BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Austin Brown threw a career high three touchdown passes and the Buccaneers' defense held a third consecutive opponent under 150 total yards in pitching their first shutout of the season as No. 20 Charleston Southern rolled through Gardner-Webb, 34-0, at Spangler Stadium on Saturday. 

CSU improves to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Big South Conference play, while G-W falls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league play. 

Austin Brown found running back Ben Robinson for two touchdowns and Kenny Dinkins had a 32-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter to give the Buc defense all the support it needed. 

Gardner-Webb took the opening kickoff and gained a couple of initial first downs, but that was the only moment the Bulldogs seemed to be in the game. CSU head coach Jamey Chadwell could not have been happier with his team's performance. 

"I'm very pleased with the way we came out and played from the opening kickoff," Chadwell said following the win. "We had a great plan coming out and wanted to jump on (G-W) early and we did that. I was pleased with coming out, getting the goose egg and really coming out and blowing the game open early." 

CSU held Gardner-Webb to 110 total yards – 20 in the second half – and only allowed the Bulldogs six snaps in CSU territory. The defense piled up nine tackles for loss and freshman linebacker Solomon Brown returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown as the Bucs' defense outscored the offense it shutdown all day. The 110 total yards allowed is a record for a CSU defense against an FCS opponent. As a unit, top-to-bottom, Chadwell was thrilled with his defense.  

"One, they believe in what they're doing. Two, there's not really a star," Chadwell said about his defense. "We've got some all-conference guys, but they really around being a team and we play a lot of people. Any given day, you don't know who's gonna go out there and play at a high level." 

Austin Brown had one of his best days as a Buc, going 14-for-24 through the air for 204 yards and three TDs. Dinkins led the Bucs with three receptions for 59 yards and his first quarter score. 

"We had some guys there and he didn't miss them when they were open," Chadwell said of his senior QB. "When you do that and get explosive plays, it gives him confidence, it gives the receivers confidence and it lets the defense know we've got points and they can just rear back. He played well. Three out of the last four games, I think he's really played pretty well. He's improving each week and when he plays this type of game, I think he's pretty dangerous." 

As if the Bucs didn't get enough production from guys named Brown, linebacker Aaron Brown had a team-high 11 tackles and one QB hurry. The Bucs' defense held G-W to eight three-and-outs and intercepted G-W quarterback Tyrell Maxwell on the first snap of another possession. 

CSU held Gardner-Webb to 35 yards of offense on the Bulldogs' first four possessions to give Brown and the offense plenty of opportunities early. Brown found Kenny Dinkins wide open on a double move for the Bucs' first score, a 32-yard touchdown pass as Dinkins danced inside the pylon to give CSU a 7-0 lead. 

The Bucs added to their lead early in the second quarter when Robinson plowed his way in from two yards out to push the lead to 14-0. 

CSU added to its lead just before the half when Brown found a streaking Mike Holloway down the right sideline for 38 yard as the Bucs seemed to put the game out of reach at the half. 

CSU pieced together 391 yards of total offense against one of the top defenses in the Big South. Robinson finished with 58 yards on eight carries. 

Linebacker Tanner Burch led Gardner-Webb with 13 tackles from his linebacker spot. CSU held G-W quarterbacks to a combined 7-for-21 for 46 yards and two interceptions. Senior Malcolm Jackson had an interception in the second quarter to go with Brown's pick six. 

The CSU win and a Coastal Carolina win sets up a Big South showdown of unbeaten in league play next Saturday at Buccaneer Field. CSU hosts Coastal Carolina on Halloween night at 7 p.m. at Buccaneer Field. The game will be televised live on ASN. 

-CSU-