Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs got 236 passing yards, 60 rushing yards and three total touchdowns from quarterback Noah Bell Friday evening, cruising to a 30-7 victory over Albany State in NCAA Division II football action at Irwin Belk Stadium. Wingate starts the season 1-0, while the Golden Rams fall to 0-1 overall.

KEY STATS

- Wingate compiled 303 passing yards and 158 rushing yards for 461 yards of offense
- Albany State had 178 passing yards and 74 rushing yards for 252 total yards
- The 'Dogs held a 22-16 advantage in first downs
- The Golden Rams had three of the four turnovers
- WU went six-for-14 on third downs; ASU was six-for-16
- The Bulldogs registered three of the four sacks on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Bell went 14-for-21 for 236 yards and two TDs, adding 60 rushing yards and a score
- Alex Wilson added 48 rushing yards and a touchdown
- Tremel Jones had four receptions for 86 yards and a TD, adding 30 rushing yards
- Matt Flanders had three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown
- Damian Sutton added 58-yard grab
- Carlos Estronza and Evan McCray had two catches each for 37 and 27 yards, respectively
- Jaheim Mullen led the 'Dogs with eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, adding a break-up
- Orinthius Byrd added eight stops and a fumble recovery
- Dontorian Best had seven tackles with a TFL
- Marquise Fleming notched five stops and a forced fumble
- Jaquan Edwards had four tackles with 2.5 TFLs, two sacks and two forced fumbles
- Mondjou Berte added a sack
- Caleb Bonesteel made three PATs and a 38-yard field goal

NOTES

- The Bulldogs are coming off a program-record 11 wins in 2022
- Wingate is now 58-17 overall in the last seven fall seasons
- The 'Dogs are 78-38 at Irwin Belk Stadium since 2001
- The Bulldogs have won 38 of their last 39 games when scoring at least 30 points
- WU has scored at least 30 points 27 times since the beginning of 2018
- Wingate held nine opponents to 10 points or less in 2022
- Bell's big day came on his first career start for the Bulldogs
- Career-high 86 receiving yards for Jones
- First career touchdown for Flanders
- First time Edwards has had two sacks and two forced fumbles in a game
- Seventh time this season the Bulldogs have held an opponent to 10 or fewer points

FIRST QUARTER

- ASU started the game at the eight yard line after a big tackle from Jaden White on the opening kick
- The Golden Rams fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, with Burks recovering at the 11 yard line
- Bell punched it in from two yards out to get the 'Dogs on the board just 20 seconds in
- Jonathen Cross batted down a pass on ASU's third down attempt on the next possession to force a punt
- Wingate went 69 yards on six plays on the ensuing possession to go on top 14-0
- 18-yard runs from Bell and Jones got the 'Dogs to the ASU 33
- Wilson's 23-yard TD run put the Bulldogs on top by two scores with 11:12 left

SECOND QUARTER

- Albany State got the ball down to the Wingate one early in the second frame
- Edwards forced a fumble, which was recovered by Burks to keep ASU off the board
- Wingate went on a 12-play drive to setup a field goal
- Bell's 13-yard run got the 'Dogs to the Wingate 27
- Another 13-yard run from Bell got it to the 45
- Bonesteel drilled a 38-yarder to make it 17-0 with 3:59 remaining

THIRD QUARTER

- The Bulldogs needed just three plays to find the end zone in the second half
- A 15-yard Kyron Thomas kick return set Wingate up at its own 34 yard line
- Bell connected with Jones for a 62-yard touchdown to make it 23-0 at the 14-minute mark
- The Bulldogs capped their scoring on the day with a six-play, 62-yard drive
- Bell hit Jones for 13 yards and McCray for 21 yards to get to the ASU 25
- Bell connected with Flanders for a 25-yard TD to make it 3-0 with 2:09 left in the frame

WRAPUP

- Wingate is back in action next Thursday, traveling to Mars Hill for a 7 p.m. start
- The Bulldogs return home Saturday, Sept. 16 to host Tusculum at 6 p.m.