Box Score Wingate, N.C.----The number six Lenoir-Rhyne University football team compiled 563 yards total offense en route to a 51-14 South Atlantic Conference victory over host Wingate University Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus. The defending league champion Bears improve to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC. Wingate is 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the SAC (complete statistics book).

Lenoir-Rhyne scored on seven consecutive possessions, spanning the first three quarters. After the two teams traded punts to start the game, L-R senior quarterback Miles Freeman (Sacramento, Calif.) hit junior running back Michael Patrick (Atlanta, Ga.) with a 42-yard touchdown pass. The PAT failed, giving the Bears a 6-0 lead with 5:25 remaining in the opening frame.
 
Patrick scored three touchdowns for the visitors, capping the Bears' next possession with a one-yard TD run. Patrick's second score completed a 14-play, 69-yard drive. L-R senior place kicker Justin Powell (Connelly Springs, N.C.) added the extra point to give the visitors a 13-0 lead with 12:19 to play in the second stanza.
 
Patrick's final touchdown concluded a 10-play, 88-yard drive in the third quarter to put the Bears up 44-0. Patrick was one of three L-R players to accumulate 100 or more all-purpose yards. Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore wide receiver Victor Brannan (Powder Springs, Ga.) led the way with 118 receiving yards on four catches. He found the end zone once.
 
The Bulldogs answered with two fourth-quarter scoring drives. Wingate freshman running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) concluded an eight-play, 92-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Redshirt senior place kicker Patrick Smith (Hickory, N.C.) nailed the extra point with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter.
 
The Bears gave the ball back to the Bulldogs on a fumble. Wingate capitalized, as redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) connected with redshirt senior tight end Brandon Ellington (Wilmington, N.C.) on a 15-yard scoring play. Smith's PAT made the score 44-14 with 7:15 to go in the fourth quarter.
 
Johnson completed 27-of-40 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown. Bulldog redshirt junior wide receiver Cameron Leviner (Monroe, N.C.) caught five passes for 40 yards. True freshman wide receiver Jalen Gavin (Greensboro, N.C.) returned three kick-offs for 99 yards. Gavin led the Bulldogs with 134 all-purpose yards Saturday.
 
For the Wingate defense, junior defensive back Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) had 14 tackles (two solo, 12 assists) with 1.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. Senior defensive back Jay Willis (Mooresville, N.C.) and junior defensive back Brandon Hathaway (Smyrna, Tenn.) had nine tackles each. Willis had a fumble recovery in the second half.
 
The Lenoir-Rhyne defense compiled four quarterback sacks, five tackles for loss, one interception, six pass break-ups and seven quarterback hurries. Bear senior defensive back Joe Anderson (Lilburn, Ga.) topped the L-R charts with eight tackles (four solo, four assists). Senior linebacker Tanner Botts (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had seven tackles, one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and one QB hurry.
 
Wingate completes a two-game home stand next Saturday, hosting non-conference rival UNC Pembroke at 1:30 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne returns home the same day, entertaining SAC foe Tusculum at 7 p.m.