Box Score

Mars Hill, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) completed 18-of-30 passes for 293 yards and a career-high five touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Mars Hill College 56-35 in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs improve to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the SAC, securing a second place finish in the conference. Mars Hill falls to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the league.

The teams combined for 972 yards of total offense. Wingate accumulated 520 yards, while MHC tallied 452 total yards. Wingate recorded 293 in the air and 227 on the ground. MHC threw for 263 yards and rushed for 189. While Wingate took good care of the ball, Mars Hill fumbled the ball five times and lost possession on four of those miscues. 

In addition to his passing exploits, Haffly also rushed for one TD. Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) was Haffly’s favorite target, catching five passes for 114 yards and one score. Vince Jordan (Mt. Gilead, N.C.) ran for 123 yards and two scores, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Luis Alvarez (Lake Wales, Fla.) and Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.) led the Bulldog defense with nine tackles each. Alvarez forced a fumble, while Fletcher recovered a Lion fumble.

Jonas Randolph (Daleville, Ala.) ran for 186 yards and three scores, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt for the host Lions. Josh Johnson (Newland, N.C.) caught six passes for 64 yards to lead the Lions’ receiving corps. Jon Richt (Watkinsville, Ga.) threw for 209 yards completing 16-of-28 pass attempts. Josh Baker (Skyland, N.C.) led the MHC defense with nine stops. Jeff Pell (West Jefferson, N.C.) followed with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack.

Wingate came out of the gates scoring 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and never looked back. Haffly hit Ellington and Philip Thomas (Saint Pauls, N.C.) on touchdown strikes at the 14:11 and 11:02 mark before Jordan dove in from two yards out with 6:50 left in the first frame. Randolph finally put the Lions on the boards with 2:39 left in the first quarter on a six-yard scamper.

Richt scored on a quarterback sneak with 14:56 left in the half to bring the Lions within one touchdown at 21-14. The hosts would get no closer. Haffly responded by finding Antonio Cotton (Tampa, Fla.) on a 12-yard scoring pass (11:12) and then ran the ball in from a yard out (00:33) to give Wingate a 35-14 halftime advantage.

Wingate scored the only points in the third stanza. Haffly hit Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) with exactly eight minutes left in the period and then he threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Ryan Webber (Concord, N.C.) with 6:57 left in the third quarter to push the Bulldogs lead to 49-14.

MHC won the final quarter 21-7, but the damage was already done. Randolph ran in from five yards out (9:52) before Richt had another one-yard rushing score (5:52) to make the score 49-28. Jordan answered for Wingate with a 35-yard run with 5:35 left in regulation to end the Bulldogs scoring at 56 points on the day. Randolph ended the Lions’ scoring on another five-yard rush with 2:58 on the clock to make the final tally 56-35.