Box Score In a game dominated by defense, Gardner-Webb University outlasted Virginia Union University 13-9 at Saturday, September 19, in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Virginia Union's defense held Gardner-Webb to 112 rushing yards and 26 yards passing while racking up 309 offensive yards of their own.  The 138 total yards in total offense were the fewest by a VUU opponent since the Panthers held Saint Augustine's University to 87 total offensive yards on August 27, 2011.

After spotting Gardner-Webb to a 10-0 halftime lead, Virginia Union got on the board when Paulin Miano tackled Gardner-Webb's Khalil Lewis in the end zone for a safety with 4:21 left in the third quarter.

VUU pulled to within 13-9 when Izegwire hauled in a Coble pass from 13 yards out with 9:16 left in the game.

VUU's Hakeem Holland led the Panthers with 85 rushing yards while quarterback Shawheem Dowdy connected on nine of 19 passes for 85 yards.  Virginia Union's Andre Coble relieved Dowdy in the third quarter and completed four of eight passes for 80 yards.

Virginia Union's Olu Izegwire had four catches for 61 yards.

VUU's Joseph Blanks led the Panthers with 11 tackles while Zachary Dunston had two tackles for a loss of 10 yards and a sack.

The loss dropped Virginia Union to 2-1 on the season while Gardner-Webb raised its record to 1-2.

Virginia Union now returns home to Hovey Field to open the CIAA regular season when it faces Johnson C. Smith University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Richmond, Va.

CLAW MARKS

LOW MILEAGE:  The Panthers held Gardner-Webb to just 138 yards in total offense.  That marks the lowest offensive output by a VUU opponent since the Panthers held Saint Augustine's University to 87 yards in total offense on August 27, 2011.

SAFETY FIRST:  VUU's Paulin Miano recorded the first safety of the season for the Panthers.  It also marked the first safety by the Panther defense since Karl Calhoun recorded a safety in Virginia Union's 78-13 win over Lincoln (Pa.) University on October 27, 2014.

OFFENSE ON DISPLAY:  The 309 yards in total offense VUU racked up against Gardner-Webb marked the third straight game where the Panthers recorded 300 or more yards in total offense.  This is the first time Virginia Union has had three consecutive games of 300 or more yards in total offense since the Panthers registered seven straight 300+ games in 2014.

THREE ACES:  When Andre Coble hit Olu Izegwire with a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, he became the third VUU quarterback this season to throw a touchdown pass.  Shawheem Dowdy and Dane James have also thrown touchdown passes.  Virginia Union also had three quarterbacks throw TD passes last season (Dowdy, James and Kenneth Graham).

NEXT GAME:  Virginia Union will take on Johnson C. Smith University at 1:00 p.m. on  Saturday, September 26, in Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.  Johnson C. Smith is 1-2 on the season and is coming off a 37-35 loss to Morehouse College on September 19.  The Panthers defeated the Golden Bulls 27-26 last season on a last-second 37-yard touchdown pass in Charlotte, N.C.  The Panthers and the Golden Bulls have met 37 times in a series which dates back to 1926, with VUU holding a 29-8 edge.  The game is also the 14th Annual Community Youth Bowl with the school also recognizing the 2015 inductees to the VUU Athletic Hall of Fame.