Box Score

Raleigh, N.C.----The Wingate University football team tossed its fourth shutout in the school's senior college history, blanking Saint Augustine's 30-0 at Len Bauer Stadium Saturday. Wingate compiled 483 total yards offense. The Bulldogs improve to 2-0 overall, while the SAU Falcons fall to 0-2 overall. Wingate's last shutout was August 26, 2006, when the Bulldogs defeated Fayetteville State 19-0.

"It was most important for us to take a step forward from last week," Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. "I believe we accomplished this (today). We still have plenty of work to do. (Redshirt sophomore quarterback) Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) was efficient. He has a great upside and must continue to improve at the little things. Our running game was solid, but slightly inconsistent. Defensively, this was a good game because we faced some adversity but came through...we must continue to improve."

Johnson was 26-of-45 for 369 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Johnson's TD passes came in the first half, as Wingate built a 20-0 halftime advantage. Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Berry (Irmo, S.C.) caught a team-best seven passes for 106 yards and one score. Thirteen Bulldogs caught at least one pass Saturday.

Wingate redshirt senior place kicker Patrick Smith (Hickory, N.C.) had a career-high three field goals for the visitors, who held the host Saint Augustine's Falcons to 156 total yards. Wingate redshirt junior linebacker Charlie Hosea (Newhall, Calif.) had six tackles and a tackle for a loss for the Bulldog defense. Redshirt senior defensive end Nick Napolitano (Shallotte, N.C.) was one of three Wingate players with five tackles each.

Johnson threw his first career touchdown pass on Wingate's second possession. The Hickory High School product found Berry with a 35-yard TD strike to conclude a nine-play drive. Smith booted the first of his three extra points to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 4:57 to play in the opening frame.

Wingate took a 14-0 advantage when Johnson connected with redshirt junior wide receiver Bryan Caffrey (Bayside, N.Y.) on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 9:26 remaining in the second stanza. Johnson found true freshman wide receiver Jalen Gavin (Greensboro, N.C.) with a nine-yard completion on the play before Caffrey's touchdown.

Smith had two field goals (35 yards, 23 yards) in the final 4:17 of the second quarter to conclude the first half scoring. His first triple concluded a nine-play march. Wingate put together a 14-play drive as the second quarter ended. Smith hit his second field goal as the buzzer sounded for intermission.

In the third quarter, Smith put the finishing touches on an 11-play drive with a 42-yard field goal (0:07). Wingate redshirt junior wide receiver Jiwan Funderburk (Pageland, S.C.) scored on a 20-yard rush to conclude the scoring with 9:05 left in the fourth quarter.
 
NOTES

The Bulldogs are 10-1 overall in lifetime games against CIAA teams. Wingate has three wins over Fayetteville State and two victories each against Johnson C. Smith, Saint Augustine's and Saint Paul's (Va.). Wingate possesses one victory each over Elizabeth City State and Virginia Union.
 
Wingate's previous shutouts include two from the 2002 season: Johnson C. Smith (24-0) and Newberry (33-0). The first shutout in Wingate's senior college history was a 28-0 decision over Shepherd (W.Va.) during the 1988 season.
 
The Wingate University athletic department is planning its 14th annual Patriots' Day celebration next Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. The Bulldog football team will host Lenoir-Rhyne University Saturday, Sept. 20 at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Game time is 1:30 p.m.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne leads the series between the two schools 18-10; however, Wingate has won eight of the last 12 meetings between the two schools. LRU is one of two teams (Mars Hill is the other) Wingate has played every year since the institution revitalized football in 1986.