Carrollton, Ga.----Wingate University redshirt junior quarterback and captain Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) made sure his first collegiate appearance in his home state was a memorable one, leading the Bulldogs to a 10-7 victory over the University of West Georgia Saturday night at University Stadium.
Haffly completed 26-of-38 passes for 343 yards. He scored the Bulldogs’ only touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the third quarter. Wingate first team pre-season All-American Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) recorded 11 receptions for 171 yards for the victors. The Bulldogs had 25 first downs and kept the pigskin for 36+ minutes Saturday.
The contest was the season opener for both teams. Wingate head coach Joe Reich has a 10-0 overall record in season openers during his illustrious Bulldog career. Reich and his WU Bulldogs visit Valdosta State (Ga.) University Saturday at 7 p.m. West Georgia hosts Concordia College Selma Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Wolves and the Bulldogs battled to a 0-0 tie at halftime. The visiting South Atlantic Conference members had a late second quarter chance in the red zone, but a tipped pass was intercepted by West Georgia junior defensive end Antoine Moore (Decatur, Ga.).
Wingate scored on back-to-back third quarter possessions to give the Bulldog defense the cushion it would need. Haffly hit redshirt senior wide receiver Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) for a 35-yard reception on the first play of the drive. The drive lasted 10 plays and 65 yards, as Haffly called his own number on the final play of the drive. Bulldog redshirt senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) nailed the extra point to give the visitors a 7-0 lead with 7:36 remaining in the third frame.
West Georgia had one of its seven punts on its next possession. Wingate responded by moving 11 plays and 63 yards, capped by a 20-yard field goal by Lopez at the 2:17 mark. The big play of the drive was a 19-yard connection between Haffly and sophomore wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.).
The Bulldog defense kept the Wolves off the scoreboard until the waning moments. West Georgia back-up quarterback Brandon Behenna (Sharpsburg, Ga.) orchestrated an eight-play, 80-yard drive, concluding the march with a 32-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Arkeem French (Fort Valley, Ga.). UWG sophomore place kicker Davis Brackett (Marietta, Ga.) added the PAT with 94 seconds remaining in the contest.
Wingate recovered the on-side kick and redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) ran three times for 15 yards to give the Bulldogs the only first down they would need. Woods carried 24 times for 53 yards Saturday. The two-time All-SAC selection has 2,843 career rushing yards, 103 yards shy of Wingate’s all-time record.
The Wingate defense held West Georgia to 11 first downs, only two on the ground. Bulldog redshirt senior cornerback Terrence Stephens (Queen Creek, Ariz.) had 10 tackles (eight solo), one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. Redshirt senior cornerback Justin Squirewell (Decatur, Ga.) had six solo tackles and two pass break-ups.
The Bulldogs compiled 435 yards total offense on 85 plays. Haffly utilized six different receivers. In addition to Floyd’s monster game, three Wingate wide outs caught three or more balls. Ellington grabbed five receptions for 66 yards. Redshirt senior Philip Thomas (St. Pauls, N.C.) caught four passes for 23 yards, while Bowden had three catches for 64 yards.
Wingate converted two-of-five red zone chances, while not allowing West Georgia a red zone opportunity. The Bulldogs were seven-of-17 on third-down conversions, while the Wolves were five-of-16. Both teams capitalized on one fourth-down conversion each.
Wingate has five Georgia players on its current travel roster. The West Georgia contest marked the first time the Bulldog quintet played a college game on home soil. In addition to Haffly, Bowden and Squirewell, senior center Andrew Garner (Sharpsburg, Ga.) and junior linebacker Tony Davis (Jackson, Ga.) will have great stories to tell their grandchildren. Davis and Haffly were teammates at Luella High School.
The West Georgia game was Wingate’s first contest in the state of Georgia in 22 years. The Bulldogs played two contests in Georgia while an NAIA member. Wingate played Georgia Southwestern in 1986, 1987 and 1988. The 1987 and 1988 contests were at GSW. On Nov. 5, 1988, the Bulldogs lost a wild 22-19 decision to the Hurricanes in Americus. Wingate’s Mark Driver kicked field goals of 64 and 57 yards in the 1988 GSW contest. The 64-yard field goal is a school-record.
