LEXINGTON, Va. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs forced four turnovers and survived a late VMI drive to earn a thrilling 27-23 win over the Keydets in the Big South Conference opener for both schools, played Saturday afternoon at VMI's Foster Stadium in Lexington, Va.

Leading by four with 1:03 left, Gardner-Webb lined up to punt. VMI's Greg Walker was able to elude a blocker and lay out to block Graham Purvis' punt. The ball bounced off Walker's hands and away, allowing VMI to take over at the Bulldogs' 29 with under a minute to go. The Keydets drove the ball to the visitors' nine, but threw three consecutive incompletions to close out the game and allow Gardner-Webb to escape with the thrilling victory.

The Bulldogs, who came into the game with a plus-nine turnover margin, forced three VMI fumbles and grabbed an interception on one of the game's crucial plays, a pick at the goal line with four minutes left. Gardner-Webb converted two of the VMI miscues into scoring drives, and also survived 250 all-purpose yards from Tim Maypray, including the second-longest punt return in school history, an 86-yarder late in the third quarter.

With the win, the Bulldogs move to 3-1, 1-0 in the Big South and 7-0 all-time versus the Keydets. VMI falls to 1-3 and 0-1 in Big South play.

Gardner-Webb won the toss and chose to receive, but the opening drive did not go the Bulldogs' way. After three unsuccessful plays, the snap on the ensuing punt went through the legs of Gardner-Webb punter Purvis. The ball rolled into the endzone, where Purvis picked the ball up and was tackled by Trae Watkins and Bryan Barnson. The safety, VMI's first of the year, made the score 2-0 Keydets just 82 seconds into the game.

After the free kick, the Keydets marched the ball to the Gardner-Webb 26. However, Gabe Itoka fumbled the ball on a run around the left side, and Darren Rogers recovered for the Bulldogs. An exchange of punts resulted, and Gardner-Webb got the ball back at their own 19 with 7:15 left in the opening period. The Bulldogs went 42 yards in nine plays, and appeared to be lined up to go for the conversion on fourth down and 4 from the VMI 39. Quarterback Stan Doolittle executed the rarely-seen quick kick, which went out of the endzone for a touchback, giving VMI the ball at its own 20.

The Keydets took advantage, driving 80 yards in 10 plays to increase their lead. The key effort was another rarely seen punting play, as Marc Ray executed a pass off a fake punt. On fourth-and-7, Ray found Eric Church for a 31-yard gain to give VMI the crucial first down. From there, T.J. Talley ripped off a 22-yard run and two plays later, Tim Maypray found the endzone on an off-tackle rush. The score was Maypray's 32nd career touchdown, giving him sole possession of second place on the all-time VMI list. The run and resultant extra point made the score 9-0, VMI, as the first quarter drew to a close.

Gardner-Webb's Doolittle was picked off on the next possession, as Juan Thrasher stepped in front of a pass to give VMI the ball at the GW 44. The Keydets were forced into a three-and-out situation, and the visitors took advantage with an impressive drive. The Bulldogs went 82 yards in 15 plays, chewing up 5:17 on the game clock, and ended the drive with a Doolittle touchdown pass to James Perry III from two yards out. The touchdown and extra-point cut the Keydets' lead to two, 9-7.

VMI got the ball back and picked up a first down, but with 4:01 left in the half, Kyle Hughes fumbled the football at the Bulldogs' 36. Gardner-Webb picked it up, and proceeded to go 45 yards in 10 plays for the go-ahead field goal. Ryan Gates' 36 yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the half gave the visitors their first lead, 10-9, which was the score going into halftime.

The Bulldogs had taken to the air a good deal in the first half, as Doolittle was 16-of-26 for 144 yards and a score. VMI's offense came mostly on the ground, with 139 total yards, 86 via rushing. The Keydets were hurt by losing the first half turnover battle, 2-1.

After a Keydet punt opened the second half, Gardner-Webb went 45 yards in nine plays, driving all the way to the VMI 3. However, Gates hooked a field goal attempt wide right, keeping the score 10-9.

VMI took over at its own 20, and took less than three minutes to retake the lead. Zach Collins ran for 16 yards on first down, and after five more rushing plays, Kyle Hughes found Mario Scott down the left sideline for a 41-yard touchdown reception. Jeff Sexton's extra point was good, and the seven-play, 82-yard drive had given the Keydets a 16-10 lead at the 8:02 mark..

The Bulldogs nearly fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but were able to recover. That was to their benefit, as they went 57 yards in just over two minutes, cutting the lead to three on a Gates 44-yard field goal, 16-13.

After a Keydet punt, the VMI defense forced a three-and-out with under a minute left in the third period. Maypray found a seam down the middle, cut the ball back to the home sideline and outran punter Purvis for his first career punt return touchdown and the first by a Keydet since the 2000 season. The touchdown and point after made it 23-13 Keydets at the end of three periods, but the game was far from over.

Doolittle took over on Gardner-Webb's next drive, as the senior QB went six-for-eight for 53 yards and also had a 12-yard run, leading the Bulldogs on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Patrick Hall one-yard touchdown run. The point after made it 23-20, VMI with 10:58 to play.

The Keydets got the ball back, and after a Howard Abegesah rush, Kyle Hughes tried a run. The VMI senior was stripped of the football stepping back from center and the Bulldogs' Matt Goods fell on the ball at the VMI 24. After Doolittle went 1-for-2, bringing up third down, the Keydets were whistled for a pass interference penalty on an incompletion at the 22 yard-line. The flag gave Gardner-Webb a first down, and after two running plays, Hall scored on a rush and Gates tacked on the point after to give the visitors a 27-23 edge with 11:09 remaining.

VMI went down the field slowly, using a ball-control drive. From the 43, Hughes dropped back to pass and was looking deep for Bryan Barnson. The ball was slightly underthrown and Gardner-Webb's Darren Rogers made a diving interception with 4:01 remaining, thwarting the VMI scoring opportunity. The visitors then ran nearly three full minutes off the clock, setting the stage for the blocked punt and late-game drama.

Gardner-Webb's seventh-consecutive win over VMI was sparked by Doolittle, who was 32-of-51 for 301 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Perry III had 11 catches for 139 yards, and Hall ran for two scores for the Bulldogs. VMI was paced by Maypray's 250 all-purpose yards in the losing effort.

For the third-consecutive week, Byron Allen led VMI in tackles, as he posted 12 stops. Eric Church had 11 tackles, in addition to his pass reception off the fake punt, and Emilio Calvin also had 11 stops.

VMI football will return to action next Saturday, as the Keydets travel to Conway, S.C. to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Big South contest will begin at 7 p.m.

VMI HEAD COACH SPARKY WOODS

"We had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter with the wind, and it was pretty good advantage for us to be in, but credit them - they executed better than we did to make up that deficit and win the ballgame. I thought in the first half the turnovers hurt us really bad. Second half we started the ball and had a penalty that backed us up and hurt our drive and had a poor punt. Our defense held and they missed a field goal, but we lost great field position."

"We were a good shape to win the ballgame, but didn't execute and they did a good job of not having penalties and not turning it over and just making a enough first downs to keep the ball, and then they were able to score."

"There were a lot of close plays. We had the ball in our hands a couple of times and had a chance to make the catch, and they dropped a kick-off and we had a chance to recover the ball right there. There were a lot of those plays. I think we'll look at those tomorrow and make us all sick. But I thought it was two good football teams, so one of our goals was to be competitive in the Big South Conference and we were certainly competitive, but it's no fun being 1-3. Had a chance to have them here and a chance to beat them. I feel sorry for our seniors - they won't have a chance to beat Gardner-Webb."

"We're disappointed in the loss. We continue to improve. We just have to win some of these games because just improving and losing isn't enough. The locker room is a whole lot better when you win."

---Tim Maypray's 86-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first in his career and the first by a Keydet since Teray Frost took a punt back for a TD against Charleston Southern in 2000. It was also the second longest punt return at Alumni Memorial Field/Foster Stadium, just behind Ricardo Clark's (Marshall) TD return in 1990.