Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU football team continued play in the Big South Saturday, falling to Gardner-Webb, 28-17, in Boiling Springs, N.C., at Spangler Stadium. The Colonials dipped to 2-4 (.333) overall during the 2021 season, including 1-3 (.250) in the Big South.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Bulldogs grabbed a decisive 21-0 advantage just 28 seconds into the second quarter, taking advantage of a pair of RMU turnovers to take control. Narii Gaither scored the first touchdown of the contest on a three-yard run that gave Gardner-Webb the lead on the first offensive possession of the game, and the Bulldogs scored on a fumble recovery and turned another fumble by the Colonials into another score. Ty French gave Gardner-Webb (3-4 / 1-2 Big South) a 14-0 advantage by recovering a
George Martin fumble in the end zone, while quarterback Bailey Fisher hit T.J. Luther for a 12-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter after another miscue by the Colonials.
ON THE BOARD
RMU got on the board in the second quarter with a 10-play, 55-yard drive. The Colonials were aided by a pair of penalties, including a pass interference and defensive holding that set up the offense at the 11-yard line of Gardner-Webb. Martin connected with wide receiver
D'Andre Hicks that moved the ball to the three-yard line, and two plays later running back
Anthony Purge punched it in from two yards out to get RMU on the board.
SACK MASTER
Defensive lineman
Ricardo Watson continues to be a force in the trenches for the Colonials this fall, and he made his presence felt Saturday at Gardner-Webb. He set a career with seven tackles, including four solo stops. He also sacked Fisher twice, forced a fumble and finished with two-and-a-half tackles for a loss. Of Watson's 20 tackles during the 2021 season, exactly 20 percent of those have been sacks. He has recorded 12 solo takedowns on the year, including four sacks, and also owns an interception.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Colonials closed the scoring in the fourth quarter when Martin hit freshman
James Westry for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 4:12 remaining. Martin finished 4-for-6 during the drive, connecting with four different receivers, for 60 yards. Overall against the Bulldogs, Martin finished 25-for-45 for 202 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted three times. Entering the game, the Colonials had allowed just nine sacks in five games. However, Martin was sacked six times by the Bulldogs, including three from French.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
A total of 11 different receivers caught a pass Saturday, including five that finished with at least two catches. Hicks led the receiving corps with seven receptions, compiling 31 yards, while Westry finished with six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Over the last three games, Westry has racked up 19 receptions for 274 yards and three scores. He joins Hicks this season to catch a touchdown reception in three consecutive games.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
Linebacker
Tyren Cloyd and defensive back
Sydney Audiger led the RMU defensive against the Bulldogs with eight tackles each, with Audiger finishing with five solo stops and a forced fumble. He also registered one of seven tackles for a loss by the Colonials. Safety
Miles Hayes added four tackles and a pass breakup, while defensive back
Tavin Harville recorded his first interception of the 2021 season.
UP NEXT
RMU returns home to Joe Walton Stadium for its next two games. The Colonials host Hampton Saturday, Oct. 30, in a Noon kickoff that can be seen live on ESPN3 as the Big South Game of the Week. Kennesaw State also visits the Joe Saturday, Nov. 6, for a Noon kickoff.
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