CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Stan Doolittle's one-yard sneak with 2:02 remaining helped Gardner-Webb regain the lead for good in a 27-20 win over Western Carolina.

Gardner-Webb (2-0) led 20-0 after Philip Peoples' three-yard run with 5:07 left in the third quarter, but Western Carolina mounted a valiant rally to tie the game - before Doolittle's touchdown plunge.

It was Gardner-Webb's first road win over a Southern Conference team since September 21, 2002 at Chattanooga.

After the go-ahead score by Doolittle, senior end Brian Lewis sacked the Catamounts' Zack Jaynes and the hosts - without a timeout to use - couldn't mount a rally, as Jaynes' fourth-down heave fell incomplete downfield.

Gardner-Webb finished with 349 yards of total offense on the game, with Doolittle going 23-of-40 for 265 yards and a score. The Ninety Six, S.C., native also rushed for 30 yards and a score, giving him 295 yards of total offense in the game.

On the game-winning drive, Doolittle completed 4-of-6 passes for 56 yards, marching the 'Dogs 79 yards on 12 plays. That drive chewed 4:16 off the clock as well.

After Peoples' score late in the third, Jaynes had the hot hand in bringing back the Cats. Jaynes hit Josh Cockrell on a 54-yard pass across the middle on the ensuing drive, then found Marquell Pittman open in the end zone to cut the lead to 20-6. The extra point missed.

A Blake Bostic field goal from 30 yards out to start the fourth quarter trimmed the lead to 20-9, then Jaynes found Pittman again on a short route in the end zone - once for a touchdown, then for a two-point conversion - to trim the lead to 20-17 with 9:19 remaining.

GWU's next drive ended in just three plays, and the Catamounts drove quickly inside the Bulldogs' 20-yard line before stalling. Bostic tied the game, however, nailing a 27-yard field goal with 6:23 to play.

Gardner-Webb answered, as Doolittle made a pair of key throws with the 'Dogs backed up deep in Catamount territory. The second, a toss to wide open Jamal Patmon, covered 29 yards and seemed to re-energize the visitors. It would be the ground game that turned the tide, however. Facing third-and-10 at the Western Carolina 23-yard line, Peoples rumbled 11 yards on a delayed handoff for a first down at the 11. Peoples then followed with a 10-yard burst up the gut to set up Doolittle's touchdown push over the goal line.

Peoples carried 15 times for 43 yards and a score, leading a ground game that managed just 84 yards on 39 carries - but made the big runs in key moments.

James Perry III had seven catches for 91 yards and the 6-foot-6 Patmon hauled in six catches for a career-best 90 yards in a clutch performance.

Bryce Nixon paced the Bulldog defense with seven tackles and an interception. Marty Patterson (seven hits, sack, 2.0 TFL) and Mario Brown (six hits, TFL) also had solid games, helping lead a charge that saw GWU post 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and force three turnovers. Matt Goods had another strong game in the middle, collecting three hits and a sack.

GWU held the Catamounts to just eight yards rushing in the first half, and only 43 yards on 25 carries for the game.

Jaynes passed for 277 yards on 21-of-32 passing and two scores, as Western Carolina (0-2) collected 216 of its 320 total offensive yards in the second half. Pittman had nine catches for 113 yards and two scores for the hosts.

Gardner-Webb will travel to face ACC member NC State next Saturday at 6 pm ET in Raleigh. Western Carolina will open Southern Conference play at Georgia Southern next week.