Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois defense pitched a shutout in the second half, but the Panthers could not overcome a couple of first half big plays by Gardner-Webb falling to the Runnin' Bulldogs, 21-10, at Saturday's EIU homecoming game at O'Brien Field.
 
GWU built the 21-0 lead scoring on a quick first drive that saw Nate Hampton hit Quesean Holmes on a 14-yard strike for the first points of the game with 4:51 left in the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter Carson Gresock broke two big runs for touchdowns as part of his 137 yard rushing performance.  Gresock scored on runs of 64 and 55 yards.
 
EIU got on the board just before the half on a Drew Schiller 42-yard field goal as the Panthers trailed 21-3 at the break.
 
Cole LaCrue barreled in on a 19-yard rush late in the 3rd quarter to bring EIU within 21-10.
 
The Panthers offense was held in check on two fourth quarter drives as they finished with 229 yards of total offense.  LaCrue spent most of the day under center when starter Connor Wolf suffered a first-half injury.  Both quarterbacks had played until the Wolf injury.  LaCrue finished the day rushing for 39 yards with the touchdown.  He passed for 95 yards going 11-of-23 through the air.
 
EIU's defense forced two Gardner-Webb fumbles.  Tienne Fridge forced a fumble recovered by Drake Van Hyfte that stopped a Runnin' Bulldogs drive inside the five-yard line.   Christopher Sharp forced the other fumble with Ja'Wuan Nickson recovering that loose ball.
 
Tylan Foster led EIU's defense with nine tackles as the Panthers fell to 3-3 on the season, 2-1 in the OVC-Big South.
 
Cahari Haynes had eight tackles for Gardner-Webb as they had eight sacks with 15 tackles for loss.  Robert Holtz had two sacks and three TFL.  GWU is now 4-2 overall, 2-0 in the OVC-Big South.  Their two losses this season are to FBS schools.