VIDEO | Joe Reich Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The 13th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs are at home for the second straight week, hosting UNC Pembroke Saturday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN3. The Bulldogs have won 12 straight regular season contests and have won 16 of their last 18 regular season home games. Wingate is 11-1 under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium and 4-1 against UNCP at home. The Bulldogs and Braves meet for the 11th time Saturday night, with the 'Dogs holding a 7-3 edge in the series. 

ABOUT THE GAME
Saturday, Oct. 19 | 6 p.m.
Wingate (6-0; 4-0 SAC) hosts UNC Pembroke (3-3 Overall)
Wingate, N.C. (Irwin Belk Stadium) | ESPN3 | LIVE STATS
 
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the 11th meeting in the series, which began in 2007
- Wingate leads the all-time series 7-3
- The Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Braves at Irwin Belk Stadium
- WU has won the last three meetings in the series
- UNC Pembroke's only victory at Wingate came in 2012
- The 'Dogs have won the last three contests by a combined score of 103-38
- Wingate won 51-7 at UNCP last season
- It was the largest margin of victory in a WU road win since 1986

COACHES
- WU head coach Joe Reich is in his 19th season at Wingate (125-79)
- One of three SAC coaches to ever win 100 games
- 2017 SAC Coach of the Year (Third time in his career)
- Shane Richardson is in his sixth season as the UNCP head coach (25-33)
- Richardson was the UNCP Defensive Coordinator from 2007-2013
 
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
- Wingate has started a season 6-0 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 32-9 since 2016; most wins of any SAC team
- The 'Dogs have won 12 straight regular season games
- WU outscoring opponents 421-200 in the streak
- WU has won 13 of its last 14 contests overall
- The Bulldogs are a league-best 20-5 in SAC play since 2016
- The Bulldogs are an NCAA D2-best 4-0 on the road this year
- WU is one of 16 remaining NCAA D2 teams without a loss this season
- Wingate has won seven straight regular season road games
- The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents 66-3 in the third quarter this year
- The 'Dogs have 23 straight wins when scoring at least 30 points
- WU has scored at least 30 points 11 times since beginning of '18
- The Bulldogs have won 16 of their last 18 regular season home games
- Wingate is 66-33 at Irwin Belk Stadium since 2001
- WU is 11-1 all-time under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium
 
WINGATE OFFENSE
- The Bulldogs are averaging 30.2 points per game, ranking third in the SAC
- Fourth in the league with 317.2 total yards per contest
- WU third in the SAC in rushing (186.3 ypg) and fourth in passing (184.8 ypg)
- Wingate is third in the league with 20.7 first downs per contest
- The Bulldogs are fourth in the SAC in third-down conversions (36%)
- WU has scored on 19-24 red zone trips with 14 touchdowns
- The 'Dogs have a league-low six turnovers this season 
- Wingate leads the conference in time of possession (34:08)
- Domineke McNeill is second in the SAC with 88.5 rushing yards per contest
- Kalen Clark is eighth in the league with 51.6 rush yards per contest
- Shaw Crocker is second in the SAC with 161.7 passing yards per game
- RaQuan Simmons is eighth in the league with 47 receiving yards per game
- Jalen Brooks ranks 10th in the league with 44 receiving yards per contest
 
WINGATE DEFENSE
- The Bulldogs rank second in the SAC, allowing 15.3 points per game
- WU is third in the SAC with 271.3 yards per game allowed
- The 'Dogs are 2nd in rush defense (107.2) / 3rd in pass defense (164.2 ypg)
- Wingate is fourth in the SAC with 46 tackles for loss
- WU is fourth in third down defense and second in fourth down defense
- The 'Dogs rank third in the conference with 18 sacks
- Robbie Wallace leads Wingate with 35 tackles, adding six TFLs and 2.5 sacks
- Jesiah Carlton is fourth in the SAC with 8.5 TFLs, adding seven QB hurries
- Elijah Gilmore has 30 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 24 tackles with 2 TFLs
- Davion Washington has five pass break-ups and two interceptions
 
WINGATE SPECIAL TEAMS
- McLean Robertson has hit a league-best nine field goals
- Five of his field goals have been from at least 40 yards out; long of 45
- Ethan Evans is third in the SAC with 40.9 yards per punt
- Wingate ranks eighth nationally in net punting
- RaQuan Simmons is fourth in the SAC with 26.6 yards per kick return
- BJ Muckelvene has five punt returns, averaging 15.4 yards per return
 
ABOUT UNCP
- The Braves are coming off back-to-back 2-8 seasons in 2017 and 2018
- UNCP went 10-2 in 2016, advancing to the second round of the play-offs
- Pembroke also appeared in the 2013 play-offs, going 9-2 on the year
- First play-off appearance was in 2009, the third year of UNCP football
- Pembroke was 9-1 in 2008, with the lone loss coming at Wingate
- 3-3 start this year with wins over Catawba, WSSU and Mars Hill
 
UNCP OFFENSE
- The Braves average 25.0 points per game with 300.7 yards per contest
- UNCP averages 192.2 pass yards and 108.5 rush yards per game
- Pembroke converts 44 percent of third downs
- The Braves have scored on all 19 red zone trips with 14 touchdowns
- Josh Jones is 119-187, averaging 190 passing yards per game with 9 TDs
- Josh Sheridan averages 62.2 rushing yards per contest with five touchdowns
- Quay Threatt has 21 catches, averaging 48 yards per game
 
UNCP DEFENSE
- The Braves allow 34.8 points per game/445.8 total yards per contest
- UNCP has allowed 110 points in its last two losses vs. Limestone and CN
- Pembroke allows 238.3 rush yards and 207.5 pass yards per game
- The Braves have seven sacks on the year
- Teams are converting 49 percent of third downs against UNCP
- Opponents have 19 touchdowns in 23 red zone trips
- Amari Brice-Greene leads UNCP with 43 tackles, adding two TFLs
- Domenique Davis leads the Braves with two sacks
- Sean Hill and Shawn Everett have two interceptions each
- Taye Vereen has 29 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and four QB hurries
 
UNCP SPECIAL TEAMS
- Hunter Braswell has hit all four field goals with a long of 34 yards
- He has hit 12-of-15 PATs and has two touchbacks in 26 kick-offs
- Isaac Parks averages 47 yards per punt with a long of 67
- He has eight punts of at least 50 yards; UNCP is third nationally in net punting
- Devin Jones averages 23.9 yards per kick return with a touchdown
- He averages 17.6 yards per punt return on five attempts
 
UP NEXT
- This is the middle of Wingate's three-game home stand
- 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
- UNCP is on a four-game road trip, traveling to Tusculum, Newberry and LR