CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb freshman kicker Ryan Gates was named Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after a record-setting game vs. Sam Houston State.

Gates (Sharpsburg, Ga. / East Coweta HS) tied a Big South Conference record and became just the third player in league history to hit 4-of-4 field goals in Saturday’s game. He made kicks of 47, 42, 22 and 26 yards – and knocked in all three of his PAT attempts to account for 15 of the Bulldogs’ 33 points.

The 5-foot-9, 183-pounder ranks second nationally on the Division I FCS level in field goals made per game in 2008 – and has knocked in 8-of-11 in the team’s first four games. Gates is also a perfect 11-of-11 on PAT chances in 2008, and leads Gardner-Webb in scoring with 35 points, which also ranks second nationally among kickers and leads the Big South.

Gardner-Webb (2-2) turns its attention to Big South Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 4, traveling to face Charleston Southern (1-3) at 1:30 pm ET in Buccaneer Stadium. The game will mark the seventh year in a row that GWU has opened Big South play away from home.