Wingate, N.C.----The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs made more history Saturday afternoon, shutting out Newberry College 38-0 in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium to claim the outright Piedmont Division title. The 'Dogs post their third shutout of the season, the most in a single season in program history, improving to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the SAC. The top-ranked team in the region has won six straight games to wrap up the regular season, setting up to host next Saturday's SAC title game at 3 p.m. Newberry falls to 3-6 overall and 3-4 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 167 passing yards and 180 rushing yards, putting up 347 yards of offense
- Newberry had 187 rushing yards and just 44 passing yards for 231 total yards
- The Bulldogs held a 17-15 advantage in first downs
- The Wolves had the lone turnover of the game
- WU was six-for-11 on third down and one-for-one on fourth down
- Newberry went five-for-14 on third down and one-for-three on fourth down
- The Bulldogs scored on all four red-zone trips; The Wolves made just one trip without scoring
- The 'Dogs had three of the five sacks on the day
- Wingate piled up nine more tackles for loss

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks Bentley threw for 145 yards and three touchdowns
- Noah Bell had 66 rushing yards and a TD, adding 22 passing yards
- O'Brien Barnett had 42 yards on six carries with a touchdown
- Evan McCray had two catches for 27 yards and a pair of scores
- Austin Cain had two receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown
- Carlos Estronza added two grabs for 34 yards
- Diego Aviles had seven tackles with a TFL and a pass break-up, adding two QB hurries
- Ryan Green added seven stops, half a sack and half a tackle for loss
- Dontorian Best contributed six tackles
- Tavarus Short had five tackles with a TFL and a break-up
- Kai Russell notched four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and four hurries
- Mark Burks added five tackles and a break-up
- Dequan Mosley had three tackles and an interception with a 31-yard return
- Rivers Teeter added 50 yards per punt on three punts, with two inside the 10
- Caleb Bonesteel made all five PATs, adding a 34-yard field goal

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate took the opening kick and went 75 yards on seven plays
- Bell's 36-yard run got the 'Dogs into the red zone
- Barnett followed with a 10-yard run, then a six-yard TD run to make it 7-0
- Wingate followed with a three-play, 55-yard drive
- It was Bentley's 44-yard connection with Cain that made it 14-0 at the 9:10 mark
- Teeter boomed a 55-yard punt that was downed at the Newberry one
- Wingate forced a short punt and took over at the 40

SECOND QUARTER

- The 10-play, 62-yard scoring drive started in the first quarter and ended with a TD in the second
- Bentley's 16-yard run got it inside the red zone
- He connected with McCray for a four-yard TD to make it 21-0 with 11:43 left in the half
- Newberry worked a drive down to the Wingate six
- Brice Colter and Daniel Morrison teamed for a big tackle on fourth and two to halt the drive

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate forced a three-and-out to start the second half, taking over at the Newberry 33
- Bentley found McCray for a 23-yard TD strike to put the 'Dogs on top 28-0
- Another punt from Teeter put the Wolves at their own six
- Coleman Gray was intercepted by Mosley, who took it back 31 yards inside the 10
- Bell punched it in from one yard out to make it 35-0 with 1:11 to go

FOURTH QUARTER

- Wingate went 61 yards on 12 plays, chewing up over eight minutes in the quarter
- Bell had a 16-yard run and hit Jake Snapp for a 22-yard completion at the 33
- Braylon Ratcliff had runs of five and seven yards to get it to the Newberry 21
- Bonesteel's 34-yard field goal made it 38-0 with 3:43 remaining

UP NEXT

- Wingate will host the SAC Championship game next Saturday at 3 p.m.
- The Bulldogs welcome Carson-Newman to Irwin Belk Stadium with a SAC title on the line