Jefferson City, Tenn.----Wingate University junior running back Blake Hayes (Greenville, S.C.) rushed 42 times for 186 yards and three touchdowns, boosting the Bulldogs to a 29-16 South Atlantic Conference victory over Carson-Newman University at Burke-Tarr Stadium and Roy Harmon Field Saturday. Hayes has eclipsed the 100-yard plateau three weeks in a row.
 
Wingate improves to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SAC, giving head coach Joe Reich his 100th victory in 16 years at the school. The Bulldogs snap a three-game series losing streak to the C-N Eagles. Wingate steps out of the league fray next Saturday, visiting North Greenville University for a 2:30 p.m. contest. Carson-Newman falls to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the SAC.
 
"Our offense stepped up in a huge way despite a slow start," Reich says. "We were great in the run game once again and the passing game was really improved today as well. Our defense put together a great all-around performance (by forcing five turnovers). There are still some things we need to correct along the way, but I'm very happy for this team."
 
Hayes has 448 yards (on 88 carries) in Wingate's last three contests. The Wade Hampton High School product did his (scoring damage in the first half) as the Bulldogs bolted to a 26-3 lead after the first 30 minutes. After a Carson-Newman field goal, Hayes scored from 17 yards out with 2:45 left in the opening frame.
 
The first of his three rushing TDs gave the Bulldogs the lead for good. Senior place kicker Caleb Baird (Kinston, N.C.) made the score 7-3 with the PAT, concluding the five-play, 69-yard drive. The Bulldog defense put the visitors in position to score another touchdown 23 seconds later.
 
On the next play from scrimmage, Wingate senior defensive lineman Ray Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) sacked Carson-Newman senior quarterback Noah Suber (Asheville, N.C.), forcing a fumble which Edwards recovered at the Eagle 33-yard line. Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) made the hosts pay, tossing a 33-yard touchdown pass to true freshman running back Domineke McNeill (Durham, N.C.) to make the score 13-3 Bulldogs.
 
Hayes added two second-quarter touchdowns to stretch the Wingate lead to 26-3. An interception by sophomore defensive back Tim Longmire (Tallahassee, Fla.) set up the first score, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Eagle 40-yard line. Johnson and the Wingate offense ran nine plays as Hayes scored from seven yards on the final one. Baird's PAT made the score 20-3 'Dogs with 5:42 to play in the second stanza.
 
The last Wingate touchdown was the result of a nine-play, 80-yard drive which consumed less than two minutes from the game clock (1:56). Johnson found senior wide receivers Jordan Berry (Charlotte, N.C.) and Joe Wallace (Hope Mills, N.C.) three collective times for 55 times early in the drive. Later, Johnson connected with redshirt junior tight end Jake Jensen (Fayetteville, N.C.) for 16 yards. Hayes finished by scoring from two yards with 19 seconds left on the second quarter clock.
 
"This was a very special win for us today," Hayes says. "All the credit goes to my offensive line each and every week. They do an amazing job blocking for me and they are the reason for our success in the ground game."
 
Suber led a mini-rally for the hosts, as he scored two rushing touchdowns (11:22, 4:52) on Carson-Newman's first two possessions of the third quarter. Wingate's Baird hit his sixth field goal of the season (26 yards) with 18 seconds remaining in the third, concluding the afternoon's scoring.
 
Wingate redshirt freshman wide receiver BJ Muckelvene (Waxhaw, N.C.) almost caught Hayes in the all-purpose yardage category, compiling 169 markers of his own. The Cuthbertson High School graduate caught five passes for 60 yards to lead the WU receiving corps. For good measure, Muckelvene added 92 yards on three kick returns and 17 yards on one rush.
 
Berry and Wallace caught three passes each for the Bulldogs. Wingate's leading receiver for three years running, Berry returned one kick-off for 16 yards and one punt for 13 yards. Wallace also got into the rushing column with a two-yard run.
 
Defensively, Wingate seniors Edwards, Andre Foulks (York, S.C.) and Mackenzie Battle (Simpsonville, S.C.) had eight tackles each. Edwards had three tackles for loss (six yards), two quarterback hurries, one QB sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Foulks matched Edwards with three tackles for loss (seven yards), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He added one QB hurry.
 
Battle had a team-best three quarterback hurries and added an exclamation point interception in the fourth quarter. Academic All-America® candidate and redshirt junior linebacker Zack Singleton (Germantown, N.C.) had seven tackles, while Longmire had six tackles with four solo stops.
 
"Today was a great day for our team," Reich says. "Coach Rashaan Jordan (Wingate's defensive coordinator) does a tremendous job coaching this defense every week. Not only is he an amazing coach, but an amazing person as well. We are very thankful to have him as part of our staff."
 
Jordan has served two stints on Wingate's coaching staff for a total of 11 years. Bulldog offensive coordinator Mike Long has been with Reich since his first day on the Wingate campus, serving 16 years in his position.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.):
 
"Today was the first time I have ever beaten Carson-Newman since I have been a starter, so this is a great feeling. It is also great to be a part of Coach Reich's 100th win at Wingate. Congrats to him…this is a huge accomplishment. We couldn't be more excited to get this win on the road."
 
"Carson-Newman is a great team and very well-coached, so we knew we had to be sharp in every aspect of the game. The offensive line and Blake Hayes continue to work so hard and play really tough. Our defense lit it up today. Coach Jordan and the rest of the defensive staff always do a great job preparing…going against C-N's offense is not easy. The defense did an awesome job today."