CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern saw history slip through their fingers on Saturday afternoon as Gardner-Webb posted an 18-0 shutout of the Buccaneers in the final home game of the 2004 season.

Charleston Southern entered the game seeking to complete the first undefeated home season in school history and hoping to secure a school-record sixth win. The visiting Bulldogs, however, had different ideas, limiting CSU to only 239 total yards in their second consecutive shutout of the Buccaneers.

Charleston Southern falls to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in Big South Conference play while Gardner-Webb improves to 4-6 overall, 2-2 in the league.

The difference in the game came on the ground and in the redzone. Gardner-Webb rolled up 440 total yards with 278 yards coming on the ground. The Bulldogs scored three of five trips into the redzone.

Charleston Southern, on the other hand, managed just 14 yards on the ground and went 0-for-3 in the red zone. The Buccaneers lost a fumble in the endzone, had a tipped pass intercepted in the endzone and was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, all in the second half.

"It was a disappointing and frustrating day for us," said CSU head coach Jay Mills. "However, I am very proud of this football team for the way they competed from start to finish today. I think we took a big step in the right direction in terms of our maturity as a football team. We had our opportunities but we couldn't step forward at the right time.

"Gardner-Webb is the two-time defending champion in this league and I thought their guys played with a tremendous amount of pride as well. I commend them for their effort."

The shutout was the first for Charleston Southern since last year's game with Gardner-Webb, a game the Bulldogs won easily, 46-0.

George Pressley rushed for 149 yards to lead Gardner-Webb's attack on the ground, with Jermaine Boston adding 77 yards on 18 carries. GWU quarterback Nick Roberts completed 16-of-30 passes for 162 yards, including an 18-yard scoring toss to Duvaughn Flagler with 12:46 remaining in the second quarter for a 7-0 Bulldogs lead.

With 1:46 remaining in the first half, Gardner-Webb posted a safety when a punt snap to Nick Ellis sailed over the head and through the endzone for a 9-0 lead. Gardner-Webb added a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 12-0 advantage at the break.

The second half was one of frustration for the Buccaneers, beginning in the third quarter. After forcing a punt from the GWU endzone, CSU took possession at the Bulldogs' 31-yard line. Completions to Harry Seabrook and Eddie Gadson, along with a personal foul on Gardner-Webb, put the Bucs at the 10. However, a Drafts pass headed to the endzone was tipped in the air, falling into the hands of GWU cornerback Rent Sherrill for a touchback, ending the threat.

Gardner-Webb proceeded on a 13-play, 80-yard drive, ending with a one-yard run by Boston with :59 remaining in the third for an 18-0 lead.

CSU took the ensuing possession back down field, reaching the GWU six-yard line. On first-and-goal, Drafts sprinted left, was hit and fumbled at the one. The ball rolled into and out of the endzone for a touchback, though it appeared that running back Travis Mays had momentarily recovered the loose ball before it rolled out of bounds.

CSU was stopped on their next possession at the GWU one-yard line when Drafts, on a scramble, was tackled just short of the goal line by Harold Wells.

Drafts, the leading passer in the Big South, finished with 225 yards passing, completing 20-of-38 passes. Gadson caught 10 passes for 127 yards while Seabrook had four receptions for 45 yards.

Charleston Southern will wrap up their season on the road next week at Coastal Carolina.