Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University redshirt junior running back Nijere Peoples has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while redshirt freshman return specialist Kyron Thomas is the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week, league officials announced Monday morning. Peoples earns Player of the Week accolades for the first time this season and second time in his career, while Thomas earns Player of the Week recognition for the first time in his career.

Peoples piled up 131 rushing yards on 21 carries Saturday night, leading the #21 Bulldogs to a 40-21 victory over Fayetteville State. The two-time All-SAC running back scored a pair of touchdowns on the night, while averaging over six yards per carry. Peoples went over 100 yards in the opening half, helping Wingate race out to a 30-7 halftime lead.

Thomas had a huge night returning kickoffs, helping the Bulldogs earn great field position throughout the game. The redshirt freshman racked up 135 return yards on four kick returns, averaging 33.8 yards per attempt. After returning the game's opening kickoff 15 yards to the Wingate 34, his next two returns went for 41 and 28 yards. Thomas saved his best for last, taking the final kickoff of the game from the Wingate four all the way into Fayetteville State territory, going 51 yards to set the 'Dogs up at the FSU 45.

Peoples scored career touchdowns number 25 and 26 Saturday night, while also going over 2,000 career rushing yards. It was his 10th career 100-yard rushing game. He ranks third in the SAC with 111.5 rushing yards per game this season.

Thomas leads the SAC with 165 kick return yards on the season, averaging 33 yards per return on his five kick returns. Three of his five kick returns this season have gone for at least 30 yards, including his career-long 51 yard return Saturday night.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Carson-Newman to open SAC play at 1 p.m. The 'Dogs return home the next two weekends, hosting Catawba Sept. 25, then welcoming Tusculum to Irwin Belk Stadium Oct. 2 on Homecoming weekend.


WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 24 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.