Greeneville, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldog defense lived in the Tusculum backfield Saturday night, piling up a program-record 12 sacks en route to a 27-10 victory in South Atlantic Conference football action. Wingate improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 148 rushing yards and 64 passing yards for 212 total yards
- Tusculum collected 234 passing yards and just 14 rushing yards for 234 total yards
- The 'Dogs had 12 of the 14 sacks on the night
- The Pioneers held a 20-11 advantage in first downs
- WU went five-for-14 on third downs; Tusculum was three-for-16
- Tusculum converted four-of-four fourth downs
- Wingate scored on three-of-four red-zone chances; TU scored on two-of-three trips
- The Pioneers had the only three turnovers on the night (two fumbles, one interception)
- Tusculum held a slight edge in time of possession, holding it for 31:47 on the night

KEY BULLDOGS

- Tre Morrison had an interception and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown
- Marquise Fleming piled up nine tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three QB hurries
- DJ Horne also registered three fumbles
- Justin Rhodes had a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery
- Sirod Cook had 1.5 sacks, two QB hurries and a pass break-up
- Kai Russell and Dontorian Best added a sack apiece
- Jaquan Edwards led the 'Dogs with 11 tackles
- Jaheim Mullen added six tackles including a tackle for loss
- Daniel Morrison contributed two tackles, two QB hurries and a half a sack
- Shaw Crocker threw for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adding 18 rushing yards
- Alexander Wilson had 11 carries for 63 yards, adding a 16-yard reception
- O'Brien Barnett added 34 rushing yards on nine carries
- Myles Dillon had three catches for 28 yards and a TD
- Trevor Bryan added two receptions for 16 yards and a score
- Kalen Clark added 28 yards on 10 carries
- Ethan Evans added 51 yards per punt on six punts, with four inside the 20 and three over 50 yards
- He also hit a 28 and 40-yard field goal, all three PATs, and had touchbacks on four of six kickoffs
- Ra'Quan Simmons had 51 return yards on five punt returns, with a long of 50
- Kyron Thomas added 38 kick return yards

FIRST QUARTER

- Morrison started the game by picking off TU quarterback Tre Simmons on the first play from scrimmage
- Wingate got into the red zone on a pass interference call, with a Clark rush getting it to the TU 11
- A 28-yard field goal from Evans got the 'Dogs on the board
- Tusculum got it to the WU 40 before a Fleming sack pushed the Pioneers back to its own 43
- The 'Dogs could not score, but a 60-yard Evans punt pinned Tusculum inside its own 10
- Wingate stopped the Pioneers and forced a punt from deep in TU territory
- The Bulldogs took over at their own 42
- Crocker's 16-yard pass to Wilson got the 'Dogs into Tusculum territory
- Wilson's seven-yard run set the 'Dogs up with a first down in the red zone
- Crocker connected with Dillon for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 10-0
- Dillon has a TD reception in all three games this year

SECOND QUARTER

- An Evans punt was downed inside the Tusculum one early in the second quarter
- TU went three and out, with a 14-yard Simmons punt return setting WU up on the Tusculum 26
- Back-to-back Barnett runs set Wingate up with a first and goal inside the eight
- Crocker hit Bryan for an eight-yard touchdown to make it 17-0
- First career touchdown grab for Bryan, 73rd TD pass for Crocker
- A 40-yard punt return from Simmons set the 'Dogs up at the TU 28
- Wingate was unable to go forward, with Evans missing a 52-yard field goal attempt
- Juan Villasenor hit a 27-yard field goal in the final minute to get Tusculum on the board

THIRD QUARTER

- Evans boomed a 58-yard punt to pin the Pioneers inside their own 10
- Wingate forced a three-and-out, then went on a 12-play, 54-yard scoring drive
- Wilson's 18-yard run on third and one got it to midfield
- His nine-yard run got it to the Tusculum 25
- Evans drilled a 40-yarder to make it 20-3 with 6:23 left in the third
- Simmons hit Shellenback for a two-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal to get TU in the end zone
- Wingate went three-and-out, but a 56-yard Evans punt pinned Tusculum at its own four

FOURTH QUARTER

- With 10 minutes to go, Tusculum fumbled a pitch and Morrison picked it up, then took it 66 yards for a touchdown
- Wingate led 27-10 with 9:39 to go
- Rhodes, Horne, Best and Fleming each notched a sack on the ensuing TU drive
- Fleming's sack also forced a fumble, which was recovered by Rhodes at the Wingate 15
- Tusculum got it back on more time with 3:18 remaining
- Rhodes and Russell notched sacks early in the drive
- Horne registered a sack on the final play of the game to secure the win

UP NEXT

- Wingate has its first home game next Saturday, hosting Emory & Henry at 6 p.m.
- It is Family Weekend for the Bulldogs, who will also celebrate Student-Athlete Appreciation Day