Wingate, N.C.----North Greenville University senior quarterback Nelson Hughes (Roebuck, S.C.) completed 20-of-23 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns as the Crusaders rallied for a 27-21 victory over Wingate University at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field Saturday. North Greenville improves to 6-2 overall, while Wingate falls to 6-3 overall.
 
"Our guys all season have continued to play with great effort," Wingate head football coach Joe Reich says. "We've got guys that are making great plays at different times, but it's just frustrating because we've got to learn how to win these closer games."
 
The Bulldogs and Crusaders finished with similar numbers in total offensive yards as Wingate had 374 yards and North Greenville ended up with 379 yards on the offensive side. North Greenville trailed 21-14 at intermission, but held the hosts scoreless in the second half.
 
Hughes also caught a seven-yard TD pass from junior wide receiver Tyrecous Garrett (Chesnee, S.C.) in the second quarter. NGU junior running back Ashton Heard (Abbeville, S.C.) rushed 32 times for 105 yards and one score. True freshman wide receiver Demajiay Rooks (Woodruff, S.C.) led both teams with six catches for 73 yards and one touchdown reception.
 
For Wingate, redshirt junior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) completed 16-of-24 passes for 193 yards and one TD. The Hickory High product led the 'Dogs in rushing, carrying the ball 13 times for 73 yards and one score. Bulldog sophomore running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) ran the ball 18 times for 64 yards and one TD.
 
Among a strange sequence of events late in the fourth quarter, an interception by Crusader junior defensive back KJ McDonald (Columbia, S.C.) sealed the win for North Greenville with 2:58 left in the game. This was only one play after the Crusaders turned the ball over on an interception by Wingate redshirt freshman defensive back Kameron Johnson (Durham, N.C.). The pick was Johnson's first career interception.
 
Freshman wide receiver Malik Bledsoe (Culloden, Ga.) led the Bulldogs' receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Redshirt junior wide receiver Jody Fuller (Indian Trail, N.C.) had three receptions for 35 yards. For the Crusaders, senior wide receiver Tyrell Hillary (North Augusta, S.C.) supported Rooks' efforts with five receptions for 63 yards.
 
The Wingate defense made many key stops, including forcing two turnovers. Both of those turnovers were forced by Kameron Johnson who had an interception and a forced fumble. The fumble was recovered by junior defensive tackle Josh Mills (Gastonia, N.C.). Johnson also finished with 11 total tackles on the afternoon.
 
Senior All-SAC linebacker Eric Mapoles (Snellville, Ga.) had a season-high 12 tackles. Senior linebacker Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) and redshirt senior linebacker Charlie Hosea (Newhall, Calif.) each recorded 10 tackles. WU junior defensive lineman Ray Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) had two sacks and three tackles for a loss.
 
The Bulldogs fall to 6-3 and 3-2 in the SAC, but will seek to end their two-game slide as they travel west to the mountain town of Mars Hill, N.C. to take on South Atlantic Conference (SAC) foe, the Mars Hill University Lions. Coach Reich discussed the adjustments the Bulldogs need to make as they head into the final two games of the regular season.
 
"We just need to keep preparing the same way as before," Reich says. "The run game wasn't great in the second half (today). We need to look to see where we can get better there because that is what has carried us at different times during the season. This week we will emphasize the run game, ball control and playing great defense. That's a recipe for winning."
 
The Mars Hill Lions enter the game against the Bulldogs with an overall record of 4-5 and 3-2 in SAC competition. The Crusaders will hit the road again next week as they travel to Carson-Newman University to face the Eagles.
 
(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.)