Gardner-Webb beats North Carolina A&T for Big South title

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Narii Gaither and Jayden Brown each had two touchdown runs and Gardner-Webb beat North Carolina A&T 38-17 on Saturday in a battle between the Big South Conference's top teams and regular season title.

Gardner-Webb (6-5, 5-0) has won the last two in the series and also clinched the conference's automatic bid into the Division I-FCS playoffs.

Brown had 93 yards rushing and Gaither 90 yards on the ground. Brown's 19-yard scoring run gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead in the second quarter and Gaither's 20-yarder made it 31-14 early in the third.

Jalen Fowler threw for 253 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Aggies. Bhayshul Tuten had 108 yards rushing with a 61-yard touchdown run.

North Carolina A&T (7-4, 4-1), which joins the Colonial Athletic Association next season, will need an at-large bid to make its first postseason appearance since 2016.

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