BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (Interstat) — Eastern Illinois scored all of its points across the second and third quarters and used a steady ground game to defeat Gardner-Webb 21-7 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The announced attendance was 1,517. Eastern Illinois improved to 2-4, while Gardner-Webb fell to 2-5. The Panthers led 7-0 at halftime after a second-quarter touchdown, then broke the game open with 14 points in the third quarter. Gardner-Webb scored its only touchdown in the third quarter but could not keep pace. The Runnin Bulldogs finished with one scoring drive and were held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The first quarter ended without points. Eastern Illinois broke through in the second quarter and took a 7-0 lead into halftime. The Panthers then added two touchdowns in the third quarter. Gardner-Webb’s lone score came in the same period when Lan Farmer and Kory Jones connected for a 37-yard touchdown. The Runnin Bulldogs could not convert their other chances into points. Andrew Bontekoe punted seven times for 279 yards, while Eastern Illinois’ defense came up with an interception by Jerry Addo-Boateng and a sack by Aidan Archibald.

Lan Farmer led Gardner-Webb’s offense, completing 12 of 21 passes for 96 yards and rushing 15 times for 58 yards and one touchdown. The quarterback from Shelby, N.C., is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. Dylan Manders, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, recorded one reception for 6 yards. Renardo Lewis, a 5-foot-11, 300-pound defensive lineman, made four tackles. Tye Holsey added six tackles. Preston Hamilton, a 6-foot, 300-pound defensive lineman, also had six tackles. Tre Yanez finished with six tackles. Cahari Haynes, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker, recorded six tackles. Bryce Marcus returned two punts for 7 yards. Montez Green had one reception for minus-1 yard. Tae’Shaun Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound wide receiver, caught one pass for 5 yards. Ruben Tshilombo made four tackles. Beau Blankenship, a 6-foot-3, 227-pound tight end, had two receptions for 7 yards. Giovanni Adopte, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver, added two receptions for 8 yards.

Sean Brady, a 5-foot-9, 172-pound wide receiver, had one reception for 8 yards. Brian Green Jr., a 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver, caught two passes for 16 yards. Kory Jones recorded one reception for 37 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Bontekoe punted seven times for 279 yards. Randy Young, a 5-foot-10, 186-pound running back, rushed 11 times for 36 yards and caught one pass for 8 yards. Trey Weems, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive lineman, made four tackles. AJ Mebane, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound linebacker, had three tackles. Terrill Hopkins and Trenton Bell each recorded three tackles. Hunter West, Nigel Lucas and Jaylin Murry each finished with two tackles. Lucas is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety. Shawn Battle, Jordan Jackson, Sabin McLaughlin, Talon Fisher, Jaxon Alongi and Zalen Watkins each made one tackle. Jackson is a 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back, McLaughlin is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound linebacker, Alongi is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker, and Watkins is a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman. Joshua George returned four kickoffs for 57 yards. Tyler Simpson also appeared in the game for Gardner-Webb. Gardner-Webb’s team rushing totals included five carries for 19 yards.

Eastern Illinois was paced by Charles Kellom, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back who carried 33 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Trevon Piggee, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive lineman, made four tackles. The Panthers’ team rushing totals included four carries for minus-3 yards. Jacarre Fleming-Page, a 5-foot-8, 195-pound running back, rushed seven times for 1 yard. Devin Whitlock caught two passes for 11 yards and returned one punt for 3 yards. Kaleb Lyons, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back, had three tackles. Brandon Worsley, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound safety, also made three tackles. Kham Boecker, a 6-foot, 210-pound safety, and Isaac Engle each recorded one tackle. Davian Humphrey made three tackles. Lonnie Burt, a 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker, recorded 10 tackles. Aidan Archibald had five tackles and one sack. Ja’Wuan Nickson, a 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker, added five tackles. Christopher Sharp, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back, made four tackles. Jerry Addo-Boateng had four tackles and one interception. Nick Vecchiarelli finished with four tackles.

Eastern Illinois entered the game after losses to South Dakota State, Illinois State, Indiana State and Minnesota, with its only win coming at Murray State in the season opener. Gardner-Webb entered after a win at Charleston Southern and close losses to Marshall, Liberty and Wofford, along with a win over North Carolina Central and a loss to Austin Peay. Eastern Illinois is scheduled to host Lindenwood next before facing Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee-Martin, Western Illinois, Tennessee State and Charleston Southern. Gardner-Webb is set to visit Tennessee-Martin before playing Southeast Missouri State, Lindenwood, Western Illinois and Tennessee State. The Panthers’ win snapped a four-game losing streak, while the Runnin Bulldogs lost for the fifth time in seven games. Eastern Illinois’ 21 points came on three touchdowns, while Gardner-Webb’s 7 points came on one touchdown.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gardner-Webb 46, Eastern Illinois 19. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Gardner-Webb with a 90.5 percent probability to win. Eastern Illinois had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +13.5. The total score of 28 went over the over/under line of 49.5.