Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs went over 500 total yards for the second time this season Saturday night, prevailing 41-28 over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. Wingate improves to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SAC, while the Indians fall to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 281 rushing yards and 246 passing yards for the 527 total yards
- Catawba had 232 passing yards and 75 rushing yards for 307 total yards
- The Bulldogs had 26 first downs compared to Catawba's 20
- The 'Dogs were seven-for-11 on third down; the Indians went six-for-12
- Wingate held the ball for over 35 minutes
- Each team had a turnover
- The Bulldogs averaged eight yards per play and did not punt on the night

KEY BULLDOGS

- Xavier Pugh had 20 carries for 164 yards and three TDs, adding two catches for 43 yards
- Elijah Holmes went 14-for-24 for 246 yards and a touchdown, adding 64 rush yards and a score
- Jaylen Himes had seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown
- Xavier Jackson added two receptions for 56 yards
- Mason Avery had 48 yards on 11 carries
- Jaquan Edwards piled up nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a break-up and a QB hurry
- Eli Lipscomb had two sacks and two forced fumbles, notching eight tackles on the night
- Mandjou Berte added 1.5 sacks
- Jasiah Hill had six tackles with a TFL
- Ephraim Wright notched four tackles and forced a fumble
- Ryan Green had two tackles, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery
- Jake Snapp had 66 kick return yards and 33 punt return yards on five total returns
- Caleb Bonesteel made five PATs and connected on a pair of field goals
- Lawson Thorn had touchbacks on four of eight kickoffs

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate forced a three-and-out to start the game, taking over at its own 26
- The 'Dogs went 74 yards on 10 plays to get on the board first
- Holmes hit Laron Warner for 14 yards to get into Catawba territory
- His 13-yard connection with Himes got the 'Dogs to the 30
- Holmes hit Himes from 28 yards out to give WU a 7-0 lead at the 7:55 mark
- Snapp's 14-yard punt returns set Wingate up on its own 29 on the next possession
- The Bulldogs needed just four plays to go 71 yards
- A Jackson 31-yard reception got Wingate to the 50
- Holmes ran it in from 33 yards out to put the 'Dogs on top 14-0 with 2:12 to go

SECOND QUARTER

- The 'Dogs forced another punt and would follow with a 12-play, 88-yard drive
- Holmes hit Pugh for a 42-yard hookup to get it to the 28
- A Holmes 12-yard run got Wingate inside the 10
- Pugh punched it in from two yards out to make it 21-0 with 8:31 left in the half
- Catawba used an eight-play, 75-yard drive to get on the board late in the quarter
- Preston Brown hit Amari McArthur for a 16-yard TD to make it 21-7 with 45 seconds left

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate went 93 yards on the opening drive of the second half
- Holmes started the drive with a 19-yard connection with Himes
- A 20-yard Holmes to Himes connection got the 'Dogs to the Catawba 40
- Holmes then hit Silas Tate for 21 yards
- Pugh ran it in from 21 yards out to make it 28-7 with 10:51 left in the third
- Brown hit Jalen Brown for a 17-yard TD to pull Catawba within 14 with two seconds left in the frame

FOURTH QUARTER

- Snapp's 46-yard kick return set the Bulldogs up at midfield
- Pugh's 46-yard touchdown run gave the 'Dogs a 35-14 cushion at the 14:06 mark
- Brown answered with a 15-yard TD run to cap a 71-yard scoring drive to make it 35-21 with 11:24 left
- Wingate responded with a six-play, 46-yard drive
- Holmes hit Jackson for 25 yards to get it to the Catawba 40
- Avery followed with a 13-yard run
- Bonesteel drilled a 37-yard field goal to put the 'Dogs on top 38-21 at the 9:07 mark
- Wright forced a fumble on the ensuing drive, which was recovered by Green around midfield
- The Bulldogs covered 46 yards in 11 plays, taking 5:45 off the clock, getting 27 total rush yards from Avery
- Bonesteel capped the drive with a 25-yard field goal, making it 41-21 with 2:02 to go
- The Indians capped the scoring with Brown's four-yard TD reception with eight seconds left

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Emory & Henry for a 1 p.m. start