2025-26 Football Season: Game #1 - Gardner-Webb

Game #1 - Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

In the season opener, the #18/19 Western Carolina Catamounts face the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. The Dogs travel to Cullowhee for a 6 pm start time in the 12th meeting between the two North Carolina teams.  

Where: EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

When: Saturday, August 30, 2025

Time:  6:00 pm (EST)

Radio: Catamount Sports Network

   -announcer: Gary Ayers
TV/video:  ESPN+

   -announcer:  Daniel Hooker

Live Stats:   WCU Live Stats

Game Notes:   Western Carolina    -     Gardner-Webb  (when available)

Conference: Big South/OVC Football Association

Mascot:  Runnin' Bulldogs

Colors:  Scarlet and Black

Students:  3,600

Message Board:  Gardner Webb Fan

The Series: In the 12th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 6-5 record overall against the dogs and enter the contest on a 2 game losing streak vs. Gardner-Webb. The 2019 season's loss broke a four-game win streak over the Runnin' Bulldogs by the Cats.  

Cris Reisert's record vs. WCU:  0-0

Kerwin Bell's record vs. GWU:  0-1

Last Game vs. Gardner-Webb (Sep. 21, 2021) - Turnovers proved costly on Saturday night as Western Carolina dropped an offensive affair at Gardner-Webb, falling 52-34 at Spangler Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs overcame two 10-point second half deficits and finished the game with 28-consectutive points to pull away for the victory in nonconference play.  The two teams combined for 1,202 yards including 650 yards on 99 plays for the Catamounts and 552 yards for Gardner-Webb in Saturday's game.

Last Season's Record (2024 - GWU): 4-8 overall, 2-3 home, 2-5 away, 3-5 Big South 

Head Coach: Cris Reisert -  Reisert enters his second season at Gardner-Webb in 2025. In his first season at the helm of the program, Reisert compiled an overall record of 4-8, including 3-5 in the Big South/OVC. He picked up his first career win at GWU during a 42-21 victory at Presbyterian on September 21. 

Reisert helped to coach tight end Camden Overton and linebacker Trevor Moffitt to Big South/OVC All-Conference honors while punter Nick Bigelow was named a 2024 FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist.

Offensive Formation: Spread 

Defensive Formation: Multiple

GWU Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 

GWU Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/8

Reisert embarks on his second season as head coach of the Runnin' Bulldogs, following a successful tenure that saw the team clinch back-to-back conference titles in 2022 and 2023. Despite finishing the 2024 campaign with a 4-8 overall record and a 3-5 mark in league play, the Bulldogs are poised for a resurgence, bolstered by a strong recruiting class and an influx of talented transfers.

One of the most pressing questions facing the team is who will take the reins of the offense in the absence of former starting quarterback Tyler Riddell. The competition for the signal-calling position includes transfers Cole Pennington from Marshall and Nate Hampton from Liberty, both of whom bring FBS experience. Additionally, the Bulldogs recruited incoming freshman Finley Polk, a graduate of Northwestern High School. Polk enjoyed a remarkable high school career, amassing over 10,000 passing yards and 121 touchdowns. His senior season was impressive, as he completed 274 of 383 passes for 3,712 yards, 46 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.

Gardner-Webb has utilized the transfer portal, adding a total of 45 new players, including 15 from FBS programs. Notable additions to the roster include wide receivers Markel Fortenberry (Liberty), Chris Lofton (James Madison), and Jalen Harris (Coastal Carolina), as well as tight end Gatlin Hancock (Kennesaw State). On the defensive side, the Bulldogs have strengthened their lineup with the addition of linebacker Sabin McLaughlin (Davidson) and safety David Laney (North Carolina A&T).

With these strategic moves, the Runnin' Bulldogs feel they are positioned to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.

2024 Runnin' Bulldogs Statistics:

Rushing Offense: 1559 yards 
Yards per game: 130
Yards per rush: 3.6 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 95
TDs rushing: 19
Passing Offense: 2770 yards or 231 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7 yards
Passing 1st downs: 131
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 394-242-11

TDs Passing: 17

Total Offense: 4329 yards or 361 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost:  10-3
3d Down Conversions: 61 of 173 or 35%
4th Down Conversions: 21 of 36 or 58%
Field goal attempts: 11 of 19
On-side kicks: 0-4
Red Zone Scores: 33 of 43 
Red Zone Touchdowns: 28 of 43

PAT:  35 of 35

Game Day Tips: The season opener will air on ESPN+ and  broadcast on the Catamount Sports Nework with the Pepsi Pregame Show airing at 5 p.m. Fans can hear the broadcast locally on five CSN affiliate frequencies: in Sylva, 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River" (wrgc.com); 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC in Franklin (1050wfsc.com); WISE Sports Radio, 1310 AM in Asheville (wisesportsradio.com); and free through live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.

Public parking is available in the North Baseball Parking Deck (NO tailgating allowed) and South Baseball Lots, HF Robinson Admin Building, and various other lots across campus.  Fans can purchase tickets and game day parking in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. A reminder that game day parking is $15 in advance and $20 on game days.