Football | 10/20/2017 7:35:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University football team (6-0 overall, 3-0 SAC) will play its third of three straight South Atlantic Conference road games Saturday, traveling to Mars Hill University for a 1:30 p.m. league contest in Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. The Bulldogs are the only undefeated team in the SAC standings.
 
2017 Wingate University Football
#20 Wingate University at Mars Hill University
Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium, Mars Hill, N.C.
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 (1:30 p.m., Wingate Sports Network audio)
GAME DAY CENTRAL: www.wingatebulldogs.com
 
THE TWO TEAMS
Wingate: 6-0 overall, 3-0 SAC (2016: 8-3 overall, 5-2 SAC)
Mars Hill: 2-5 overall, 1-4 SAC (2016: 5-6 overall, 3-4 SAC)
 
The coaches: Wingate's Joe Reich is 107-73 overall in 17 years with the Bulldogs. Reich has more victories than any other WU football coach. A two-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year award winner, Reich helped the 'Dogs win the SAC title and advance to the NCAA play-offs in 2010. Mars Hill head coach Tim Clifton is celebrating 25 years at MHU this year. He is 121-117 overall, placing him second on the league's all-time victories list. Clifton was SAC Coach of the Year in 2011, as he guided the Lions to their first NCAA play-off appearance the same year.
 
Joe Reich on Mars Hill: "They are very dangerous and very explosive on the offensive side of the ball. When one looks at the SAC only statistics, Mars Hill is near the top of the list in every category. They can score, they have the ability to move the ball and they have great schemes."
 
"This is a big thing which jumps off the page at us…They have great skill players, a quarterback who does a good job running the show and solid running backs."
 
…on practice this week: "We are concentrating on getting ourselves better. There are times when a team reaches the mid-year/end-of-the-year points of the season…they may have a tendency to go through the motions. This is not the case in our situation."

"We are focusing every day on getting ourselves better…better for us in all areas. Of course, we are practicing against the schemes Mars Hill will run, but at the end of the day…this is more about us getting better in every area of our game plan. We want to make continuous improvement."
 
…on players who deserve a shout-out this week: "On offense, Jake Jensen received a huge compliment from (offensive coordinator) Mike Long last week…Coach Long says Jake 'is playing like a captain should play.' Jake is exhibiting great leadership qualities…and making smart and savvy decisions. He is communicating well and raising the level of play for his teammates."
 
"On defense, Auntrell Mack has been a dominant performer for our defensive line. He has been a wrecking ball…making it much easier for our linebackers to make plays and make tackles."
 
Are the coaches doing anything special to keep the team from looking ahead? "We don't have to do anything special. On offense, we are a little more banged up than normal…as a result, this brings an immediate focus to each day's practice…and the importance of taking things one day at a time, one game at a time. Due to the many challenges Mars Hill will present to us both offensively and defensively, we don't have talk to the players about looking past this week."
 
Last week: Wingate University redshirt senior placekicker Freddy McCollum hit a 27-yard field goal at the buzzer, boosting the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 27-24 South Atlantic Conference football triumph over Catawba College at Shuford Stadium and Kirkland Field Saturday afternoon. Bulldog junior wide receiver Malik Bledsoe made a 29-yard, one-handed catch on the previous play to put the visitors in position for the victory. The two teams combined for 851 yards total offense (Wingate 414, Catawba 437) Saturday.
 
Mars Hill dropped a 30-21 SAC home decision to Carson-Newman Saturday. Lion quarterback completed 26-of-46 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns. The hosts had 462 yards of total offense with 382 of those yards accumulated through the air.
 
Last year: Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Johnson ('17) had a career day, finishing 20-of-29 passing for 416 yards and five touchdowns in his final home contest as the Bulldogs earned a 42-39 Homecoming victory over Mars Hill. Wingate compiled 631 yards of total offense on the day. The Bulldogs improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the SAC as Johnson set career-highs in passing yards (416) and passing touchdowns (five).
 
The Wingate-Mars Hill series: Mars Hill leads the overall series between the two schools 17-14. The Lions have won four of the last six games between the two schools. Mars Hill is one of two teams (Lenoir-Rhyne is the other) Wingate has played every year since the institution revitalized football in 1986.
 
Wingate vs. Mars Hill series history (Mars Hill leads series 17-14)
1986    Mars Hill 54, Wingate 3          Monroe
1987    Wingate 38, Mars Hill 18         Mars Hill
1988    Wingate 34, Mars Hill 10         Monroe
1989    Mars Hill 9, Wingate 7           Mars Hill
1990    Mars Hill 24, Wingate 18         Monroe
1991    Wingate 25, Mars Hill 19         Mars Hill
1992    Wingate 19, Mars Hill 16         Monroe
1993    Wingate 31, Mars Hill 28         Mars Hill
1994    Mars Hill 42, Wingate 16         Monroe
1995    Mars Hill 28, Wingate 20         Mars Hill
1996    Wingate 14, Mars Hill 7          Monroe
1997    Mars Hill 28, Wingate 7          Mars Hill
1998    Wingate 42, Mars Hill 14         Wingate
1999    Mars Hill 37, Wingate 7          Mars Hill
2000    Mars Hill 25, Wingate 18         Wingate
2001    Mars Hill 28, Wingate 14         Mars Hill
2002    Mars Hill 30, Wingate 24 (OT)    Wingate
2003    Mars Hill 21, Wingate 3          Mars Hill
2004    Wingate 20, Mars Hill 19         Wingate
2005    Mars Hill 32, Wingate 22         Mars Hill
2006    Wingate 37, Mars Hill 14         Wingate
2007    Wingate 33, Mars Hill 21         Mars Hill
2008    Mars Hill 45, Wingate 42         Wingate
2009    Wingate 56, Mars Hill 35         Mars Hill
2010    Wingate 48, Mars Hill 29         Wingate
2011    Mars Hill 42, Wingate 35         Mars Hill
2012    Mars Hill 37, Wingate 31         Wingate          
2013    Mars Hill 56, Wingate 42         Mars Hill
2014    Wingate 24, Mars Hill 7          Wingate
2015    Mars Hill 42, Wingate 24         Mars Hill
2016    Wingate 42, Mars Hill 39         Wingate
 
NOTE: From 1986 through 1997, Wingate played its home games at Walter Bickett Stadium in Monroe, N.C.
 
Wingate football moves to number 20 in AFCA top 25: The Wingate football team (6-0 overall, 3-0 SAC) is the number 20 team in this week's AFCA/NCAA Division II Coaches' top 25 poll, officials announce today. The Bulldogs are ranked for the second consecutive week, as the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad WU student-athletes entered the October 9 listing at number 24.
 
Wingate is listed in the AFCA top 25 poll for the 28th time in school history and the second time this season. The Bulldogs were ranked five times in 2004, two times in 2006, six times in 2007, seven times in 2008, one time in 2010, two times in 2011, two times in 2015, one time in 2016 and twice in 2017.
 
Game notes: Wingate's last victory in Mars Hill was a 56-35 decision on Nov. 7, 2009…The teams combined for 972 yards total offense in the 2009 contest…Wingate accumulated 520 yards with 293 in the air and 227 on the ground…Bulldog running back Lawrence Pittman leads the SAC with his 115.2 rushing yards per game…Place kicker Freddy McCollum tops the league charts in field goals per game (1.50) and points per game (7.8)…
 
Wingate return specialist BJ Muckelvene shares the NCAA lead in punt returns for touchdowns (with four others) with two…WU defensive lineman Auntrell Mack and linebacker Robbie Wallace are number one on the league's list in forced fumbles per game (0.33) and tackles per game (9.3), respectively…
 
Wingate is one of 12 undefeated NCAA Division II teams…In North Carolina, only the Bulldogs and the N.C. A&T State Aggies (7-0 overall) are undefeated…

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,600 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 96 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 96 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 105 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.