Carrolton, Ga.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday afternoon, rallying for a 41-31 NCAA Division II play-off victory over the 10th-ranked University of West Georgia Wolves at Ra-Lin Field on the UWG campus. Bulldog redshirt freshman quarterback Shaw Crocker threw for two scores to freshman wide receiver Jalen Brooks, including the game-winner with 10:38 to go.
 
The Wingate defense came up huge with six quarterback sacks and two interceptions. With the victory, the South Atlantic Conference members improve to 9-3 overall with their seventh consecutive victory. West Georgia concludes its 2018 season at 10-2 overall.
 
THOUGHTS FROM WU HEAD COACH JOE REICH
 
"I thought our physicality was huge as the game wore on. On offense, we established our will late in the game. West Georgia is very good offensively. Once we got down 31-27, we had to be persistent and resilient. We were determined to be patient and keep our nose to the grind stone."
 
KEY TEAM STATS 
 
- Wingate won the turnover battle 3-1
- The Bulldogs threw one interception, while the Wolves threw two picks and lost one fumble
- Total offense was a wash, with Wingate gaining 372 yards to 376 yards for West Georgia
- The 'Dogs piled up 245 rushing yards compared to West Georgia's 184
- Time of possession favored Wingate 31:30 to 28:30
- Wingate was six-of-13 on third-down conversions
- West Georgia was three-of-11 in the same category
- Both teams converted four opportunities in the red zone
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Wingate junior running back Domineke McNeill rushed 13 times for 95 yards and one score
- Bulldog freshman running back Nijere Peoples had 17 carries for 65 yards and one TD
- Freshman wide receiver Jalen Brooks caught a game-high five passes for 91 yards
- He caught a 40-yard TD in the third quarter and the game-winner (20 yards) in the fourth
- Redshirt sophomore linebacker Elijah Gilmore had 10 tackles and one sack
- SAC Defensive Player of the Year Cardell Rawlings had four tackles, two sacks and two QB hurries
- Junior defensive lineman Cal Hanford had 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery
- Bulldog redshirt senior punter Chris Birozes averaged 47.3 yards per punt with a long of 58 yards
-Freshman return specialist Ra'Quan Simmons returned the opening kick-off 51 yards.

NOTES

- Wingate moves to 3-0 all-time against West Georgia
- The Bulldogs are in the play-offs for back-to-back years for the first time in program history
- WU improves to 2-2 all-time in postseason play
- The 'Dogs have a seven-game winning streak for the second straight year
- Wingate is now 18-5 over the past two seasons
- WU has outscored opponents 281-143 in the winning streak
- Sixth time the 'Dogs have scored at least 35 points this year
- 19th straight win for the 'Dogs when scoring over 30 points
- Peoples went over 1,000 yards for the season and scored his SAC-best 14th TD
- WU joins #3 Valdosta State as only team to score over 40 against UWG this year
- Second straight loss for the Wolves after starting the season 10-0
- First win over a ranked team since 24-14 win at #16 LR in 2015
- First win over a top-10 team since a 35-21 victory at #5 Catawba in 2004
- First-ever play-off victory over a ranked team
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
- West Georgia got on the board first, as Devontae Jackson scored from 60 yards out at the 13:40 mark
- Wingate managed only one first down on its first drive, but Hanford recovered a UWG fumble two plays later to put the 'Dogs in business
- McLean Robertson converted a 29-yard field goal to put the visitors in the scoring column with 6:42 to play
- On the next UWG possession, Floyd Louallen blocked a punt in the end zone to give Wingate a 10-7 edge
- First career touchdown for Louallen
-West Georgia outgained Wingate 103-64, but the Bulldogs led 10-7 after the first 15 minutes.
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
-An interception by All-SAC corner back Davion Washington set up the first score of the second quarter
- Peoples concluded an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard TD run
- The march used 3:39 from the game clock and gave WU a 17-7 edge
- Joe Kelly recorded an interception on West Georgia's next possession
- Robertson nailed a 46-yard field goal to make the score 20-7 at the 10:01 mark
- West Georgia scored twice in the final 5:32 to pull within 20-17 at intermission
- Omar Cervantes hit a 37-yard field goal to conclude a 10-play drive at the 5:32 mark
- After the Wolves held the Bulldogs on fourth down, Willie Candler found pay dirt on a 15-yard scoring run with 38 seconds left
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
- Wingate took the opening kick-off 75 yards for a score
- Crocker found freshman Brooks with a 40-yard TD strike (11:30 to go)
- Robertson's PAT gave the 'Dogs a 27-17 lead.
- The Wolves answered with two scores to take a 31-17 edge
- Candler finished a seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 17-yard TD pass to Shannon Smith at the 8:02 mark
- Candler's 20-yard scoring run (1:13 to go) concluded the scoring for West Georgia as the Wolves would not score in the fourth frame
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
- Wingate held West Georgia on downs and Crocker made them pay with the 20-yard TD pass to Brooks with 10:38 to play
-McNeill gave the visitors some much-needed insurance with a 20-yard TD run with 4:44 remaining in the contest
- The score concluded a seven-play, 60-yard drive.
- West Georgia moved the ball into Wingate territory on the next drive, but Rawlings and company came up big
- Rawlings had a QB hurry and a sack on the Wolves' last drive
-The Bulldogs had the ball for 9:14 in the fourth quarter
- The Wolves managed only 5:46 worth of possession time
 
UP NEXT
 
- Wingate will play on the road next Saturday in round two of the play-offs
- The 'Dogs will take on the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Florida Tech contest