Wingate, N.C.----Newberry College junior running back Romelo Doctor (Summerville, S.C.) rushed 27 times for 147 yards and one touchdown, boosting the visiting Wolves to a 26-0 South Atlantic Conference victory over Wingate University at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field Saturday. Doctor has seven 100-plus yard rushing games this season.
 
Newberry recorded 426 yards total offense. The Wolves improve to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the SAC. Newberry awaits word on a potential NCAA Division II play-off berth. Wingate concludes the 2015 campaign 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the SAC.
 
Newberry junior quarterback Raleigh Yeldell (Edgefield, S.C.) rushed 12 times for 61 yards and two scores. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 212 yards. Both Doctor and junior wide receiver Cole Watson (Conway, S.C.) caught four Yeldell passes each. Watson had four receptions for 73 yards, while Doctor posted four catches for 28 yards.
 
The Wolves defense held the Bulldogs to 161 yards total offense. Wingate redshirt sophomore quarterback Ja'Shawn Joyner (Winston-Salem, N.C.) made his first collegiate start for the Bulldogs. Newberry's shutout is the first time Wingate has been blanked since Sept. 15, 2001, when number six Catawba defeated the home-standing Bulldogs 12-0 in the first WU football game after 9/11.
 
"I expected exactly what we got from Newberry today," Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. "They are a tough, physical team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. They aren't spectacular in any one area, but they just play well as a team."
 
The Wingate football program held its annual Senior Day festivities at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field this afternoon. The university, coaches and families recognized 17 young men for their hard work and dedication to their efforts in the classroom and on the field over the last four years. Wingate also honored two athletic trainers and three cheerleaders as well.
 
"As with many of the classes we have had in the past, there were a lot of great leaders," Reich says. "There were a lot of guys who were great players, but also many 'behind-the-scenes' guys who didn't get to play as much; players like Cody Cothren (Harrisburg, N.C.), Austin Duncan (Cherryville, N.C.), Mycah Gaylord (High Point, N.C.) and Randy Giralt (Graham, N.C.). Those are guys who don't get on the field much, but keep practicing hard and working hard every day. They are ultimately the backbone of our team. It's nice to have spectacular players, but it's also nice to have those leaders to get behind us and drive us forward."
 
Senior defensive back Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) had 10 total tackles on the day. Senior All-SAC linebacker Eric Mapoles (Snellville, Ga.) and freshman defensive back Tim Longmire (Tallahassee, Fla.) had nine tackles each. Senior defensive end Jordan Smith (Deep Run, N.C.) and junior defensive lineman Ray Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) had seven tackles each. Edwards added to a big game with two forced fumbles.
 
The Newberry defense held the Bulldogs to only 161 yards of total offense. Senior linebacker Taylor McDonnell (Bluffton, S.C.) had nine total tackles on the day. Among those tackles, McDonnell accounted for two sacks and three tackles for a loss. He also had a forced fumble. Senior defensive back Arnez Gray (Greenwood, S.C.) had an interception with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter.
 
"I just wanted to thank the seniors for their time after the game," Reich says. "They've done a great job and we are certainly going to miss them. I wish them all the success in the world. We'll talk more at the team meeting on Tuesday night and I'll try to keep myself together without tearing up. It's a good, tight group and I hate to see them all go."
 
The Bulldogs have officially wrapped up the 2015 campaign as the fall sports season is coming to close on the Wingate University campus. Coach Reich briefly discussed what is to be expected from his squad in 2016.
 
"We've got pretty much everybody back on offense, except for our fullback and left tackle," Reich says. "We also have a couple of role players this season who will be returning next season as well, so we've got a lot of guys coming back and we are very excited about this fact. Defensively, we are losing a few guys and going to need to replace some talent there too, but overall, I'm feeling really excited about our prospects next fall."
 
(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.)