Football | 11/3/2017 7:47:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate Bulldog football team is 8-0 overall for the first time in the school's senior college history. The South Atlantic Conference regular season champions host league associate member Limestone Saturday, Nov. 4 for Homecoming, Senior Day, Sports Hall of Fame and Tailgating for the Troops. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN3 (live video).
 
Limestone College at #14 Wingate University
Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 (6 p.m., ESPN3)
GAME DAY CENTRAL: www.wingatebulldogs.com
 
THE TWO TEAMS
Wingate: 8-0 overall, 5-0 SAC (2016: 8-3 overall, 5-2 SAC)
Limestone: 4-5 overall, 3-3 SAC (2016: 5-6 overall)
 
The coaches: Wingate's Joe Reich is 109-73 overall in 17 years with the Bulldogs. Reich has guided Wingate to SAC regular season crowns in 2010 and 2017. A two-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year award winner, Reich and the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA play-offs in 2010. Limestone's Mike Furrey is 9-11 overall in two seasons at the SAC associate member school (football only). Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL.
 
Joe Reich on Limestone: "They are very athletic at every position…defense, offense and special teams. Limestone has two quarterbacks who can go…a very athletic QB and a Division I transfer. They are very unorthodox with their schemes. We must be on top of our game Saturday."
 
…talk about the seniors: "The coaching staff believes this is a very good group of seniors. They are by nature very mature…they don't get too high with the highs and too low with the lows. I believe one of their best traits is how they handle the ups and the downs. As a group, they have an incredible work ethic."
 
…talk about how the team handles the hype surrounding homecoming and Senior Day: "Every week, we talk about how we are going to handle the week in front of us. Senior Day can be a motivator or a distraction. We are going to make this day a motivator. We know we must keep the main thing…the main thing. Our job (as a team) is to play good football…and eliminate the clutter. We love our alumni…and the fact they are passionate about Wingate University. We love our alumni before…during and after homecoming."
 
Last week: The Bulldogs bolted to a 21-0 lead and never looked back, earning a 44-20 SAC triumph over Newberry. Wingate senior running back Lawrence Pittman rushed 26 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns, setting a school-record for touchdowns in a career. He has 39 career TDs. Wingate clinches at least a share of the SAC regular season title with the victory. The Bulldogs are 8-0 for the first time in the school's senior college history.
 
Limestone led 17-10 at halftime, but Catawba rallied for a 45-28 victory in Gaffney. Saints redshirt freshman quarterback DJ Phillips completed 25-of-51 passes for a school-record 413 yards. He had two TD passes Saturday.
 
Last year: Lawrence Pittman had 35 carries for 190 yards and four rushing touchdowns as the Bulldogs claimed a 45-26 non-conference road triumph over Limestone. The Wingate defense forced five turnovers Defensive back Jabbarri Foster had an interception, while Cameron Mattison had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery from the secondary.
 
The Wingate-Limestone series: The Bulldogs lead the young series between the two teams 3-0. In 2014, Wingate was the guest for the first game in Limestone's history. The Bulldogs claimed a 38-10 victory. Wingate scored two defensive touchdowns in the 2014 contest.
 
Sports Hall of Fame induction: Six new members were added to the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies on Friday evening, Nov. 3. The induction was part of a Blue Carpet Gala, which also included the Wingate University Alumni Awards. The Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies are sponsored by OrthoCarolina.
 
The Wingate Sports Hall of Fame class of 2017 includes football defensive back David Jones ('07), basketball guard Tanetra Barrett ('07), volleyball middle blocker Rebecca Brezovec Bass ('07), men's soccer head coach Gary Hamill ('94, '08), softball student-athlete Grace Cunningham Messer ('06) and swimming student-athlete Dr. Laura Gold Watterson ('07).
 
SAC honors Singleton and Muckelvene: Redshirt senior linebacker Zack Singleton is this week's SAC Defensive Player of the Week, while redshirt sophomore return specialist/wide receiver BJ Muckelvene is the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
Singleton scored his first career touchdown on a 49-yard interception return in the first quarter. The Bulldog team captain had nine tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and one tackle for loss. Muckelvene scored three touchdowns, including his SAC-leading third punt return for pay dirt. Muckelvene had 237 all-purpose yards.
 
Game notes: The Bulldog family will honor the 2017 senior football student-athletes, cheerleaders, athletic trainers and band members this evening…Wingate is the number 14 team in this week's AFCA/NCAA Division II Coaches' top 25 poll…the Bulldogs are the number one team in the second NCAA Division II Super Region 2 poll of the 2017 season…West Alabama, Virginia State, West Georgia, Bowie State, Catawba, Delta State, Miles, Virginia Union and Carson-Newman round out the region poll…
 
Bulldog running back Lawrence Pittman leads the South Atlantic Conference in yards per game at 124.8 yards per game…Pittman is second in touchdowns per game with 11, only one shy of Carson-Newman's Derrick Evans and his 12…
 
On defense, Robbie Wallace leads the SAC in tackles per game. Wallace has collected 9.6 tackles per game…the next closest student-athlete has 8.7 stops per contest…Wingate leads the SAC (and ranks third in the NCAA Division II) in average punt return yards at 24.1 yards per return…Adams State (Colo.) leads this category, averaging 25.3 yards per punt return this season…
 
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.