BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- All North Carolina A&T head football coach Sam Washington wanted to do was put the right ingredients into the A&T recipe of success to claim the 2022 Big South Conference championship.
Stop the run. Protect the football. Win the kicking game.
Instead, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs ran for 240 yards, blocked an Aggies punt, and the Aggies turned the ball over four times in a 38-17 GWU win over the Aggies in the Big South championship game Saturday at Spangler Stadium.
GWU won its first Big South title since 2003 and will advance to its first NCAA FCS playoff game with a 6-5 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the conference. Meanwhile, the Aggies are a long shot at getting an at-large bid at 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the Big South.
"I told them to walk around proudly because we came that close," said Washington about what he told his team after the game. "But we just did too many bone-headed things to be successful. You can't have that many penalties, turn the ball over in those situations, and be successful."
It was a GWU turnover that led to the first score, however. On GWU's first drive, quarterback Bailey Fisher completed an eight-yard pass to Cutrell Haywood. As Haywood turned upfield, safety Ty Williams Jr. stripped him of the football, and the Aggies recovered it at the GWU 25-yard line.
Three plays later, Aggies quarterback Jalen Fowler connected with Zachary Leslie for a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 Aggies lead.
Unfortunately, minutes later, the Aggies returned the favor as Fowler completed a pass only to see the ball fall to the turf as GWU recovered at the Aggies 16. A&T's defense did hold the Bulldogs to a 27-yard field goal to remain in the lead at 7-3 with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter.
The lead would change hands several times during the second quarter, with the first lead change coming on a controversial call. On a 1st-and-10 from the Aggies 39, A&T defensive end Henry Daniel hit Bailey in the pocket, forcing the ball out.
GWU running back Narii Gaither scooped the loose ball and sprinted to the A&T 18. Officials ruled the play a fumble and recovery for the Bulldogs. However, Aggie faithful thought Fisher's arm was coming forward on the hit; therefore, officials should have ruled the play an incomplete pass.
Instead, replay officials upheld the call on the field, and two plays later, the Bulldogs took their first lead on a 23-yard yard touchdown pass from Fisher to Haywood. But A&T sophomore running back Bhayshul Tuten quickly responded with a 61-yard touchdown run to give the Aggies a 17-14 lead with 8:04 remaining in the first half.
It marked his 10th run of 30 yards or more this season. Tuten's 108 yards rushing and a touchdown on 17 carries marked his 10th straight 100-yard rushing game, breaking the Big South record for consecutive 100-yard games in a season. He also tied the overall consecutive streak as Liberty's Rashad Jennings compiled his 10 straight over two seasons.
"That kid is amazing," said Washington about Tuten. "Even at practice, he competes like a champion."
The lead Tuten gave the Aggies did not last long, however. It took the Bulldogs six plays and 104 seconds to take a 17-14 lead as Jayden Brown scored on a 19-yard touchdown run.
The Aggies never led again, as another A&T fumble led to a Bulldogs score. Fighting for more yards, Ger-Cari Caldwell fumbled at the A&T 44, and the Bulldogs returned the ball to the Aggies 4. Two plays later, Gaither was back in the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run as the Bulldogs went into the half leading 24-14.
Gaither scored from 20 yards out within the first three minutes of the second half to give GWU a comfortable 31-14 lead. Gaither had 107 yards rushing, and two touchdowns, and Brown had 93 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
"On those fumbles, we were getting positive yards, but the kids were trying to get extra yards, which we didn't need," said Washington. "But then again, what do you say because they're working hard, and that's all you can ask of them."
The loss means Washington will have to say his goodbyes to many impactful players who have been with the Aggies since 2017 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Players such as Fowler, Leslie, defensive end Devin Harrell, cornerback Amri McNeill and offensive lineman Dacquari Wilson have helped the Aggies enjoy much success and were even on the roster for a 12-0 season.
They, however, will not be joining the Aggies in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) next season. The Aggies have plenty coming back, as they only honored 14 players on Senior Day last week. A&T will go into their first CAA season with nine winning seasons in 10 years.
"It's tough when one game decides your season, but I'm very proud of what we accomplished," said Washington. "I'm very proud of this class, this group of young men in that locker room. But we still have some growing to do."
