Boiling Springs, N.C. – Turnovers proved costly on Saturday night as Western Carolina dropped an offensive affair at Gardner-Webb, falling 52-34 at Spangler Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs overcame two 10-point second half deficits and finished the game with 28-consectutive points to pull away for the victory in nonconference play.
 
The two teams combined for 1,202 yards including 650 yards on 99 plays for the Catamounts and 552 yards for Gardner-Webb in Saturday's game.
 
Catamount graduate transfer quarterback Rogan Wells finished with 540 yards of total offense including a season-best 427 yards passing on 37-of-58 passing with two touchdowns and his second-consecutive 100-yard rushing performance with 113 yards on the ground including an 82-yard touchdown romp that gave WCU its first of two, 10-point third quarter leads, 27-17.
 
Wells later found Raphael Williams for one of his game-high 11 receptions for a six-yard touchdown that again handed the Catamounts a 10-point cushion, 34-24. However, Gardner-Webb responded by closing the game with 28-straight points including a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter in pulling away for the victory.
 
Williams finished with 99 receiving yards, just missing his third 100-yard game of the season. Running back TJ Jones finished with 106 total yards including 55 yards and a score on the ground and six catches for 51 receiving yards. Forest City, N.C., native Calvin Jones finished with three catches for 56 yards while tailback Kenny Benjamin hauled in a 13-yard TD pass as a part of four catches for 26 yards.
 
Richard McCollum accounted for 10 points with a pair of field goals including a season-long 40 yarder and four PATs.
 
For Gardner-Webb (2-2), a pair of running backs hit the 100-yard plateau on the ground as Narii Gaither ran for 151 yards and a touchdown and Donovan Jones eclipsed the century mark with 102 yards and a pair of TDs including a game-sealing 79-yard rush late in the fourth quarter.
 
Western Carolina's defense forced four turnovers on fumbles in the loss. Transfer linebacker Kareem Taylor paced the Catamounts with 11 tackles, his second double-digit tackle effort of the season. Jacob Harris was credited with nine tackles including half a tackle for loss while Ty Harris had eight stops and recovered a fumble. Defensive end K.J. Milner finished with seven total hits including a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery on the GWU's first offensive play.
 
Western Carolina (0-4, 0-1 SoCon) returns to Southern Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 2 as the Catamounts face the Chattanooga Mocs (1-2). Kickoff from Finley Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 pm.