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Wingate, N.C.----The nation’s ninth-ranked defense was no match for the explosive Wingate University offense, as the Bulldogs piled up 614 yards of total offense in a 63-41 victory over the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College in NCAA Division II play-off action Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Wingate redshirt junior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) threw for 477 yards and seven touchdowns on the afternoon.

The Bulldogs improve to 9-2 overall with their first-ever NCAA play-off victory in their first post-season appearance. Wingate will visit NCAA Division II number five Albany State (Ga.) University Saturday, Nov. 27 for a second round match-up (1 p.m. kick-off). The Golden Rams are 10-0 overall and the number one seed in the region. Morehouse completes the 2010 campaign 8-3 overall.

Haffly used all of his targets on the afternoon. Bulldog redshirt senior wide receiver Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) had 13 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Classmate Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) had six catches for 159 yards and three scores, while sophomore wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Morehouse posted 471 total offensive yards. Maroon Tiger sophomore running back David Carter (Marietta, Ga.) had 167 yards on 29 carries. He scored two touchdowns for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference members. Morehouse compiled 277 yards rushing on 56 carries.

The Maroon Tigers led 27-21 after a wild first half. Morehouse junior defensive lineman Mykel Green (Grovetown, Ga.) returned a Wingate fumble 39 yards for a touchdown to give the visitors a 14-7 lead with 3:29 to play in the opening frame. Morehouse senior place kicker Ian Mullen (Long Beach, Calif.) hit a 41-yard field goal to put the Maroon Tigers up 17-7 at the 2:02 mark of the first quarter.

Floyd, Haffly and the Bulldogs answered as the duo connected for back-to-back second quarter touchdowns to give the hosts a 21-17 advantage midway through the stanza. Morehouse sophomore quarterback Byron Ingram (Atlanta, Ga.) responded with a 19-yard touchdown run on the next possession, while Mullen nailed a 35-yard field goal at the half time buzzer to account for the Maroon Tigers’ halftime margin.

Wingate outscored Morehouse 21-0 in the third quarter to take control. Bulldog redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods (Shelby, N.C.) scored on a one-yard run to help the South Atlantic Conference champions take the lead for good following the extra point by redshirt senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.).

Haffly found Bowden for back-to-back touchdowns (18 yards and 23 yards) to give Wingate a 42-27 lead in the waning moments of the third quarter. The first score was facilitated by a Morehouse goal line fumble. Both teams fumbled four teams each and lost three each Saturday.

The two teams basically traded scores in the fourth quarter. After a Carter TD pulled the Maroon Tigers within eight, the Bulldogs went three and out. Morehouse fumbled on the next possession and Wingate senior linebacker Ben Hinson (Monroe, N.C.) returned the miscue 25 yards for a touchdown and a 49-34 Bulldog advantage at the 11:37 mark.

Morehouse cut the deficit to eight one more time, as senior quarterback William Brack (Memphis, Tenn.) found senior wide receiver Robert Darby-McNair (Pennsauken, N.J.) with a seven-yard touchdown pass after a nine-play drive. Mullen’s PAT made the score 49-41 with 8:39 to play.

Haffly finished his record-setting day with fourth quarter touchdown passes to Ellington (16 yards) and Floyd (37 yards). One of 24 regional candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Haffly set a Wingate record (and tied a SAC mark) with his seven TD passes. He had a 40-yard trick play reception on a pass from redshirt senior wide receiver Philip Thomas (St. Pauls, N.C.) in the first half.

On the season, Haffly is 254-of-407 with a new SAC record 39 touchdown passes. His 3649 passing yards break the Wingate record for single season passing yards, previously held by Brian Baughman in 1999. Baughman was also a Harlon Hill Trophy regional candidate.

Floyd has caught 66 passes for 1137 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. His 1137 receiving yards equals Mike Ragin’s record set in 1993. Floyd extends his single season TD reception record with his three scores Saturday. The 2009 All-American had 348 all-purpose yards against the Morehouse Maroon Tigers.

On defense, Wingate redshirt senior linebacker Greg Harmon (Hope Mills, N.C.) had 13 tackles (nine solo, four assists), two quarterback hurries, two pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Harmon and three teammates were first team All-SAC selections earlier this week. Redshirt senior cornerback Justin Squirewell (Decatur, Ga.) had 11 tackles with eight solo stops. Bulldog redshirt junior Jack Taylor (Keystone Heights, Fla.) had a game-high four tackles for loss Saturday.

For Morehouse, sophomore defensive back Darrius Williams (Detroit, Mich.) had 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists), one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Maroon Tiger senior defensive lineman Derrin Nettles (Montgomery, Ala.) had five solo tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Nettles added two pass break-ups for good measure.