Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University redshirt senior defensive end DJ Horne has been named the South Atlantic Conference football Defensive Player of the Week, with senior kicker/punter Ethan Evans earning SAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades, league officials announced Monday morning. Horne earns Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, while Evans earns Special Team Player of the Week accolades for the first time this year and second time in his career.

Horne played a huge role in the Wingate defense that held Fayetteville State to just 60 yards of offense Saturday night in the 21-3 victory. The 'Dogs blanked the Broncos the first 59 minutes before a last-minute field goal got FSU on the board. Wingate held Fayetteville State to 39 rushing yards and 21 passing yards, allowing just two-of-15 third down conversions. Horne led the way with seven tackles on the night, recording two of Wingate's three sacks on the evening while adding a QB hurry to his line.

Evans had a huge night punting, averaging 53 yards per attempt on seven punts while also making all three PATs and adding a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs. All seven punts went for at least 47 yards, which included a 56-yarder, 59-yarder and 61-yarder. Only one of his seven kicks was returned on the night, with the Broncos getting just 4.0 yards per return. Evans posted an impressive net punt average of 45.6 on the night, while pinning FSU inside its own 20 on three occasions.

Horne's big night on Saturday was his first game of the 2022 season, after posting 30 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks in the 2021 season, adding seven QB hurries. Evans was a first team All-SAC punter in 2021 and is off to a great start in 2022, leading the nation with an average of 50.6 yards per punt, with Wingate ranking seventh nationally in net punt average. He has also made all six PATs and has six touchbacks in eight kickoffs.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, wrapping up a three-game season-opening road trip at Tusculum at 6 p.m. in the SAC opener. The first home game for the Bulldogs is Sept. 24, when Wingate welcomes Emory & Henry to Irwin Belk Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Family Weekend.