No. 8 Tech Topples Gardner-Webb 27-21; 9-0 for 2nd Time in Program History
No. 8 Golden Eagles take down Gardner-Webb 27-21 to improve to 9-0 for the first time since 1952, and second time in program history.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
|
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3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
Team Stats
Gardner-Webb
| Game Statistics | Gardner-Webb | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 167 | 279 |
| Rushing Yards | 128 | 81 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of Poss. | 39:01 | 20:59 |
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 Golden Eagles take down Gardner-Webb 27-21 to start 9-0 for the first time since 1952, and second time in program history.
The Golden Eagles (9-0, 6-0) join the 1952 team in the record books as the only two teams to begin a season 9-0, and they become the first program in OVC-Big South Association history to open conference play 6-0 with the six-point victory. Tech won its 14th consecutive game, dating back to last season, marking the longest active winning streak in the nation and the longest in program history.
Tech outgained Gardner-Webb (5-4, 3-2) 360-to-295 in total offense and used two touchdown passes from QB Kekoa Visperas, both to Tre' Holloway, to come back from trailing 14-3 with 5:16 left in the second quarter and outscore GWU 24-7 after falling behind in the first quarter and hold off the Bulldogs 27-21 on Saturday. The 11-point deficit was the largest that Tech has faced this season. The Golden Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 17-7 in the fourth quarter.
Visperas completed 17-of-25 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns and has posted back-to-back games without an interception, moving his passing touchdown total to 21 for the season, which ties the single-season passing touchdown program record set by Bailey Fisher (21 in 2019).
Holloway finished with 129 yards receiving and two touchdowns, marking his first 100-plus-yard receiving game with the Golden Eagles this season. He averaged 32.3 yards per reception with a long of 60 yards.
Maury Sullivan pulled in four catches for 87 yards, averaging 21.8 yards per reception. Sullivan posted a long of 29 yards.
LB Aaron Swafford made 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 asts) with one sack for a loss of eight yards and forced a fumble. DL/LB Theron Gaines was second on the team with eight tackles (6 solo, 2 asts), one sack, and one tackle for loss. Gavin Bryson made five tackles and broke up one pass.
Maurice LaPierre recorded four tackles, three of them were sacks for a loss of 25 yards, three quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble.
It is the second time in program history that the Golden Eagles have started a season 9-0. The last team to accomplish this feat was the 1952 team. In 1952, the Golden Eagles dropped the 10th game to Middle Tennessee (L, 9-17).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gardner-Webb scored the first two touchdowns of the game on a pair of Carson Gresock runs to make it 14-3 GWU with 5:16 left in the second quarter.
From then, it was all Golden Eagles, outscoring the Bulldogs 24-7 after Quintell Quinn raced into the end zone from 10 yards out, Tre' Holloway made one of his two touchdown grabs, and Dom LeBlanc kicked one of his two field goals to help Tech erase the deficit and pull away.
Tech allowed just seven points in the fourth quarter, on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Cole Pennington to Anthony Lowe for GWU. The Golden Eagles then ran out the clock and clinched their 14th consecutive win, marking the longest active winning streak in the nation and the longest in program history.
NEXT UP
Tech travels to Charleston, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 8, for a key road contest against Eastern Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT. The game can be watched on ESPN+ and listened to on 106.1 The Eagle.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or order online at TTUsports.com.
