Football | 9/1/2017 7:53:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University head football coach Joe Reich believes simplicity leads to success. As his Bulldogs approach their 2017 season opener at Johnson C. Smith Saturday (6 p.m.), Reich hopes his charges keep this philosophy in mind.
 
"We must do things in the context of what we are able to do," Reich says. "On offense, we must execute. On defense, we must run to the ball and make plays. On both sides of the ball, we must play hard."
 
Any discussion of the Bulldogs' 2017 season begins with senior running backs Blake Hayes and Lawrence Pittman. A Harlon Hill Award nominee, Hayes was named first team All-SAC. A 2017 WU team captain, Hayes posted 100.8 rushing yards per game last year, thanks to his 1109 total yards on 214 carries. He added 14 touchdowns, second on the league's charts to teammate Pittman, who scored 15.
 
Pittman had one of the best individual starts to a season for any running back at the collegiate level last year. Through the first six games of the 2016 campaign, Pittman rushed for 786 total yards on 133 carries before an injury ended his season. Pittman and Hayes give Wingate one of the best one-two punches in the nation.
 
Hayes and Pittman will provide leadership and guidance to a new quarterback and a new stable of wide receivers. Reich says sophomore quarterback James Whitaker is "a football guy. It has been cool watching his evolution as a quarterback and a leader on our team."
 
With four-year All-SAC wide receiver Jordan Berry and stalwart pass catcher Joe Wallace concluding their eligibility, Whitaker will count on senior tight end and team captain Jake Jensen, along with a bevy of talented wide receivers, led by Malik Bledsoe, BJ Muckelvene, Adam Riley II and JT Stokes. The big news for Whitaker…his entire offensive line returns intact from the 2016 season.
 
Graduate student Cabell Cantrell and redshirt senior Daniel Owens made the All-SAC team last year. Redshirt junior Austin May joined his older teammates on the 2017 preseason All-SAC squad. Redshirt junior Jordan Kendrick and sophomores Bruce Dalton, Andrew Strickland and Connor Baroniunas each saw significant time last year.

Even with the departure of Wingate's entire 2016 defensive line, Reich believes the Bulldogs will fare well. "We are deep in every defensive position, including the line," Reich says. "We can go four-to-five players deep on the line…and the same at linebacker and in the secondary. We won't be as spectacular, but we are deeper."

Team captain and senior Academic All-America candidate Zack Singleton will lead the linebackers. Both Singleton and sophomore Elijah Gilmore return with extensive experience. Redshirt sophomore Robbie Wallace also returns at linebacker after missing the 2016 season.

On the defensive front, senior Auntrell Mack returns. He led the NCAA in fumble recoveries in 2014. Classmate Tevita Mafi will look to expand his game, while sophomores Jordon Anderson and Cal Hanford saw important minutes in 2016. Team
captain Joe Kelly will lead the secondary, which features three returning starters (Kelly, Josh Shelton and Tim Longmire).

Reich believes the Bulldogs will build on the momentum from the end of the 2016 season. "We have high expectations," Reich says. "We played for the SAC title in the last game of the previous season. Everyone knows we were close…but we haven't spent much time talking about this. We want to control the things we can control…what we do on the field."

Coming out of preseason camp, Reich feels the Bulldogs have two big takeaways. "We wanted James Whitaker to take command of the offense," Reich says. "He fits smoothly into what we are trying to do. There have been bumps along the way, but he handles himself like a veteran."

Secondly, Reich is pleased with the depth the Bulldogs were able to develop during the 2017 preseason camp. "When we are healthy, we have pretty good depth," Reich says. "We have worked very hard to develop our depth…and we believe our hard work is paying dividends."

Johnson C. Smith will present the Wingate defense with several new wrinkles offensively, as the Golden Bulls have a new offensive coordinator. "We think the run game will be very important for both teams," Reich says. "Johnson C. Smith is very stout against the run…they are tough defensively. When JCSU has the ball, it will be interesting to see what they do. We believe they will present us with several different looks and variations."

Wingate's Joe Reich (101-73 overall)
By the Numbers
 
Reich in Wingate season openers
14-2
 
Reich at home
55-30
 
Reich away
46-43
 
Reich vs. SAC
56-55
 
Reich vs non-conference
45-18
 
Reich in August
9-0
 
Reich in September
42-17
 
Reich in October
38-33
 
Reich in November
12-23
 
Reich vs. Johnson C. Smith
3-0
 
Wingate vs. Johnson C. Smith
4-0
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,400 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.