Big South Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Football to face both NCA&T and NCCU in 2017

BOILING SPRINGS, North Carolina -- Gardner-Webb announced its 2017 football schedule Tuesday afternoon, featuring five home games in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will face six FCS teams next season that were ranked in the top-25 during the 2016 regular season.

Gardner-Webb will open its season on Saturday, September 2 against North Carolina A&T in Boiling Springs – the first meeting between the two schools in football. The Aggies were ranked as high as ninth during the regular season and made an appearance in the FCS playoffs in 2016.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will fly to Laramie, Wyo., on S2ndeptember 9 to face a Wyoming squad that won eight games this season and is set to make an appearance in the Poinsetta Bowl against BYU. Gardner-Webb will return home to face Western Carolina (9/16) and will travel to face FCS playoff squad Wofford (9/23) one week later.

A home date with Division II Shorter awaits on October 7, before a two-game road swing that begins at MEAC champion North Carolina Central (10/14). The Eagles are ranked in the top-20 nationally and will play in the Airforce Reserve Celebration Bowl against SWAC champion Grambling State on December 17.

Gardner-Webb opens Big South Conference play on the road at Kennesaw State (10/21), then hosts 2016 co-champions Liberty (10/28) and Charleston Southern (11/4) in back-to-back weeks.

The 'Dogs will close out the 2017 regular season slate on the road with consecutive dates at Monmouth (11/11) and Presbyterian (11/18). The finale marks the first time since 2013 that GWU has closed the regular season with the Blue Hose.

Game times will be finalized in July 2017, once television dates are determined.

2017 Gardner-Webb Football Schedule
09/02 NORTH CAROLINA A&T
09/09 at Wyoming
09/16 WESTERN CAROLINA
09/23 at Wofford
09/30 OPEN DATE
10/07 SHORTER
10/14 at North Carolina Central
10/21 at Kennesaw State *
10/28 LIBERTY *
11/04 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN *
11/11 at Monmouth *
11/18 at Presbyterian *

* Denotes Big South Conference Game

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