Newberry, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are on the road for just the third time this season, traveling to Newberry to take on the Wolves at 3 p.m. Wingate is looking for a fourth consecutive victory, piling up 144 points over the last three games to take down UNC Pembroke, Catawba and Mars Hill. The Bulldogs enter the weekend 5-3 overall and 2-2 in SAC play, while the Wolves are 4-4 overall and 2-2 in league play.

PREVIEW INTERVIEWS

Coach Mike Long
Offensive Lineman Xi Simpson

ABOUT THE GAME

Saturday, Oct. 27 | 3 p.m.
Wingate (5-3; 2-2 SAC) at Newberry (4-4; 2-2 SAC)
Newberry, S.C. (Setzler Field)
Wingate picked second in preseason SAC coaches poll; Newberry picked fourth
 
SERIES HISTORY

- 28th meeting between the two teams
- Series is tied 14-14
- Wingate's 44-20 win last year snapped a four-game Newberry win streak
- The Bulldogs are 6-8 all-time at Newberry
- The Wolves won 27-22 in the last meeting at Newberry in 2016
- The 'Dogs won four straight at Newberry from 1990-1999
- WU won three straight over the Wolves from 2010-2012; twice at Newberry
- Wingate's 49-33 win at Newberry clinched its first-ever SAC title in 2010
- Only one game over the last six years has been decided by less than two TDs

COACHES

- WU head coach Joe Reich is in his 18th season at Wingate (115-77 overall)
- Winningest coach in WU history; one of three SAC coaches to ever win 100 games
- 2017 SAC Coach of the Year (Third time in his career)
- Todd Knight is in his 10th season at Newberry (59-48 overall)
- 2016 SAC Coach of the Year
- Second in Newberry history in wins and winning percentage
 
 MOST RECENT GAME

- Wingate jumped out to a 44-14 halftime lead en route to a 58-21 win over Mars Hill
- Season-high 534 yards, 284 rush yards, 33 first downs and five forced turnovers
- WU held the ball for 38 minutes, including over 22 minutes in the second half
- The 'Dogs scored touchdowns on all seven red zone trips
- Shaw Crocker was 13-for-15 for 223 yards and two TDS, adding a rushing score
- Nijere Peoples had 33 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns
- Malik Bledsoe had three catches for 89 yards and a TD
- Three more catches for 89 yards for J.T. Stokes, scoring twice
- Kam Johnson, Joe Kelly and Robbie Wallace each had an interception
- Gabe Price and Cardell Rawlings had fumble recoveries
- Newberry won 29-13 at Limestone
- The Wolves had 445 yards of offense, holding Limestone to 279 yards
- Dre Harris threw for 156 yards and a score, also ran for 79 yards
- Austin Barnes had 114 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns
- Markell Castle had five catches for 56 yards and a score

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

- Coming off historic 9-2 season, winning its second SAC title in program history
- The 'Dogs made their second appearance in the NCAA Division II play-offs
- Started the season 9-0, ranked as high as 12th in AFCA top 25 (highest ever)
- Wingate is 8-1 all-time under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium
- The Bulldogs have won 13 of their last 15 regular season home games
- Wingate has scored over 50 points twice in a season for the first time since 2009
- The Bulldogs have won 16 straight when scoring at least 30 points
- Wingate started the season 2-0 for the fifth straight year
- WU started the season with six out of eight games at home
- Two of the last three games will be on the road
- First back-to-back road games of the season

WINGATE OFFENSE

- The Bulldogs are averaging 33.5 points per game, ranking third in the SAC
- Fourth in the league with 401.4 total yards per contest
- Crocker leads the SAC in TD passes (20) and completion percentage (60.7)
- Crocker is second in the league with 228.5 passing yards per contest
- Ranks in the top 10 nationally in yards / attempts (4th), yards / completion (7th)
- Crocker also top 10 nationally in passing efficiency (7th) and passing TDs (8th)
- Peoples is second in the SAC with 89.7 rushing yards per game and six TDs
- Peoples has gone over 130 rush yards in three of the last four games
- Stokes is second in the SAC in receiving yards (93.8 per game) and TDs (9)
- Stokes ranks eighth nationally in receiving touchdowns; 17th in receiving yards
- Stokes is 250 yards away from becoming WU's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2012
- BJ Muckelvene has 390 receiving yards, ranking fourth in the SAC with 5 TDs
- Wingate has scored on 29-of-33 red zone chances with 24 touchdowns
- The 'Dogs are 35-110 on third down (32 percent) / seven-for-11 on fourth down
 
WINGATE DEFENSE

- Wingate ranks 11th nationally in sacks; 18th in tackles for loss
- WU is second in the league in scoring defense (19.3 points per game)
- The 'Dogs are second in total yards allowed (311.9 per game)
- 12 different Bulldogs have recorded a sack this year
- Wingate has forced 15 turnovers (9 interceptions, 6 fumbles)
- Cardell Rawlings leads the nation with 12.5 sacks; second with 17 TFLs
- Rawlings leads the team with 62 tackles, nine hurries and two forced fumbles
- Joe Kelly is second on the team with 45 tackles and two picks
- Elijah Gilmore has 42 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and a sack, adding two hurries
- Kam Johnson has 37 tackles, four pass break-ups and an interception
- Matthew Ellis-White has nine break-ups and 36 tackles
- Gabe Price and Auntrell Mack have five and four TFLs, respectively
- Robbie Wallace and Cameron Mattison each have two interceptions
 
WINGATE SPECIAL TEAMS

- McLean Robertson is 7-9 on field goals with a 42 and 43 yarder
- Robertson is 32-for-34 on PATs; also has 13 touchbacks
- Chris Birozes is second in the SAC with a 43.0 average on 45 punts
- Birozes has 12 punts of over 50 yards and 13 inside the 20
- Muckelvene has 11 punt returns for 112 yards (10.2 yards per return)
- Ronnie Procopio is averaging 21.3 yards per kick return
- Ra'Quan Simmons has 13 returns for a team-best 273 yards
 
ABOUT NEWBERRY

- Coming off a 5-6 season, going 3-4 in league play to finish fourth
- Won the SAC title in 2016 with a 7-0 mark in conference play
- Also won league titles in 2008 and 2006
- Opened the year with back-to-back losses at Western Carolina and Florida Tech
- Downed Va. Lynchburg, Carson-Newman and UNCP to move to 3-2
- Back-to-back losses against Lenoir-Rhyne and Tusculum before last week's win
 
NEWBERRY OFFENSE

- The Wolves are seventh in the SAC with 343.1 total yards per game
- Newberry ranks seventh with 19.5 points per contest
- Harris is 50-90 with 530 pass yards; Greg Ruff is 43-86 for 586 yards
- Barnes leads Newberry with 630 rush yards and three touchdowns
- Ruff has 255 rushing yards; Harris has 151 yards on the ground
- Castle has 539 receiving yards and five touchdowns
- Bobby Irby has added 237 receiving yards and a pair of scores
 
NEWBERRY DEFENSE

- The Wolves lead the SAC, allowing just 281.4 yards per game
- Newberry allows a league-low 16.0 points per contest
- The Wolves have not allowed over 21 points since the season opener
- Newberry ranks 13th nationally in scoring defense and 15th in total defense
- The Wolves rank eighth in third down defense, allowing just 26.4 percent
- Joe Blue leads the way with 67 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks
- Jamarcus Henderson has 52 tackles, ranking second in the SAC with 14 TFLs and 6.5 sacks
- Keito Jordon has 7.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks
- David Vereen has 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions
 
NEWBERRY SPECIAL TEAMS

- Shea Rodgers is 12-for-12 on PATs and seven-for-on eight field goals
- Rodgers has made two field goals over 40 yards
- Kevin Weber has 17 touchbacks on the year
- Rodgers averages 42.8 yards per punt with eight over 50 yards
- Irby averages 12.2 yards per punt return on 12 attempts
- Chance Walker has 275 yards on 13 kick returns  
 
UP NEXT

- Wingate is back on the road next Saturday
- WU travels to Limestone Nov. 3 at 4 p.m.
- Next home game for Wingate is Nov. 10, hosting Tusculum at 3 p.m.
- Newberry hosts Catawba Nov. 3 at 1 p.m.
- The Wolves wrap up the season Nov. 10 at Mars Hill