BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb University won its seventh consecutive Big South Conference football game over two seasons, defeating Charleston Southern, 46-0, Saturday afternoon at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. Gardner-Webb (7-3, 4-0 Big South) used a balanced attack and capitalized on Buccaneer miscues to secure its second conference championship in as many years.

The Runnin' Bulldogs got on the board first after stalling Charleston Southern's initial drive with Keppy Baucom's sack of freshman Collin Drafts on third down and seven. Starting at its own 41, the Gardner-Webb offensive unit capped an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a six-yard Nick Roberts touchdown pass to William Andrews.

After exchanging three-and-out possessions, CSU began its third drive from the 20. On third-and-short, Collin Draft's pitch to Robert Adams went awry, and GWU's Jim Maxwell recovered at the 11. On the next play from scrimmage, Roberts tossed his second touchdown of the day to freshman Austin Gaines for a 14-0 first quarter lead.

Charleston Southern began the second period with its best drive of the half. Four Adams' rushes accounted for 24 yards, breaking one run for 17, but CSU could march no farther than the GWU 39. Clint Chappell's punt went into the endzone for a touchback, and the Bulldogs followed CSU's best drive with their own, efficiently marching 80 yards on 11 plays in 4:38. Roberts scored on the ground this time on a quarterback sneak from three yards out.

Gardner-Webb would score once more before the intermission, cashing in on Aaron Sykes' blocked punt, using six rushes and a short pass to span 25 yards. Sophomore Jermaine Boston scored from two yards out, and holder Graham Whitlock gathered in an errant snap to find Brian Thornburg open in the end zone for a two-point conversion and a 29-0 halftime lead.

GWU added a field goal to their lead in the third quarter, working on a short field after a 26-yard Buccaneer punt. Hunter Smith split the uprights from 42 yards away with 10:42 left in the period. The Bulldogs took their next possession 79 yards, 49 of those on the Roberts-to-Andrews touchdown pass to make the margin 39-0.

CSU's Drafts, after completing eight of 13 in the first half, was successful on only one pass after halftime. Sophomore Clint Chappell, serving as first-string punter, got the nod at quarterback to finish out the game. With Chappell back as punter on fourth-and-one on his own 22, a one-hop snap forced him to quarterback instead, throwing incomplete to give Gardner-Webb a golden opportunity just outside the red zone. GWU took advantage of the short field, as backup Anthony Metzelaars tossed a five-yard score to redshirt freshman Will Tuten at the dawn of the fourth quarter.

Charleston Southern controlled most of the action in the final period, using a fake punt to gain one first down, and a fumbled punt return to gain another with possession at the GWU 25. Chappell moved the offense inside the ten, but could not score on four cracks at the endzone. The Bulldogs offense, taking their cue from the defense, drove 75 yards, only to miss a 28-yard field goal attempt. The Buccaneers responded with a drive to the Gardner-Webb 20, where Chappell's pass to Jomare Turner was broken up on the goal line to preserve the shutout.

In the loss, senior Aaron Dunklin became Charleston Southern's (1-9, 0-3 Big South) career leader in receptions with 106, and moved closer to Ande Goldsmith's 1,982 career reception yardage record at a distant 1,599 yards. Dunklin now also holds the CSU record for receptions in a season with 61.

Charleston Southern travels to Harrisonburg, Va. next Saturday to face James Madison, while Gardner-Webb hosts its home finale against Florida International.