Wingate University Athletics

Greeneville, Tenn.----The Tusculum College Pioneers sprinted out to an early 25-0 advantage and never looked back, claiming a 25-17 victory over the 12th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference football action from Pioneer Field Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bulldogs finish the regular season campaign at 9-1 overall, officially qualifying for the NCAA play-offs. Wingate will learn its seed during the NCAA Division II selection show tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. EST.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: Tusculum 25, #12 Wingate 17
Records: #12 Wingate (9-1, 6-1 SAC), Tusculum (5-5, 3-4 SAC)
Location: Pioneer Field, Greeneville, Tenn.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Tusculum junior quarterback Alex Ogle led the Pioneer offense, finishing 19-of-25 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, while Wingate redshirt junior signal-caller Dylan Williams went 23-of-41 for 239 yards and two touchdown passes.
-Pioneer sophomore running back Tommy Brown led all rushers with 101 yards on 20 carries.
-Tusculum senior wide receiver Evan Gates and sophomore wide-out Chavis Williams each posted 53 yards receiving on a combined six receptions. Wingate junior wide receiver JT Stokes topped the Bulldog charts with 49 receiving yards on four catches.
-The Wingate defense tallied three total sacks in the contest for a total loss of 16 yards. Redshirt junior defensive end Cardell Rawlings compiled 1.5 sacks to lead the visitors. Tusculum compiled four total sacks in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Tusculum struck first with an early 11-0 run in the opening stanza, beginning with a 20-yard field goal from Pioneer place-kicker Gabe Shilling with 9:24 on the clock. The Pioneers then followed with a team safety to make the score 5-0. Ogle tallied a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore fullback Conner Johnston to complete the first-quarter run at the 7:36 mark.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Pioneers continued to light-up the scoreboard with consecutive touchdowns to put the hosts up 25-0 with 3:32 remaining in the quarter. A 22-yard touchdown completion from Ogle to freshman tight end Gary Breuklander and a sophomore fullback Will Boney one-yard rushing score tallied the final points of the contest for Tusculum. Wingate got on the board with 14 second remaining in the first half on a six-yard rushing touchdown from Williams.
 
Third Quarter
 
Wingate redshirt senior tight end Jake Jensen hauled in a 13-yard touchdown reception from Williams for the lone score of the stanza.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The Bulldog defense completed the second half shut-out of Tusculum. WU redshirt senior place kicker Freddy McCollum drilled a 27-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in the game for the only score of the final quarter. The Bulldogs got the ball back in the waning moments, but could not convert a Hail Mary attempt on the game's final play.
 
TURNING POINT
 
A pair of touchdown passes from Ogle and a Boney touchdown run gave the host Pioneers a commanding 25-point advantage with 3:32 in the second quarter.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Williams passed for a season-high in completions (23), attempts (41) and yards (239) in the contest. The Whiteville, N.C. native also rushed for a career-high 62 yards on 13 carries.
-The Wingate offense outgained Tusculum by a slight edge of 367-350, while converting 26 first downs compared to the Pioneers' 17.
-The Bulldogs were seven-of-17 on third down attempts, while holding the Pioneers to only one-of-seven on third-down conversions. Wingate posted a 50 percent efficiency on fourth down tries (two-for-four).
-Wingate's nine victories matches the school-record for senior college wins achieved by the 2010 NCAA play-off team (9-3 overall).
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head coach Joe Reich: "I was disappointed in our first half. We were undisciplined and executed poorly. We showed heart in the second half, but still didn't execute as well as what we would have liked. This loss will be a great learning experience for us."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wingate Bulldogs will await word on their seed in the upcoming NCAA play-offs tomorrow evening. The 'Dogs officially qualify for post-season play for the first time since the 2010 campaign. Tusculum's season comes to a close at 5-5 overall.