Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs bounced back in a big way Saturday, collecting a wire-to-wire 24-14 South Atlantic Conference victory over number 16 Lenoir-Rhyne University in Moretz Stadium. The Bears saw a 22-game SAC win streak end Saturday.
 
"On offense, we were able to control the line of scrimmage," Wingate head football coach Joe Reich says. "We felt like our offense could run the ball (against Lenoir-Rhyne)…and hit the intermediate and deep throws. The ability to control the line of scrimmage was huge…this allowed us to control the clock and rest our defense. Everything worked together for us today."

One of the biggest stories of the game was the rushing attack by the Bulldogs, led by sophomore running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.). The Mallard Creek High School Maverick had a career rushing day, finishing with 36 carries for 205 yards (both career-bests) and one touchdown.
 
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) also contributed to the Bulldogs' dominant running game with 13 carries for 98 yards. His mobility and speed were very evident on the field today, as Johnson also picked up six of Wingate's 30 first down conversions on the ground. The Wingate offense totaled 344 rushing yards on the afternoon, the highest rushing total on the season for the Bulldogs. They finished with 472 yards of total offense overall.
 
It was Homecoming Weekend at Lenoir-Rhyne University, but it was also a homecoming for Johnson, as he was a football and baseball star at nearby Hickory High School. In addition to his rushing exploits, Johnson finished the game 12-of-18 passing for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
 
"We had to make a statement this week after losing to Tusculum last week," Johnson says. "All around, everyone played really well and gave great effort, which is all we ask for every week. (We believe) everything else will take care of itself. I couldn't be more proud of this team and our coaches."
 
The Wingate offense had multiple contributors on the receiving end. True freshman wide receiver Malik Bledsoe (Culloden, Ga.) had three receptions for 47 yards and scored his first collegiate receiving touchdown. Redshirt junior wide receiver Jody Fuller (Indian Trail, N.C.) also finished with three catches for 30 yards and picked up a handful of key first down receptions. Junior wide receiver and All-SAC performer Jordan Berry (Irmo, S.C.) added to the offensive fireworks with three catches for 25 yards.
 
Entering the contest, Lenoir-Rhyne had the number one NCAA Division II rushing offense, the number 16 scoring offense and the number 36 total offense. The Bears led the SAC in all three of those categories. Wingate entering the game leading the nation in scoring defense, so the game shaped up to be a classic offensive and defensive battle.
 
The Bulldog defense held the Bear offense to only 14 points. Lenoir-Rhyne came into the game averaging 36.8 points per game. Senior defensive back Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) gives his team much praise for the defensive effort and the amount of preparation put in at practice leading up to the big game.
 
"The word of the week this week for the defense was 'focus,'" Otis says. "Coach Rashaan Jordan (defensive coordinator) didn't take it light on us all week in practice and made sure we knew every formation and what was to come when the ball was snapped. He preached all week for us to be disciplined and to ensure that they didn't have any success. We played as one strong unit and put it all on the line for each other."
 
It would take a total defensive effort to shut down the explosive L-R offense and the performance by the nationally-ranked Bulldog defense would be a significant contributor to leaving Moretz Stadium with a win. Redshirt junior defensive end Andre Foulks (York, S.C.) would have another monster game with 11 total tackles.
 
All-SAC linebacker Eric Mapoles (Snellville, Ga.) finished with 10 total tackles. Redshirt junior linebacker Mackenzie Battle (Simpsonville, S.C.) had a season-high eight tackles, while redshirt freshman Kameron Johnson (Durham, N.C.) had seven total stops. Wingate only allowed 314 yards of total offense to the Bears.
 
The Bulldogs lost their undefeated record last week on in a SAC road contest at Tusculum, but Otis knew the team had to learn from the experience and come back strong. "While bouncing back from a tough loss last week, we watched film on what we did wrong and where we needed to improve," Otis says. "We put that loss behind us and started preparing for L-R. With us being the underdog, it gave us a chance to play with a chip on our shoulder. We executed what we were taught this week and came out victorious."
 
Moments after the conclusion of the game, the entire Wingate sideline jumped for joy in celebration and a few members of the team gave Joe Reich their version of the classic 'Gatorade Bath' by dumping the water cooler on him prior to the two teams shaking hands. Positive vibes and emotions were felt throughout the entire team as well as the Bulldog faithful who made the short trip to Hickory. For the 2015 Bulldogs, there are many reasons to rejoice over this signature win today.
 
Wingate stands alone atop the SAC standings and control its own destiny towards their first conference championship since 2010, as well as a potential play-off berth. The 'Dogs return to Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field for their annual Homecoming game next Saturday. Wingate entertains the Carson-Newman University Eagles for a 1:35 p.m. ESPN3 kick-off. Lenoir-Rhyne will travel to Mars Hill University next weekend.
 
(Wingate University sports information/sports network student assistant Jackson Kaplan contributed this article. A freshman from Raleigh, Kaplan is a Communication Studies major at Wingate. The former Millbrook High School baseball player is the son of Harrison and Dona Kaplan.)