Box Score

Hickory, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt-junior Nelson Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) scored from one-yard out to cap off a thrilling, 17 point fourth quarter comeback as the Bulldogs escaped Hickory with a 50-49 victory over the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium. With the triumph, the Bulldogs are now 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the South Atlantic Conference. Lenoir-Rhyne drops to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the SAC.

The 'Dogs used  a career day from redshirt junior Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.), who piled up 287 all-purpose yards with two receiving touchdowns to compliment a 89 kickoff return for a touchdown. Wingate redshirt sophomore quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) also had career numbers throughout his stat line with 29 completions, 311 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

Haffly's day ended by engineering a 18-play, 91 yard drive in 3:15 to complete the comeback. The drive included a fourth-and-one conversion and a 26 yard reception by junior Philip Thomas (St. Pauls, N.C.) on third and 15 to set up the Woods game winner with 43 seconds remaining. Lenoir- Rhyne had a chance to win the game, but a 61-yard field goal attempt fell short and sealed the comeback for the visiting Bulldogs.

Lenoir-Rhyne wasted little time getting on the board in front of the homecoming crowd, as running back Byron Darby (Gastonia,N.C.) scampered 65 yards for  touchdown on the second play of the game and a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs had the answer, responding with a 13-play, 60 yard drive ending in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Haffly to true-freshman wideout Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) to knot the game at 7-7. Wingate converted two fourth-and-one conversions to keep the opening drive alive.

The Bears would score on their next two possessions to take a 14 point lead into the second quarter. Darby scored for the second time in as many carries with a 28 yard touchdown run. Wingate went three-and-out and LRU took the ensuing drive nine plays and 64 yards for a 21-7 lead. Senior quarterback Justin Sanders (Monroe, N.C.) ended the drive on the ground with a three-yard score.

Each team put 14 points on the board in the second quarter. With Wingate trailing 28-7 and on defense, junior defensive end Hamilton Bradley (Gastonia, N.C.) forced a Sanders fumble with a crushing weak-side hit. Redshirt-freshman safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.) picked up the fumble in stride and took it 52 yards to paydirt. The touchdown cut the deficit to 28-14 and was the third time Fletcher has found the endzone this season.

The Bulldogs pulled within seven thanks to Floyd's first touchdown of the afternoon, a 10 yard catch and run from Haffly with just under four minutes left in the first half. Wingate could not hold Lenoir-Rhyne before the break, as the Bears tacked on another score to make it 35-21 at halftime.

After the Wingate offense stalled on its opening drive of the second half, Lenoir-Rhyne regained its largest lead of the day of 21 points with a eight-play, 77 yard drive. Tailback James Pone (Wilson, N.C.) took a toss down the right sideline for a nine-yard TD run.

Down 21 points and faced with a fourth-and-seven from the L-R eight with 1:17 left in the third, Wingate sent on redshirt junior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) for a 26-yard attempt. Lopez would drill the field goal from the left hash, igniting a stretch where the Bulldogs would outscore the Bears 29-7 over the final 16:17 of the game.

The Wingate defense came up with another huge play on the ensuing drive for Lenoir-Rhyne. Fletcher was on the reverse end from the first half, as he forced an Antwain Ross (Grover, N.C.) fumble right in front of the LRU sideline. Senior defensive end Jonathan McKinney (Hephzibah, Ga.) scooped up the ball and took it 28 yards to the Lenoir-Rhyne one yard line. Two plays later, Woods punched it in to cut the LRU lead to twelve. Haffly converted a two-point conversion on a quarterback keeper to make the score 42-32 in favor of the Bears heading into the final quarter of play.

The Bears protected the football on their next drive and extended their to 49-32. Back-up quarterback Major Herron (Kingston, Ga.) led the seven-play drive and finished it off with a two-yard run. The Herron score was the sixth rushing touchdown of the day for the Bears and gave L-R a 17-point lead with 11:18 left.

Floyd would not be denied on the ensuing kick-off as the 5'8 speedster broke a host of tackles en route to a 89-yard touchdown return. Lopez missed the point after touchdown attempt wide left and Wingate remained down by 11 at 49-38. The 'Dogs defense forced yet another L-R turnover, this time on  third-and-eleven from the Wingate 47-yard line. Sophomore Jack Taylor (Keystone Heights, Fla.) knocked the ball loose and classmate Richie Kazazian (Apex, N.C.) pounced on the football to give the offense excellent field position.

After two incomplete passes to start the drive, Haffly located junior wide reciever Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) on third down for 14 yards to move the chains. After a holding call made it first and twenty, Haffly tied his career high from a week ago with a 43 yard strike to Floyd. The third touchdown on the afternoon for each player made the score 49-44 in favor of Lenoir-Rhyne after Wingate was unable to connect on the two-point conversion.

The Wingate defense answered the call for a crucial stop, as they forced a punt by Lenoir-Rhyne  from midfield. The punt was downed at the Wingate nine, setting up Haffly and company for the dramatic final drive. The 18 fourth quarter points for the visitors were scored in 4:40.

The Wingate offense ran 78 plays for 382 yards, good for a 5 yard average. Of the 24 first downs for the Bulldogs, 17 came in the air. Ellington pulled down a carrer-high eleven receptions while Bowden caught six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Defensively for the Bulldogs, Fletcher led the way with 11 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and the fumble return for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Quintin Phillips (Charlotte, N.C.), who debuted for Wingate on Saturday, collected 9 solo tackles and tackle for loss. Bradley filled up the stat sheet, with two tackles for loss, forced funble, pass break up, and a quarterback sack.

Lenoir-Rhyne, the number one rushing attack in Division II, piled up 430 yards on the ground. Sanders led the team with 111 yards, while Darby ended with 109 yards with 93 coming on his first two attempts. Safety Marcus Shuford (Newton, N.C.) led the way on defense for the Bears with 12 total tackles.

Both teams were a perfect 5-5 in the red zone. Wingate came into the contest converting 42% of their third downs on the season but made 10 of 17(58%) on the afternoon and converted all three attempts on fourth down. Lenoir Rhyne led for 58:26 during the game.

Wingate returns home Saturday, October 17, to battle Newberry College for Homecoming at Irwin Belk Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne will also play at home on the 17th, as they welcome in the Carson-Newman Eagles for a 7 p.m. kickoff.