Box Score
Hickory, N.C.----Lenoir-Rhyne University sophomore quarterback Miles Freeman (Sacramento, Calif.) rushed 16 times for 179 yards and one touchdown as the Bears compiled 422 rushing yards in a 34-13 South Atlantic Conference football victory over Wingate University Saturday night at Moretz Stadium. The contest was the SAC opener for both teams. Lenoir-Rhyne is 2-1 overall (1-0 SAC), while Wingate is 1-1 overall (0-1 SAC).
 
For Wingate, redshirt senior quarterback Robbie Nallenweg (Asheville, N.C.) completed 36-of-48 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown. The Capital One Academic All-America® candidate utilized 10 receivers, with junior running back Josh Covington (Charlotte, N.C.) topping the charts with seven catches for 59 yards. Bulldog redshirt junior wide receiver Patrick Derenda (Manassas, Va.) and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jiwan Funderburk (Pageland, S.C.) caught six passes each.
 
The Bears bolted to a 27-6 halftime lead and never looked back. Lenoir-Rhyne scored on its first two drives to take a 13-0 lead midway through the first quarter. L-R junior running back Isaiah Whitaker (Salisbury, N.C.) concluded a five-play drive with a 49-yard touchdown run at the 12:21 mark. Classmate and backfield mate Jarrod Spears (Bunnlevel, N.C.) finished a six-play march with a two-yard TD scamper with 7:52 left in the opening frame.
 
Wingate answered in the second quarter, as Nallenweg found redshirt senior tight end Mark Clyburn (Wingate, N.C.) with a 16-yard scoring strike. The Clyburn TD cut the Bulldog deficit to 13-6 with 3:57 to go before intermission. The Bears scored twice in the final 2:24 of the second quarter to take the 21-point halftime advantage.
 
The two teams traded touchdowns in the second half. Bulldog redshirt sophomore running back Mycah Gaylord (High Point, N.C.) concluded the longest drive of the night (11 plays) with a one-yard touchdown run with 3:09 left in the third quarter. Wingate redshirt junior placekicker/punter Patrick Smith (Hickory, N.C.) added the extra point to pull the visitors within two scores at 27-13.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne put together its most sustained drive to conclude the scoring. Freeman took his troops nine plays and 82 yards with senior running back Graham Duncan (Gainesville, Ga.) sealing the deal on an 11-yard TD run. Senior placekicker Zach Neumann (Mechanicsville, Md.) tacked on the PAT to settle the final score at the 13:07 mark of the fourth quarter.
 
Whitaker matched Freeman with 16 carries. Whitaker compiled 98 yards on the ground, with Duncan covering 89 yards on eight rushes. Lenoir-Rhyne ran 55 plays on the ground; Freeman threw only two passes (completing one).
 
The Bear defense sacked Nallenweg seven times. Both junior defensive end Blake Baker (Bethlehem, N.C.) and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Chris Green (Albany, Ga.) had two sacks each. L-R junior linebacker Tanner Botts (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and junior cornerback Joe Anderson (Lilburn, Ga.) had 13 tackles each to lead the hosts.
 
For Wingate, redshirt junior linebacker TJ Weinberg (Apex, N.C.) and freshman defensive tackle Auntrell Mack (Irmo, S.C.) had 12 tackles each. The dozen stops are career-highs for both student-athletes. Weinberg had a forced fumble, while senior safety Timmy Rogers (Sumter, S.C.) had a fumble recovery.
 
The Bulldogs won the time of possession battle (32:31 to 27:29), converting three-of-four fourth down opportunities in the process. Lenoir-Rhyne made the most of its visits to the Red Zone, going three-of-three in the category. Wingate was two-of-four in its Red Zone chances.
 
Wingate senior punter Austin Anthony (Greensboro, N.C.) booted four punts for an average of 41 yards per kick. Anthony had one punt inside the 20-yard line and one touchback. The Bulldogs returned five kick-offs for 113 yards. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Angelo Crawford-Reid (Gastonia, N.C.) had a 39-yard return in the second quarter.
 
Both teams hit the road next Saturday. Wingate visits local rival UNC Pembroke (2 p.m. kick-off), while Lenoir-Rhyne continues SAC play with a contest at Tusculum (2:30 p.m.).