Nov. 1, 2008
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook's offense churned out a season-high 525 yards, with junior Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.) and freshman Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) rushing for 145 and 185 yards respectively, but Gardner-Webb scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to squeak past the Seawolves, 34-33. It was a game of offense as the two squads combined for 1,005 yards of total offense, with the Bulldogs picking up 394 through the air.
"Sometimes you have to lose on the scoreboard regardless of how you play," said Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. "I am proud of the kids, we played every play hard and we are competitive. I would like to say if you rush for 316 yards and pick up 27 first downs you are going to have a chance to win; and we did have a chance.
It was a good game played by two good teams." It was all Stony Brook early on as the Seawolves unleashed a running game that Gardner-Webb, which came into the game allowing just 92 yards per game on the ground, had no answer for. On the seventh play of the game for the Seawolves Gowins broke off a 49-yarder to cap off a 90-yard drive. After junior Carl Teague (St. Petersburg, Fla.) recovered a fumble on GWU's next possession, freshman Dayne Hoffman (Ada, Mich.) threw a rainbow that fell into senior Dwayne Eley's (Bowie, Md.) for a 56-yard play down to the GWU five. On the next snap Cuttino took it in to push the lead to 14-0.
Gardner-Webb countered with a 79-yard drive on its next possession that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs complete the drive without running the ball once. Quarterback Devin Campbell completed 6-of-7 attempts, finishing it with a 20-yard scoring toss to Josh Miller that cut the SBU lead down to seven. Senior Luke Gaddis (East Patchogue, N.Y.) pushed the Seawolves advantage back to 10 points on the first play in the second quarter when he hit 36-yard field goal.
 |
Gardner-Webb took only four plays to cover 73 yards on its next drive, getting a 30-yard Campbell to James Perry III pass play that made it 17-14 with 13:24 left in the half. After Gaddis hit another field goal, this one from 38 yards away, the Stony Brook defense held the Bulldogs to a three and out on its next possession. The Seawolves offense again turned a drive into points, their fifth straight to start the game. Taking over at its own 28, Stony Brook used its impressive run game to methodically drive down the field. Gowins finished off the 11-play drive with a three-yard run, putting Stony Brook on top 26-14 after the PAT was missed.
It looked as if that would be the halftime score, but Gardner-Webb's Tyson Petty snatched a ball away from two defenders as time was winding down for a 33-yard gain down to the SBU one. Phillip Peoples carried it in on the next play and the Bulldogs had pulled to within five at 26-21 at the half.
Stony Brook drove down to the Gardner-Webb 10 on its first drive of the second half, but Hoffman was picked off on a tipped pass play to end the threat. The Bulldogs put together a drive late in the third, getting into Stony Brook territory before the Seawolves defense stopped them at the SBU 22. Gardner-Webb then pulled off a fake field goal that saw the holder throw for an apparent touchdown, but the play was called back on a penalty and the Bulldogs were forced to punt.
The punt pinned Stony Brook back at its own one-yard line, but the Seawolves were not daunted. Anther long Gowins run, this one for 57 yards, put Stony Brook in business on the GWU seven with a first and goal. Cuttino finished it from there on the next play and the Seawolves had extended their lead to 33-21.
Gardner-Webb again used the pass on its next drive, picking up all but 14 yards of a seven-play, 73-yard effort that saw the Bulldogs pull within six when Peoples took it in from three yards out with 11:35 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff sophomore Donald Porter (Charles Town, W.Va.) returned the kick 27 yards, but a hit by Mike Vesser forced the ball loose and the Bulldogs recovered at the Stony Brook 42. Gardner-Webb turned the miscue into points as Campbell hit Dobson Collins for what turned out to be the game-winner from 13 yards away with 8:35 left.
Stony Brook could only pick up one first down on its next drive and was forced to punt with six minutes left in the contest. Gardner-Webb ran all 1:04 off the clock on its next drive and Stony Brook took over on its own 20 after the Bulldogs punt went into the end-zone for a safety.
Hoffman completed a pair of passes to junior Donald Lee (Clifton, N.J.) for a first down at the Stony Brook 32, but the Seawolves were forced to throw a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game that was batted down by the Bulldog defense.
Hoffman finished the game by throwing for 209 yards, hitting 16 of his 31 attempts. Stony Brook's defense, led by eight stops by Teague, held Gardner-Webb to just 86 yards rushing, but Campbell connected on 32 of his 44 attempts for 394 yards and three scores. Gowins' 185 yards was a career-high and was the third time this season he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Cuttino went over the 100-yard mark for the third straight game and the 10th time in his career, with his 145-yard effort moving him into second on the all-time rushing list at Stony Brook with 2,372 yards.
