return (Tyler Simpson Kick)Gardner-Webb 44, North Carolina Central 20
North Carolina Central End of game, 2 plays
1:231st & 10 at own 35#91 T.Simpson kickoff 62 yards to the NCCU03 #80 G.Lawton III return 22 yards to the NCCU25 (#14 T.Fisher) PENALTY NCCU Holding 10 yards from NCCU25 to NCCU15
1:231st & 10 at own 15No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 1 yard gain to the NCCU16 (#67 D.Kinard-Taylor)
1:232nd & 9 at own 16No Huddle-Shotgun #22 Z.Dobson rush middle for 4 yards gain to the NCCU20 (#35 A.Chambers)

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

Gardner-Webb leads 2–⁠1 in three meetings.

Recent meetings
2026Gardner-Webb 44, North Carolina Central 20
2019Gardner-Webb 21, North Carolina Central 12
2017North Carolina Central 24, Gardner-Webb 17

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