SPARTANBURG — Gardner-Webb football's quest for its first win of the season fell short on Saturday, September 5, as they lost to Wofford by a score of 17-13 at Gibbs Stadium. The game marked a difficult conclusion to a tumultuous week for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who recently saw their head coach, Kris McCullough, dismissed after just one game.
In a dramatic turn of events, Gardner-Webb appeared poised to take the lead late in the contest when quarterback Cole Pennington connected with wide receiver Kory Jones for what seemed to be a go-ahead touchdown. However, the play was nullified due to an offensive pass interference penalty against Jones. This setback was compounded when Pennington was intercepted on the very next play, sealing the Bulldogs' fate.
The loss was particularly painful given the circumstances surrounding the team. Earlier in the week, McCullough was let go following a disappointing 35-17 defeat to Austin Peay in the season opener. His abrupt departure left the program in a state of uncertainty, with interim coach Pete Bennett stepping in to lead the team.
Adding to the challenges, the game against Wofford began on a sour note for Gardner-Webb. The Terriers' Ivory Aikens returned the opening kickoff a staggering 97 yards for a touchdown, putting the Runnin' Bulldogs on the back foot right from the start. Bennett expressed his disappointment with the special teams' performance, stating, "As a special teams coach, it hurts to give up a touchdown on the opening kickoff. That’s on me. I take ownership of it. I could not be more proud of our team though."
Despite the loss, there were bright spots for Gardner-Webb. Pennington completed 31 of 54 passes for a total of 378 yards, showcasing his ability to move the ball downfield. Jones had a standout performance with six receptions for 135 yards, while Giovianni Adopte and Jalile Bost contributed with seven catches for 70 yards and four catches for 60 yards, respectively. Bennett acknowledged the team's resilience, noting that their defense allowed only 10 points in the second half, while the offense showed improvement.
Reflecting on the game, Bennett remarked, "I told the team they deserved to win this game, but life does not always give you what you deserve. You are only given what you earn, and we didn’t quite do enough to earn it this week." He emphasized the team's ongoing aspirations, stating, "Our goal is still to be OVC champions and that’s still within our sights, as well as a playoff bid. We just have to get better week to week."
Looking ahead, Gardner-Webb's athletic director Brendan Fahey addressed the search for a new head coach, indicating that it would not commence during the 2026 season. He expressed confidence in Bennett's abilities, stating, "Right now, (Bennett) is our head coach and he has 100% of my support. We will evaluate where we are at the end of the season and make a decision. But right now, we couldn’t be happier with Pete Bennett as our head coach."
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the field on Saturday, September 12, when they travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, to face Liberty. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the team will be looking to bounce back from this challenging week with a renewed focus and determination.
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