Boiling Spring, N.C. -- The Hawks fell to Gardner-Webb, 42-14, Saturday afternoon on the road.

With the loss, Shorter moves to 0-6 on the season; while the Runnin' Bulldogs earned their first win of the year and move to 1-4 overall.

The Hawks got off to a strong start Saturday afternoon, scoring the game's first points as B.J. McCoy notched a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. To set up the scoring, Shorter used a nine play, 45-yard drive; including a 39-yard reception from Tyler Pullum to Lewis Hayes. Gardner-Webb answered on their next possession to take a 7-6 advantage, and added to it before the end of the period to take a 14-6 lead into the second quarter.

In the second frame, the Runnin' Bulldogs made it a 21-6 game, before the Hawks cut the lead back to one score, when Hayes collected a 20-yard pass from Pullum for his first touchdown of the season. Shorter then erased the missed PAT from the first quarter with a successful 2-point conversion on a pass to Kartez Carr for the 21-14 score.

From there, however, it was all GWU as the hosts went on to add 21 unanswered points for the 42-14 final score.

Pullum finished the day 15-28 passing with 194 yards. While, McCoy led the run game with 45 yards on 19 carries. Hayes added a season high 96 yards on five receptions and Joseph Ross added 44 yards on three receptions in his first game back after a concussion sidelined him last week.

On defense, Justin Fillmore led the Hawks. Turning in a career high 16 tackles in the game, including two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble – which he recovered. Nehemiah Reddish added nine tackles in the game and his first career interception. Both, Kevin Knight and Kareem Taylor, added seven tackles apiece.

Gardner-Webb QB, Tyrell Maxwell finished 8-14 passing with 144 yards; while also leading the team in rushing with 139 yards on eight carries and recording four touchdowns – two passing and two rushing. Jonathan Blackmon added 102 yards on the ground on seven carries with a touchdown. On defense, Jeffrey Pegues tallied a team high ten tackles.

The Hawks are back home Saturday, October 14, as they host North Alabama in Gulf South Conference action. Game time is set for 1:00pm from Historic Barron Stadium.