BOX SCORE

Asheville, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt junior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) completed 23-of-32 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns as the Wingate University Bulldogs overcame a 20-2 first half deficit and defeated the Tornados of Brevard College 44-37 in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday afternoon. Wingate improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the SAC, while the Tornados fall to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in the SAC.

The Bulldogs exploded for 35 second-half points, taking their first lead of the game at 23-20 midway through the second quarter on Haffly’s nine-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.). Wingate took a 44-30 lead on Haffly’s 43-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.).

Three receivers had over 100 receiving yards on the afternoon, while redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) ran for 153 yards and a touchdown. Floyd, who entered the game ranking second nationally in all-purpose yards, had seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. The preseason All-American return specialist also had two punt returns for 81 yards and a 28-yard kickoff return. Redshirt senior Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) had six catches for 116 yards, while Bowden caught four balls for 105 yards and two scores.

Redshirt sophomore safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.) led all players on the defensive end with nine tackles in the game. Senior linebackers Ben Hinson (Monroe, N.C.) and Greg Harmon (Hope Mills, N.C.) had eight tackles each. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Brandon Mays (Wingate, N.C.) and redshirt junior defensive lineman Josh Yon (Kings Mountain, N.C.) each recorded tackles for loss in the game, while Mays also forced and recovered a fumble. Redshirt senior cornerback Justin Squirewell (Decatur, Ga.) had a big game in the Wingate secondary, recording six tackles and breaking up two Brevard pass attempts in the game.

Brevard took the opening kickoff and started the opening drive on the home 32-yard line. After BC quarterback Michael Crumbaker picked up nine yards on third down to give the hosts a fresh set of downs on their 48-yard line, running back Kelvin Jeter found a seam and raced down the left sideline for 51 yards before being dragged down at the Wingate one-yard line by Squirewell. Running back Neville Bryce bulled his way into the end zone on the following play to put the Tornados up 6-0. Chase Henry’s extra point was blocked and returned to the end zone by Wingate redshirt senior defensive back Terrence Stephens (Queen Creek, Ariz.) to put the score at 6-2 two-plus minutes into the game.

The teams swapped punts before Wingate put together a nine-play, 33-yard drive, moving the ball to the Brevard 10-yard line as Haffly connected on a pair of passes to Ellington and Woods had three carries for 28 yards. On Woods’ fourth carry of the drive, he was stripped by BC’s Demarcus Allen and Allen fell on the ball to end the Bulldogs drive, giving the Tornados the possession.

On their first play from scrimmage after the fumble, Jeter found another seam. This time the seam was on the right side and Jeter weaved his way for 35 yards to move the ball to the Brevard 45-yard line. The Tornados moved the ball the rest of the way on nine rushing plays, capped off by a nine-yard carry by Bryce to put the Tornados up 13-2 with 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Wingate turned the ball over on downs on its next possession and the Tornados took over on their own 23-yard line. Using a steady diet of Bryce carries, Brevard moved the ball 65 yards on 17 plays, with the senior fullback carrying the ball eight times on the drive as the Tornados advanced to the WU eight-yard line. Crumbaker rushed off the right tackle, but was hit by Mays and the ball came loose, bouncing back into Mays’ hands to end the drive and give possession to the visitors.

Haffy connected with Floyd on back-to-back passes to start the next drive, moving the ball 40 yards before Woods had a 19-yard carry up the middle to place the ball on the BC 29-yard line. Haffly’s next pass attempt was tipped and picked off by Salonik Amos; the junior cornerback returned the ball 23 yards to the BC 38.

A late hit on the play gave Brevard possession at the Wingate 47-yard line. After a pair of running plays and an incomplete pass, Bryce took the handoff on fourth-and-one and broke a tackle up the middle. He outran the defenders to the end zone from 38 yards out to put the Tornados up 20-2 with 1:07 remaining in the first half.

A 31-yard kickoff return by freshman defensive back Timmy Rogers (Sumter, S.C.) gave the Bulldogs possession on their own 47-yard line for one final drive in the half. Haffly moved the Bulldogs down the field, targeting five different receivers before finding redshirt senior wide out Philip Thomas (St. Paul’s, N.C.) in the back of the end zone for a four-yard score with five seconds left in the half. Bulldog redshirt senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) hit the extra point as the teams headed into the locker rooms with the score at 20-9 in favor of the Tornados.

Brevard attempted an onside kick to start the second half, but Wingate was able to recover the ball, allowing the visitors to start their opening possession of the half on the BC 39-yard line. After a three-yard rush by Woods, Haffly found Bowden on a post pattern in the middle of the field for a 36-yard scoring strike to cut the deficit to 20-16.

After a Brevard punt, the Bulldogs marched down the field again, moving the ball 65 yard on nine plays before Haffly found Floyd in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown, giving Wingate their first lead of the afternoon at 23-20.

The Tornados came back on their next possession as Bryce opened up the drive with a 38-yard carry, moving the ball from the BC 37 yard line to the Wingate 25. Wingate’s defense stood strong in the red zone, forcing a fourth down to bring out the field goal unit. Henry’s 27-yard attempt split the uprights, tying the score at 23-23 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Haffly found Floyd for a 29-yard touchdown, capping a 10-play, 57-yard drive to go ahead 30-23. Aided by a Wingate personal foul on their next drive and a 22-yard carry by Bryce, the Tornados tied the game up as Crumbaker found a gap in the line from one yard out to put the score at 30-30 with 11:21 remaining.

Wingate would score touchdowns on their next two drives as Woods ran the ball in from five yards out one play after a 73 yard pitch-and-catch from Haffly to Ellington. Haffly found Bowden in the right corner of the end zone from 43 yards out on the second drive, giving the Bulldogs a 44-30 lead with 6:01 left in the game.

The Tornados fought back, moving the ball down the field through the air as Crumbaker found Jeter for 11 yards and Derek Church for a 15-yard gain. A roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive before Bryce carried the ball in from four yards out for his fourth rushing touchdown on the afternoon to cut the lead to 44-37 with 2:31 remaining. Wingate recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to milk the clock the rest of the way to end the game in taking the win.

In his first healthy action on the season after dealing with turf toe and a sprained ankle, Bryce carried the ball 35 times for 224 yards and four touchdowns. Jeter also broke the 100-yard rushing mark in the game for Brevard, finishing the game with 138 yards on 11 carries.

The Tornados visit Tusculum College next Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. tilt. The Bulldogs return home to face Lenoir-Rhyne University next Saturday at the same time. Wingate will celebrate Homecoming against the LRU Bears.

(Thanks to Brevard College SID Seth Montgomery for providing this game recap.)