Football | 9/8/2017 6:58:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----As the Wingate University football team prepared for Saturday's NCAA Division II contest at Fayetteville State (6 p.m. kick-off), Bulldog head coach Joe Reich admits this is a very unique time for his team (Wingate Sports Network audio broadcast; scouting report). "Progressing from week one to week two is always very interesting," Reich says. "As a team, we spent much more time (this week) looking at what we did right and did wrong in the first game…rather than concentrating on the (next) opponent."
 
Reich believes his Bulldogs will be ready Saturday. "We have been pleased with practice this week," Reich says. "We found things we need to address…we do want to be more efficient throwing the football. We have seen good things in practice this week in every aspect of our preparation…the proof will be in the pudding as we face FSU Saturday night."
 
Last week, Wingate senior running back Blake Hayes (Greenville, S.C.) rushed 18 times for 152 yards and one TD, leading the Bulldogs to a 38-18 NCAA Division II triumph over Johnson C. Smith University Saturday night at the Irwin Belk Complex and Eddie McGirt Field. The contest was the season opener for both teams.
 
Wingate Academic All-America® candidate and senior linebacker Zack Singleton (Germanton, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with seven tackles (six solo). He added two tackles for losses. WU redshirt freshman defensive lineman Louis Rogers (Spartanburg, S.C.) had six tackles (five solo) with a game-high 4.5 tackles for loss in his Bulldog debut.
 
Bulldog defensive backs Joe Kelly (Columbia, S.C.) and Cameron Mattison (Charlotte, N.C.) had interceptions, while redshirt sophomore linebacker Robbie Wallace (Covington, Ga.) had one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.
 
Fayetteville State snapped a three-game losing streak to Chowan Saturday, edging the CU Hawks 24-21 in Murfreesboro. Chowan out-gained the visiting FSU Broncos 467-234 in total offense. The Broncos tallied 186 yards on the ground. Fayetteville State graduate student quarterback and Duke transfer Kane Banner (Lumberton, N.C.) rushed for two touchdowns.
 
"Fayetteville State is very athletic and they run the ball well," Reich says. "Their quarterback does a good job. They have three good tailbacks. They throw the ball effectively. On defense, they are tough, physical and run to the ball. They don't over complicate things…and do a very good job with their (defensive) schemes."
 
Players to Watch: For Wingate, redshirt sophomore wide receiver BJ Muckelvene (Waxhaw, N.C.) is the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 2, 2017, league officials announce Tuesday. Muckelvene returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the JCSU victory. Muckelvene compiled 137 all-purpose yards with 55 rushing yards and nine receiving yards to go with his 73-yard punt return.
 
Wingate redshirt junior punter Christopher Birozes (Suwanee, Ga.) made a triumphant return after missing the 2016 season due to a liver transplant. The 2015 Academic All-America® boomed six punts for 258 yards and a 43-yards-per-punt average. He had three boots inside the 20-yard line.
 
For Fayetteville State, junior running back Stevie Green (Washington, N.C.) rushed 24 times for 90 yards (both team-highs) against Chowan. Green shared carries with freshman running back Donshel Jetton (Mooresville, N.C.), who rushed nine times for 70 yards and one TD.
 
Sophomore linebacker Anthony Harris (Greenville, S.C.) and freshman defensive end Keshawn James (Cayce, S.C.) led the Broncos defense at Chowan Saturday. Both student-athletes had six tackles and one tackle for loss each. FSU sophomore wide receiver Brandon Smith (Red Springs, N.C.) returned three kick-offs for 124 yards in the victory.
 
The coaches: Wingate's Joe Reich is 102-73 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. The Gettysburg College graduate is 15-2 overall in Wingate season openers.
 
Fayetteville State head coach Richard Hayes, Jr. is 5-6 overall in two seasons with the Broncos. The victory over Chowan gives Fayetteville State its first season-opening triumph since 2008. The Wingate game is Fayetteville State's only non-conference contest this year, as the Broncos play nine CIAA games prior to a potential appearance in the CIAA championship game on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 
The Wingate-Fayetteville State series: Wingate leads the series 3-0. The two teams are playing for the first time in 10 years, as the Bulldogs collected a 34-26 victory in Fayetteville on August 25, 2007. In his WU debut, redshirt freshman tailback Nelson Woods rushed 21 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns at D.T. Carter Stadium on the campus of E .E. Smith High School.
 
Wingate vs. Fayetteville State senior college series history
1997 - Wingate 48, Fayetteville State 12 (at Monroe, N.C.)
2006 - Wingate 19, Fayetteville State 0 (at Wingate, N.C.)
2007 - Wingate 34, Fayetteville State 26 (at Fayetteville, N.C./E.E. Smith High School)
 
NOTE: From 1986-97, WU played home games at Walter Bickett Stadium in Monroe, N.C.
 
Night football is coming to Wingate: The Bulldogs will play a total of four games from the friendly confines of Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field this year, starting with the Carson-Newman contest Sept. 16. Each home game will have an opening kick-off time of 6 p.m. under the lights, a first in Wingate's Belk Stadium history.
 
"We are very excited to bring night football to Wingate University's students and fans," Wingate vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston says. "We believe this will create a festive game environment…complete with afternoon tailgating opportunities for our fans and students."
 
"For our early September home games, we believe an evening football game will provide our fans with a more pleasant environment for watching the game and enjoying the game-day experience. In the past, we have heard from many families in our community who have had conflicts with Saturday afternoon home football games at Wingate. The 6 p.m. evening start for our 2017 home football games should help us expand our fan base."