Wingate, N.C.----The 14th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs open a three-game home stand Saturday night, hosting Limestone at 6 p.m. on ESPN3. The only team in NCAA Division II football with a 4-0 road record, the Bulldogs have won 11 straight regular season contests. The 'Dogs have won 15 of their last 17 regular season home games and are 10-1 under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium. Wingate is 5-0 all-time against Limestone. 

ABOUT THE GAME

Saturday, Oct. 12 | 6 p.m.
#14 Wingate (5-0; 3-0 SAC) hosts Limestone (2-3; 1-1 SAC)
Wingate, N.C. (Irwin Belk Stadium) | ESPN3 | LIVE STATS
WU picked second in preseason SAC coaches poll; LC picked eighth
 
SERIES HISTORY

- This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams
- Wingate leads the all-time series 5-0
- The teams have met every year since 2014
- The Bulldogs are 2-0 against the Saints at Irwin Belk Stadium
- WU is outscoring Limestone 193-94 in the five meetings
- Four of the five wins have come by 19 points or more
- The 'Dogs won 49-26 at LC last year; Won 44-20 at home in 2017
- Wingate has scored 38 or more points in four of the five contests
 
COACHES

- WU head coach Joe Reich is in his 19th season at Wingate (124-79)
- One of three SAC coaches to ever win 100 games
- 2017 SAC Coach of the Year (Third time in his career)
- Brian Turk is in his first season as the Limestone head coach (2-3)
- Turk was the Interim Head Coach the final two games of 2018 (0-2)
 
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

- Wingate has started a season 5-0 for the second time in three years
- WU made back-to-back NCAA play-off trips for the first time in program history
- The 'Dogs won nine games in back-to-back years for the first time ever
- The Bulldogs are 31-9 since 2016; most wins of any SAC team
- The 'Dogs have won 11 straight regular season games
- WU outscoring opponents 387-197 in the streak
- WU has won 12 of its last 13 contests overall
- The Bulldogs are a league-best 19-5 in SAC play since 2016
- Wingate is outscoring opponents 45-3 in the third quarter
- The 'Dogs are one of 20 remaining undefeated D2 teams
- The Bulldogs are an NCAA D2-best 4-0 on the road this year
- Wingate has won seven straight regular season road games
- The 'Dogs have 22 straight wins when scoring at least 30 points
- WU has scored at least 30 points 10 times since beginning of '18
- The Bulldogs have won 15 of their last 17 regular season home games
- Wingate is 65-33 at Irwin Belk Stadium since 2001
- WU is 10-1 all-time under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium
 
WINGATE OFFENSE

- The Bulldogs are averaging 29.4 points per game, ranking third in the SAC
- Fifth in the league with 382.4 total yards per contest
- WU third in the SAC in rushing (194 ypg) and fourth in passing (188.4 ypg)
- Wingate is third in the league with 21.8 first downs per contest
- The Bulldogs are also third in the SAC in third-down conversions (37%)
- WU has scored on 13-18 red zone trips with 10 touchdowns
- The 'Dogs have a league-low five turnovers this season 
- Wingate is second in the conference and ninth nationally in time of possession (33:42)
- Domineke McNeill leads the SAC with 87 rushing yards per contest
- Kalen Clark and Nijere Peoples are 10th & 12th in the league in rush yards
- Shaw Crocker is third in the SAC with 160.6 passing yards per game
- Jalen Brooks ranks eighth in the league with 50.8 receiving yards per game
 
WINGATE DEFENSE

- The Bulldogs rank third in the SAC, allowing 17.8 points per game
- WU is third in the SAC with 287.0 yards per game allowed
- The 'Dogs are third in pass defense (173.4 ypg) / fourth in rush defense (113.6)
- Wingate leads the SAC with 44 tackles for loss
- WU is third in third down defense and second in fourth down defense
- The 'Dogs rank second in the conference with 17 sacks
- Robbie Wallace leads Wingate with 29 tackles, adding six TFLs and 2.5 sacks
- Jesiah Carlton is third in the SAC with 7.5 TFLs, adding six QB hurries
- Elijah Gilmore has 26 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks
- Cal Hanford has a team-best 3.5 sacks on the year
- DJ Horne has registered three sacks on the season
- Romario Johnson has collected 20 tackles with 2 TFLs
- Davion Washington has four pass break-ups and two interceptions
 
WINGATE SPECIAL TEAMS

- McLean Robertson has hit a league-best seven field goals
- Four of his field goals have been from at least 40 yards out; long of 45
- Ethan Evans is third in the SAC with 41.4 yards per punt
- Wingate ranks ninth nationally in net punting
- RaQuan Simmons is third in the SAC with 26.6 yards per kick return
- BJ Muckelvene has five punt returns, averaging 15.4 yards per return
 
ABOUT LIMESTONE

- Picked eighth in the preseason SAC poll after going 0-10 last year (0-7 SAC)
- The Saints started their football program in 2014
- Limestone is 15-42 all-time
- LC went 3-4 in league play in its first year as a SAC football school in 2017
- Limestone is coming off wins over Catawba and UNC Pembroke
- The Saints put up 93 points in the two victories; scored 42 in three losses
 
LIMESTONE OFFENSE

- LC is fifth in the SAC in scoring (27 ppg) / third in total offense (406.8 ypg)
- The Saints are second in passing (238.2 ypg) / fourth in rushing (168.6 ypg)
- Limestone is last in the SAC in third down conversions (29%)
- LC has scored in 16-17 red zone trips with 12 touchdowns
- DJ Phillips leads the league with 191 passing yards per game
- Juwan Scott is second in the league with 73 receiving yards per contest
- Scott has four touchdowns and averages a SAC-best 19.5 yards per catch
- Quay Brown is second in the league, averaging 19.4 yards per reception
- Jerko'ya Patton is second in the conference with 79 rushing yards per game
- Patton has a SAC-best six touchdowns on the year
 
LIMESTONE DEFENSE

- LC gives up 29.2 points per game, ranking seventh in the SAC
- The Saints allow 417.8 yards per contest, ranking sixth in the league
- Limestone allows 243.2 pass yards per game / 174.6 rush yards per contest
- The Saints have five interceptions, a fumble recovery and 12 sacks on the year
- D'Meko Pryor leads Limestone with 25 tackles
- Devonte Allen has a team-best three sacks
- Ken'Darius Frederick has 19 tackles, two interceptions and six break-ups
- Kelvin Atkins leads LC with 4.5 tackles for loss, adding four QB hurries
 
LIMESTONE SPECIAL TEAMS

- Thomas Cook has hit four-of-five field goals with a long of 37
- Cook averages 42.8 yards per punt with a long of 55
- Shanard Bain averages 32 yards per kick return on four attempts
 
UP NEXT

- This is the start of Wingate's three-game home stand, hosting UNCP next week
- WU wraps up the home stand Oct. 26, hosting UVA-Wise on Homecoming
- The 'Dogs host Newberry Nov. 9 on Senior Day
- Wingate travels to Lenoir-Rhyne Nov. 2 for an NCAA D2 Showcase game
- Limestone is at Mars Hill next week, then hosts LR the following Saturday

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 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 113 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 122 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.