Brevard, N.C.----Wingate University posted 388 yards of total offense and recorded four takeaways and a defensive TD in a 43-21 South Atlantic Conference football victory over Brevard College Saturday evening at Brevard Memorial Stadium (NCAA statistics book). The total offensive output is a SAC season-high for the visiting Bulldogs (5-2 overall, 2-2 SAC).
 
Wingate redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) completed 14-of-20 passes for 179 yards and a career-high (tying) three touchdowns. The Hickory High School product also ran for a score. WU senior tailback Nestor Lantigua (Wellington, Fla.) rushed 15 times for 98 yards and one TD. Brevard senior fullback Jordan Ollis (Columbus, N.C.) had two touchdowns for the Tornados (0-7 overall, 0-4 SAC).

"This was a good, solid team win for us," Wingate head football coach Joe Reich says. "Plus four in turnovers always puts a team in a great spot to win. The defense did a great job settling in after the first couple (of) drives. I thought Kyle and the offense did an effective job. I am really proud of the offensive line."
 
Wingate scored exactly 43 points against Brevard for the third consecutive season. The Bulldogs have scored 40-plus points in six of the team's eight lifetime victories over the Tornados. Wingate leads the senior college series between the two schools 8-0.
 
The Bulldogs scored twice in 57 seconds to take an early 13-7 lead. Lantigua concluded a 10-play, 55-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to tie the score 7-7 with 2:59 remaining in the first quarter. Two plays later, Wingate redshirt junior defensive back Cornel Cheron (Miami, Fla.) returned a Brevard fumble 20 yards for his first career touchdown.
 
Following the two plays and score theme, BC senior slot back Kelvin Jeter (Gastonia, N.C.) exploded for a 76-yard TD run 55 seconds (and two plays) later to put the hosts up 14-13 after junior place kicker Alex Noboa (Deltona, Fla.) nailed the extra point.
 
Johnson made sure the Bulldogs would not trail long, as he scored on a one-yard touchdown run to open the second quarter scoring. Johnson's scamper was facilitated by redshirt senior defensive end Nick Napolitano (Shallotte, N.C.) and his NCAA-leading fifth forced fumble of the season. WU junior safety Brandon Hathaway (Smyrna, Tenn.) recovered and Johnson posted six points four plays later for a 19-14 Bulldog lead.
 
Brevard went three-and-out and Wingate took advantage, moving the ball 71 yards on eight plays (3:36 time elapsed) to settle the first half scoring. Johnson again did the honors, finding redshirt junior wide receiver Jiwan Funderburk (Pageland, S.C.) with a six-yard touchdown strike. The PAT by redshirt senior place kicker Patrick Smith (Hickory, N.C.) made the halftime score 26-14 with 6:34 left in the second stanza.
 
The Tornados would score only once more, as Johnson made two additional TD connections in the second half. Johnson and redshirt senior wide receiver Patrick Derenda (Manassas, Va.) concluded the longest (yardage) drive of the game with a nine-yard scoring play at the 8:28 mark of the third quarter. The drive covered 92 yards and 10 plays with Wingate taking a 33-14 edge after Smith's extra point.
 
Ollis scored his second TD after Brevard's longest march, as the Tornados covered 84 yards on 13 plays to find pay dirt with 39 seconds left on the third quarter clock. Wingate moved the ball 84 yards on its ensuing possession, ending the push when Johnson and redshirt senior tight end Brandon Ellington (Wilmington, N.C.) bonded for an 11-yard scoring play.
 
Wingate sophomore place kicker Caleb Baird (Kinston, N.C.) made his first career field goal attempt to conclude the scoring. Johnson and the offense utilized 12 plays and 59 yards to put the Bulldog kick-off specialist in position for a 23-yard chip shot with 64 ticks remaining on the Brevard Memorial Stadium timing device.
 
Bulldog sophomore wide receiver Jordan Berry (Irmo, S.C.) had five catches for 61 yards to lead both teams. Ellington and Funderburk had three receptions each. Jeter led the hosts with 11 carries for 110 yards and one TD. Ollis had a TD run to open the scoring and end the scoring for Brevard, as the Tornados compiled 255 yards rushing Saturday.
 
For the Wingate defense, junior defensive back Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) had 10 tackles to top the Bulldog charts. Redshirt senior safety Jon Jimenez (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had eight stops. Classmate and defensive backfield mate Jakeem Polk (Lakeland, Fla.) matched Cheron with an interception Saturday. Brevard junior defensive back Marcus Lunsford (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the Tornados with 10 tackles.
 
Wingate returns home Saturday, entertaining Tusculum for a 1:30 p.m. Homecoming contest in Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. A fourth down pass break-up by Jimenez ended a wild fourth quarter and clinched a 41-33 road victory for the Bulldogs at Tusculum last season. Brevard hits the road Saturday, visiting Catawba for a 1:30 p.m. SAC tilt.