PC Athletics
For the first time in two years, the Presbyterian College football team will suit up for a night game at Bailey Memorial Stadium. The opponent standing in their way: Gardner-Webb, a familiar foe and old conference rival from PC’s Big South past.
Kickoff in Clinton will take place at 7 p.m. for the second of this three-game homestand, the first time that the Runnin’ Bulldogs have ventured to Bailey Memorial since 2019.
ESPN+ will have coverage of the final non-conference outing of the season, as Presbyterian searches for their third straight W and second win in as many years over a scholarship program (having knocked off Wofford in 2023).
Saturday’s event will include a special recognition for “Hometown Heroes”, honoring those in the Laurens County area who help keep our citizens safe. PC’s guests will include firefighters, law enforcement officers, and first responders and their families from 31 departments.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
WHO: Presbyterian (2-1) vs. Gardner-Webb (0-3)
WHERE: Bailey Memorial Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
WHEN: Saturday, September 21 | 7:00 PM
ADMISSION: Football Tickets
GAMEDAY PROTOCOL: Bailey Memorial Stadium Policies & Map
FLIP CARDS: Sponsored by Founders Federal Credit Union
CLEAR BAG POLICY: Handbag Code
FOLLOW THE ACTION
WATCH: ESPN+ (Gabriel Schray & Tim Webb)
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast
TWITTER / X: @BlueHoseFB
GAME NOTES: Presbyterian Notes | Gardner-Webb Notes
UPDATED STADIUM POLICY
- For the 2024 season, beer and wine will be sold throughout Bailey Memorial Stadium. Patrons purchasing beer or wine will be carded at the point of sale. Per regulation, beer and wine sales will end at the conclusion of the third quarter.
• The possession of alcohol while entering Bailey Memorial Stadium is expressly prohibited. Patrons in violation will be ejected and may be subject to arrest. In an effort to encourage an enjoyable experience for all fans, persons who are intoxicated will be denied entry into the stadium, regardless of ticket possession.
WBB RING CEREMONY
- At halftime of tomorrow night’s clash, members of the 2023-24 Blue Hose women’s basketball team will be presented championship rings for their efforts in obtaining the Big South Tournament title last spring.
- As the number five seed in the conference bracket back in March, Presbyterian won three games in a four-day period to win the school’s first-ever Big South Tournament crown. They edged out Charleston Southern in the quarterfinals 54-51, later defeating the top seed and hosting party, #1 High Point, in a 59-50 decision.
- The Blue Hose then demolished third-seeded Radford in the league championship game, winning 60-37 after outscoring the Highlanders 24-5 in the fourth quarter.
- By winning the Big South tourney, PC received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first of its kind since the school’s jump to Division I in the late 2000’s. The Blue Hose were given a 16 seed and faced off with Sacred Heart in the “First Four”, winning 49-42 in Columbia.
OPPONENT PROFILE
- One would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging opponent who hasn't been able to log a win yet, although that's exactly what Gardner-Webb and first-year head coach Cris Reisert have endured despite strong showings in three straight dramatic losses.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs have faced two FBS foes in a row (James Madison and Charlotte), while beginning the year against an improved Wofford squad. In those three bouts, they've been bested by a combined margin of only nine points.
- G-W blanked JMU over the entire first half on September 7 before taking a 13-6 setback. They followed that up by harboring the lead against Charlotte for almost the whole contest (going into intermission with a 17-3 edge).
- Allowing 21 points in the 4th quarter, Gardner-Webb plunged into the end zone from the 1-yard line with 1:55 to go on a play that ordinarily would've tied things up. However, Reisert elected for a two-point conversion attempt to try and avoid overtime, a gamble that did not pay off which led to a 27-26 final.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs were put into a perilous situation going into the season, not returning a single starter on offense or defense. As a result, all 22 G-W starters are either first-year players or entrants of the transfer portal.
TORCHING THE DRAGONS
- Presbyterian put together their most dominant performance of the coach Englehart era last Saturday to begin this three-game homestand, blazing by Virginia-Lynchburg 52-0 thanks in part to 448 yards of total offense and only surrendering 72 defensively.
- The Blue Hose produced points on six of their eight drives in the opening half where they led 38-0, forcing a rare mercy rule to take effect with 10-minute quarters throughout the second half.
- It was the first time since 2018 (a 10-0 win against Lindsey Wilson) that PC pitched a full-game shutout. In consecutive games against VUL, the Blue Hose have forced the Dragons into a number below zero in total rushing yards; -8 in the 2023 meeting and -3 last weekend.
PROTECTING HOME BASE
- Once the dust had settled from last Saturday's beatdown over VUL, Presbyterian extended its goodwill at Bailey Memorial Stadium by winning their fifth home-opener in a row (dating back to the abbreviated Spring 2021 season).
- PC had not previously won five straight home-openers since the period between 1964-1968, breaking a streak of 56 years.
- Englehart moves to 3-0 at Presby when squaring off in the first home matchup of a new season, with all three of those W's occurring over Virginia-Lynchburg.
- In the past five years, a list of PC's home-opening wins can be viewed below:
- Spring '21 = Def. Morehead State, 31-16
- Fall '21 = Def. St. Andrews, 84-43
- 2022 = Def. Virginia-Lynchburg, 21-13
- 2023 = Def. Virginia-Lynchburg, 48-17
- 2024 = Def. Virginia-Lynchburg, 52-0
SERIES HISTORY
- It’s been a tightly-contested series dating back to the first time that PC locked up with Gardner-Webb in 1970, with the Runnin’ Bulldogs holding the lead at 23-20.
- The Blue Hose battled G-W 25 times as members of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), and 11 more times as Big South foes. This was a yearly matchup from 1970-1999, reigniting the rivalry in 2008 where they played for 12 consecutive seasons.
- PC last met Gardner-Webb in the shortened Spring ’21 campaign, a double-overtime thriller in Boiling Springs where G-W emerged as the victors (31-24).
