Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University junior running back Domineke McNeill (Durham, N.C.) has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference football Offensive Player of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday morning. Senior punter Chris Birozes (Suwanee, Ga.) is the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week. McNeill earns Player of the Week accolades for the first time in his career, while Birozes earns the honor for the second time in his career.

McNeill needed only 18 carries for his career-high 155 rushing yards in Thursday night's 36-0 win over Johnson C. Smith. The junior registered the second 100-yard rushing game of his career and first since 2016, averaging 8.6 yards per carry on the night.

In the first drive of the second half, McNeill started the series with a 13-yard run, then followed with a 67-yard carry to the JCSU three-yard line, setting up the TD to give the 'Dogs a 20-0 lead. All 18 of his carries Thursday night went for positive yardage.

Birozes punted eight times with an average of 42.8 yards per punt. He had two punts of over 50 yards while putting five inside the 20-yard line on the evening. Birozes and the Bulldogs allowed only 10 return yards in the eight punts.

Late in the second quarter, Birozes booted a 51-yarder that pinned the Golden Bulls at their own one-yard line. After a JCSU three-and-out, the 'Dogs took over at the Johnson C. Smith 27 and connected on a field goal to go on top 13-0 heading to halftime. His 54-yarder in the third was downed at the JCSU seven-yard line, while adding a 40-yarder in the fourth that put the Golden Bulls at their own 10-yard line.

Wingate is back in action this Saturday, hosting Fayetteville State at 7 p.m. on ESPN3. The Bulldogs open the 2018 season with four of their first five games at home. After traveling to Carson-Newman on Saturday, Sept. 8, Wingate is home the next two Saturdays to host Lenoir-Rhyne and Florida Tech.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
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 12 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 105 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 114 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.