Wingate, N.C.----Coming off back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II play-offs for the first time in program history, the Wingate University Bulldogs have released their 2019 football schedule. The 2019 season gets underway on Sept. 5 at Johnson C. Smith. Wingate has five home games and six road games slated for the 2019 season.

The 2019 season will begin on a Thursday night for the second straight year, with the Bulldogs traveling to Charlotte to face Johnson C. Smith at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5. Wingate is 6-0 all-time against the Golden Bulls, with a 3-0 record in Charlotte. This will mark the fourth consecutive season the 'Dogs will open against Johnson C. Smith. Wingate rolled to a 36-0 victory over JCSU in the 2018 season opener, the first-ever Thursday night game in Irwin Belk Stadium history. The Bulldogs are 16-2 in season openers in the Joe Reich era.

Wingate's second straight road game to begin the 2019 season sees the Bulldogs travel to Fayetteville State for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The 'Dogs are 5-0 all-time against the Broncos in a series that dates back to the 1997 season. Wingate picked up a 27-13 victory at Irwin Belk Stadium in week two of the 2018 season, racing out to a 20-6 halftime lead.

The home opener will be Sept. 21, which also serves as the conference opener with the Bulldogs welcoming Carson-Newman to Irwin Belk Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN3 on Patriots' Day. Wingate is 6-25 all-time against the Eagles, with a 3-12 home record. The Eagles won 21 of the first 22 meetings, but the Bulldogs have prevailed in five of the last nine contests, including two of the last three. The Wingate-Carson-Newman game in 2017 was the first-ever contest under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium, with the 'Dogs prevailing 31-27.

Wingate is back on the road the next two weeks, starting with a trip to Catawba Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs are 14-17 against the Indians, with a 7-8 record in Salisbury. Wingate has two straight victories over Catawba, prevailing 27-24 on the road in 2017, while downing the Indians 35-25 at home last season.

Wingate's fourth road game in five weeks to start the season is a trip to Tusculum to face the Pioneers at 2:30 p.m. Wingate is 14-9 all-time against the Pioneers, with a 5-7 record at Tusculum. The 'Dogs prevailed 16-12 at home in the regular season finale in 2018. Wingate's last trip to Tusculum was in 2017, when the Pioneers ended WU's undefeated season by knocking off the 12th-ranked Bulldogs 25-17 in the regular season finale.

A three-game homestand gets underway Oct. 12, with the Bulldogs hosting Limestone at 6 p.m. on Family Weekend. Wingate is 5-0 all-time against the Saints, with a 2-0 home record. The 'Dogs have outscored Limestone 193-94 in the five games, including last year's 49-26 road win that saw Nijere Peoples go for 239 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

The Bulldogs welcome UNC Pembroke on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. Wingate leads the all-time series 6-4, with a 4-1 record at home. The 'Dogs have won three straight in the series and four of the last five, including a 51-7 victory at UNCP last season which was the biggest margin of victory in a road game for the Bulldogs since a 52-point victory at Tennessee Wesleyan in 1986.

Wingate wraps up the three-game home stand Oct. 26, hosting SAC newcomer UVA-Wise at 6 p.m. on Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend. This will be the first-ever meeting between Wingate and UVA-Wise, who will be joining the South Atlantic Conference for all sports in the 2019-20 season.

The Bulldogs are back on the road Nov. 2, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Wingate is 13-21 all-time against LR, with a 6-11 record in Hickory. The Bears led 31-7 at Wingate in the third quarter, then withstood a furious Bulldog rally to hang on for a 31-24 victory en route to the regular season SAC title. The teams met again in week two of the NCAA Division II play-offs in Hickory, with a 32-yard touchdown in the final minute giving Lenoir-Rhyne a 21-17 victory.

Wingate wraps up the home slate Nov. 9, hosting Newberry at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs are 15-14 all-time against the Wolves, with an 8-6 mark at home. The 'Dogs have won two straight in the series, outscoring the Wolves 24-3 in the second half last year to pick up a 31-17 road victory. Wingate downed Newberry 44-20 in 2017 the last time the teams met at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season Nov. 16 with a trip to Mars Hill at 1 p.m. Wingate is 16-17 all-time against the Lions, with a 6-10 mark at Mars Hill. The 'Dogs have won three straight over the Lions, prevailing 58-21 at home in 2018, while collecting a 42-21 victory their last time in Mars Hill in the 2017 season.

The NCAA Division II play-offs will begin the following week, Nov. 23. Wingate has appeared in the last two postseasons, opening the 2018 play-offs with a 41-31 victory at #10 West Georgia. The Bulldogs hosted a play-off game for the second time in program history in the 2017 season, falling against West Florida who would end up advancing to the national championship game.

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 106 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 115 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.