Hickory, N.C.----The seventh-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs had the lead in the final minute of the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 semifinals Saturday afternoon, but a 32-yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds left gave the second-seeded and 17th-ranked Bears a 21-17 victory. LR improves to 12-1 overall, advancing to the region finals against third-ranked Valdosta State. The Bulldogs end their season at 9-4 overall.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH REICH

"First of all, I'm just so proud of this team. To be 2-3 at one point, then run off seven straight wins, get into the play-offs, then come within a whisker of making it to the next round, I'm so proud of our football team and the character they showed. We appreciate all the support we've had this year. We travel well and it's always great to see so many of our fans come out. It's been a fun year. Disappointing to lose the way we did, but proud of our fight."

THOUGHTS FROM CAL HANFORD

On holding LR to its lowest point total of the season – "It all comes down to preparation. Our defensive coaching staff is great and always have us so well-prepared. The amount of work the coaches put in every week that spreads to us. We embody that and go perform the best we can."

On building on the culture after back-to-back play-off appearances – "It goes back to guys that were seniors my freshman year, guys like Andre Foulks and Josh Mills who set the tone and set the level that we needed to get to and play at and build character. If you play at Wingate, you're going to be a good human, good in the classroom, good on the football field and off the field, it's just something we do and we embody that."

THOUGHTS FROM AUSTIN MAY

"It was a great experience just to get to this point. Obviously it didn't go our way but it was great to get here. We all fought hard."

KEY STATS

- Lenoir-Rhyne had 364 yards of total offense compared to Wingate's 304 yards
- The Bears threw for 178 yards and ran for 126 yards
- Wingate had 186 yards on the ground and 178 passing yards
- Lenoir-Rhyne turned it over twice, while collecting 21 first downs compared to Wingate's 17
- LR was one-for-14 on third down, but converted three-of-three fourth down tries
- WU converted four-of-16 third downs and went zero-for-one on fourth down
- Lenoir-Rhyne held the ball for 32:24 compared to Wingate's 27:36
- Wingate was penalized 12 times for 82 yards; LR was called for one penalty for 10 yards

KEY BULLDOGS

- Bryan Mitchell had four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown
- Shaw Crocker threw for 178 yards and a pair of scores
- Domineke McNeill had 59 yards on nine carries
- Nijere Peoples added 44 yards on 14 carries
- Jalen Brooks had two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown
- Davion Washington had two interceptions, three break-ups and three tackles
- Cardell Rawlings had seven tackles including a sack
- Joe Kelly led the Bulldogs with 13 tackles
- Elijah Gilmore had 12 tackles; Matthew Ellis-White added 11 stops
- Robbie Wallace contributed nine tackles including a TFL
- McLean Robertson connected on three-of-three extra points and a 36-yard field goal
- Chris Birozes averaged 42.7 yards per punt on 10 punts

NOTES

- Wingate falls to 2-3 all-time in the NCAA play-offs
- The Bulldogs were in the play-offs in back-to-back years for the first time in program history
- Back-to-back nine-win seasons for first time in program history
- WU falls to 13-21 all-time against the Bears
- Snaps a two-game Wingate winning streak in Hickory
- The loss snaps Wingate's seven-game winning streak
- The Bulldogs were the first team to shutout the Bears in a half this year
- Wingate held LR to its lowest point total this season
- The 'Dogs held the Bears to their two lowest rushing totals this year
- LR was held under 400 total yards three times all year; twice against Wingate
- The Bears rank seventh nationally in scoring offense, averaging 44.3 points per game
- First time this season LR has been held below 30 points
- Lenoir-Rhyne is second nationally in turnover margin, but lost the turnover battle Saturday
- Brooks pulled in three TD catches in two play-off games this season
- All three of Washington's interceptions came in postseason play

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate scored on its second possession to take an early 7-0 lead, needing just two plays
- Crocker hit Peoples for 28 yards to get it to the LR 35 yard line
- Crocker found Brooks on the next play for a 35-yard touchdown

SECOND QUARTER

- The teams traded punts until LR drove it deep into Wingate territory
- The Bears had a third and goal from the five, but Washington's pick in the end zone kept LR scoreless

THIRD QUARTER

- Washington's second pick of the day came on Lenoir-Rhyne's first possession of the second half
- Washington picked off Grayson Willingham and setup the 'Dogs at the LR 43
- Robertson connected on a 36-yard field goal to make it 10-0
- Lenoir-Rhyne went 75 yards on 15 plays to get on the board late in the quarter
- LR converted a pair of fourth downs inside the WU 20 on the drive
- Darnell Jackson ran it in from two yards out to make it 10-7 with 1:23 to go

FOURTH QUARTER

- LR went 40 yards on six plays to take the lead early in the fourth
- A pass interference call in the end zone setup first and goal from the two
- Ameen Stevens scored from two yards out to put the Bears on top 14-10
- The 'Dogs stopped the Bears on their next two drives, then got the ball at their own 39 with 3:05 left
- Crocker hit Mitchell over the middle on the first play, Mitchell got down the sideline and scored from 61 yards out
- The 61-yard TD gave the 'Dogs a 21-17 lead with 2:44 to go
- Reich on Mitchell's catch and run:
"The idea was to hit something over the middle, get us in position to take some shots at the end zone, but Bryan made a great play on it. That kid, he came in as a non-scholarship player, fought his tail off to become an integral part of our team. To see him make such a big play on that stage, I can't be more proud of him. What a super human being that kid is."
- Lenoir-Rhyne answered by going 86 yards on 10 plays
- Willingham completed a nine-yard pass to T.J. Smith on fourth-and-five to keep LR alive
- With 45 seconds left, Willingham ended up with the ball on a double reverse and fired it toward the end zone
- The pass was deflected, but fell on Riley McGee for a 32-yard go-ahead score
- WU got it to the LR 47, but Crocker's pass on the final play was knocked down at the goal line

UP NEXT

- Lenoir-Rhyne is onto the region championship game next Saturday at Valdosta State
- Wingate sees its season come to an end in the play-offs for the second straight year