Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Redshirt sophomore quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) threw for 219 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as Wingate University defeated Brevard College 28-12 in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. 

With the victory, Wingate improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SAC. The last undefeated football team in the Carolinas, the BC Tornados are 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the SAC.

Haffly completed 17-of-27 passes for 219 yards and three scores. He helped Wingate to a quick 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter and the hosts never looked back. Bulldog sophomore running back Vince Jordan (Mt. Gilead, N.C.) rushed 10 times for 66 yards and one TD. The Wingate defense pitched a first-half shutout as the Bulldogs took a 14-0 advantage to the halftime locker room.

“Cody took advantage (of every opportunity)…and made several key throws for us,” Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. “I would say the three biggest plays of the game…were the three TD passes.”

Wingate’s first play from scrimmage was a beauty, as Haffly hit redshirt junior wide receiver Philip Thomas (Saint Pauls, N.C.) in stride and the wide-open Thomas took care of the rest by completing the 69-yard scoring connection. Bulldog senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) booted the first of his four extra points to give the hosts a 7-0 lead with 11:27 remaining in the opening frame.

After the Bulldog defense held the Tornados three-and-out, Haffly went to work. The Luella High School product led the hosts on a seven-play, 58-yard drive, culminated by a two-yard scoring scamper by Jordan. The Lopez PAT put Wingate up 14-0 with 6:55 to go in the first quarter.

Haffly sandwiched two TD passes around Brevard’s first score to give the Bulldogs a 28-6 after three quarters. Wingate senior running back Marcus Davis (Albemarle, N.C.) returned the second half’s opening kick-off 31 yards to the Bulldog 43-yard line.

The Wingate offense marched 57 yards on 11 plays, as a Haffly audible resulted in a five-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) with 10:57 left in the third frame.

Brevard responded, as the Tornados demolished almost eight minutes from the third quarter clock to get on the board. The visitors ran 15 running plays, covering 74 yards. BC senior slot Shaton Pratt (Winston-Salem, N.C.) sealed the deal, finding pay dirt on a four-yard run. The extra-point attempt failed, cutting the Tornado deficit to 28-6 with 3:20 to go in the third quarter.

Wingate punted on its next possession, but Brevard gave the ball back on first-and-10. Tornado junior quarterback Michael Crumbaker (Arlington, Texas) fumbled deep in his own territory. Wingate redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Mico Drew (Highland Springs, Va.) recovered on the BC 20-yard line.

The Bulldogs scored on the next play, as Haffly connected with freshman wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) on a post pattern. Bowden’s 20-yard TD reception is his first collegiate visit to the end zone. As a result, Wingate’s lead grew to 28-6 with 15 ticks left on the third quarter clock.

Crumbaker led the Tornados on their final scoring drive late in the fourth quarter. Six rushes and a Wingate face mask penalty gave Brevard the ball inside the hosts’ 10-yard line. Crumbaker capitalized, finding sophomore tight end Eric Watts (Powhatan, Va.) with an eight-yard TD strike. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete, finishing the scoring with 4:10 to play in the contest.

Wingate outdistanced Brevard in total offensive yards 364-268. The Bulldogs averaged 6.3 yards per play (58 plays), while holding the Tornados to 3.8 yards per play (71 plays). Brevard won the time of possession battle 32:56-27:04.

Reich believes the first half was huge for his defensive unit. “Any time we face an option team…we can’t simulate (their plays) in practice,” Reich acknowledges. “We were concerned with how we would perform (out of the gates). We typically struggle early against option teams. The first half was big for us.”

Bulldog redshirt freshman safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.) topped the Wingate defensive charts with 15 stops (six solo, nine assists). Bulldog linebackers and high school teammates Ben Hinson (Monroe, N.C.) and Aaron Plyler (Monroe, N.C.) split 24 stops down the middle, with Hinson posting a QB sack. Wingate senior safety Tylan Merkerson (Oxford, Ga.) notched 10 tackles.

Brevard senior linebacker Stanley Jones (Spartanburg, S.C.) had 11 tackles and one quarterback sack. Tornado sophomore linebacker Prince Simunyu (Wake Forest, N.C.) had 10 stops, including eight solo tackles. BC senior safety Donald Hudson (Augusta, Ga.) recorded the game’s only interception.

Haffly spread out the love, utilizing seven receivers Saturday. Bowden, Ellington and redshirt junior wide receiver Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) caught four balls each. Bowden topped the yardage charts with 62. Wingate’s resident speedster, Floyd returned three punts for 40 yards and one kick-off for 26 yards. The Forestview High School product was the top all-around performer Saturday, compiling 103 all-purpose yards.

Crumbaker rushed 22 times for 98 yards to top the Brevard rushing charts. Pratt had seven attempts for 58 yards and one score. In addition to his touchdown catch, Watts had a big day as the Tornados’ punter. He boomed six punts for 266 yards (44.3 yards per punt), placing two kicks inside the Wingate 20-yard line.

The Bulldogs hit the road next Saturday, venturing to Lenoir-Rhyne University for a 2 p.m. SAC contest. Brevard returns home, hosting mountain rival and league foe Tusculum College at 6 p.m. Saturday night.