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CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College running back Lance Byrd (Jacksonville, Fla.) scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead the PC football team to Homecoming win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday afternoon, 28-14.
PC moves to 2-4 on the year and 1-1 in the Big South Conference. Gardner-Webb falls to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in league play.
The Blue Hose used three straight Byrd touchdowns in the first half and a Ryan Singer (Dunedin, Fla.) touchdown pass to tight end Joey Gilkey (Woodstock, Ga.) in the third quarter to knock off the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Byrd's three scores beat a previous career-best two touchdowns for the junior, set against Charleston Southern on November 7, 2009. Byrd finished with a game-high 88 yards on 20 rushes.
Justin Bethel (Blythewood, S.C.) blocked a 25-yard Gardner-Webb field goal attempt in the second quarter for his ninth career blocked kick, extending his Big South Conference record in that category. The senior defensive back also led the team in solo tackles, with seven, and forced a fumble in the first quarter that led to PC's third touchdown. He assisted on a game-high five tackles as well.
The PC defense punished the Runnin' Bulldogs, picking off quarterback Lucas Beatty twice and forcing two fumbles, both recovered by Mark Williams (Lithia Springs, Ga.). Cedric Byrd (Tyrone, Ga.) also contributed five solo tackles and an interception. Derren Evans (Lawrenceville, Ga.) picked up the team's lone sack.
Singer went 13-for-20 through the air for 146 yards and one touchdown. The quarterback also rushed for 62 yards on 13 attempts.
Gardner-Webb wide receiver James Perry III led all receivers with seven catches for 140 yards. Beatty went 15-for-34 passing for 215 yards, highlighted by a 69-yard completion to Perry, and scored one rushing touchdown. Kenny Little led the team on the ground, rushing 22 times for 84 yards. Marty Patterson led all players with eight solo tackles.
PC scored 14 points in the first quarter to open up an early lead. Byrd put the Blue Hose on the board with a 33-yard scramble 2:52 into the contest and punched one in from two yards out nearly 10 minutes later. Kicker Aaron Mayes (Blythewood, S.C.) converted on both extra points, two of four successful points after on the day, to give PC a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter.
The Blue Hose and Byrd added another touchdown one the first play of the second quarter after Bethel forced a fumble that Williams recovered at the Gardner-Webb 33-yard line. A penalty put PC 15 yards closer and Byrd eventually cashed in from the four-yard line to extend the PC lead to 21-0.
Gardner-Webb found the scoreboard late in the second quarter, scoring 3:35 before halftime. A blocked punt put the visitors on PC's 21-yard line and Beatty ran in from four yards out for a Runnin' Bulldog touchdown to pull Gardner-Webb within 14, 21-7.
The Runnin' Bulldogs looked to build on their lead late in the second quarter, moving from their own 16-yard line to the PC 30 on seven plays before PC cornerback Antarius Terrell (Covington, Ga.) hauled in an interception with 17 seconds left in the half to end the Gardner-Webb drive.
Each team swapped a possession to open the third quarter but the Blue Hose took advantage of their second drive of the half and scored. A methodical, 13-play drive that spanned 76 yards and 6:21 ended with an 11-yard Singer pass to Gilkey that gave the Blue Hose a 28-7 advantage.
PC converted two third downs on the drive, including a successful third-and-14 attempt when Singer found Anderico Bailey (Covington, Ga.) for a 16-yard completion to put PC within 10 yards of paydirt. Bailey led the PC receiving corps with four catches for 53 yards.
Gardner-Webb answered the Blue Hose touchdown with one of its own on a similar 14-play, 74-yard drive to open the fourth quarter, but that would be the final score for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Ricky Rhodes completed the drive by running in a two-yard touchdown to make the score 28-14 with 11:50 remaining in the game.
The PC defense took over from there, holding Gardner-Webb to consecutive drives of -10 yards and -17 yards on its final two possessions with the help of penalties. The Blue Hose took over with 1:44 left and ran out the clock thanks to a 16-yard Byrd rush to set up the victory formation, earning the 28-14 win.
PC takes a break from conference play in its next game when the squad travels to Statesboro, Ga., to take on Georgia Southern on Saturday, October 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
