Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs set program records for total points and margin of victory Saturday night, cruising to a 72-7 victory over Bluefield State in NCAA Division II football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. Wingate moves to 2-0 on the year, while Bluefield State falls to 1-2.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 334 rushing yards and 241 passing yards for 575 total yards
- Fifth-most rushing yards and total yards in school history
- Bluefield State had 114 passing yards and 17 rushing yards for 114 total yards
- The 'Dogs piled up 31 first downs; the Big Blue had 11
- Third-most first downs in Wingate history
- Wingate was seven-for-eight on third down
- BSU was two-for-11 on third down and one-for-two on fourth down
- The Bulldogs held the ball for over 33 minutes
- The 'Dogs never punted on the night
- Wingate scored on all nine trips to the red zone
KEY BULLDOGS
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Elijah Holmes was 12-for-16 for 203 yards and five touchdowns, adding 29 rushing yards
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Xavier Pugh had 11 carries for 115 yards and three TDs
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Caleb Kelley added 38 passing yards, 51 rushing yards and a passing and rushing TD
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Jaylen Himes had four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown
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Carlos Estronza added two grabs for 40 yards and a score
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Xavier Jackson had two receptions for 30 yards and a TD
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Zymill Patterson had a 14-yard TD grab;
Jesse Clinesmith added a 12-yard TD reception
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Silas Tate also had a touchdown reception
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Mason Avery ran for 41 yards on eight carries
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David Squires had eight tackles, a pass break-up and a QB hurry
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Elijah Barnes had six tackles with three tackles for loss
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Jonathen Cross added five tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks and two QB hurries
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Guy Taylor and
Eli Lipscomb each added 1.5 tackles for loss
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CJ McGarity and
Noah Collins each had an interception
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Caleb Bonesteel drilled a 47-yard field goal and made all seven PATs
FIRST QUARTER
- Collins intercepted BSU quarterback Wesley Thompson on the third play of the game
- His 22-yard return set the 'Dogs up at the 13
- Holmes hit Estronza for a 13-yard TD to give WU a 7-0 lead just 48 seconds in
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Laron Warner's 17-yard punt return set the 'Dogs up at the BSU 45 on the next possession
- A Holmes 13-yard rush got the Bulldogs into the red zone
- Holmes hit Clinesmith for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 at the 9:23 mark
- A Danny Dales punt was blocked by
GW Clemmer, setting Wingate up at the Bluefield 47
- Holmes hit Estronza for 27 yards on the first play of the drive
- He found Himes for another 16-yard connection
- Pugh's eight-yard run got it to the one
- He would punch it in the next play, pushing the lead to 21 with 6:07 to go
SECOND QUARTER
- Wingate's 13-play, 81-yard scoring drive started at the 19, starting late in the first quarter
- Kelley's 16-yard run got the 'Dogs to midfield
- Avery followed with a 13-yard run
- Pugh's 12-yard run got it inside the red zone
- Pugh scored from seven yards out, making it 28-0 at the 11:15 mark
- Wingate's next drive started at the two-yard line
- It took the 'Dogs just four plays to go 98 yards
- Holmes hit Himes for 71 yards to get it inside the red zone
- Holmes hit Jackson on the next play from 16 yards out, making it 35-0 with 7:22 remaining
- The next scoring drive for the 'Dogs was a one-play drive
- Pugh's 51-yard touchdown run gave the Bulldogs a 42-point lead at the 5:16 mark
- A McGarity pick on the next Big Blue drive set Wingate up at midfield
- A Pugh 13-yard run and Holmes 16-yard scamper got it to the BSU 26
- Estronza's 22-yard run got it inside the five
- Holmes found Tate for a one-yard touchdown to make it 49-0 with 1:10 to go
THIRD QUARTER
- The Bulldogs started the second half with a 10-play, 75-yard drive
- Holmes hit
Jayshawn Appling for 27 yards to get it to the five
- Appling followed with a four-yard run, getting it to the one
- Holmes hit Himes from a yard out to make it 55-0 with 9:01 remaining
- Warner's punt return set the 'Dogs up at the Bluefield State 31 on the next drive
- Kelley's nine-yard completion to Everett Joyner got Wingate in the red zone
- Kelley ran it in from 16 yards out to put the 'Dogs on top 62-0
FOURTH QUARTER
- Bonesteel drilled a 47-yard field goal in the first minute of the quarter to push the lead to 65
- Wingate's final scoring drive of the night was a nine-play, 70-yard drive
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Ryan Johnson's 14-yard run got it to the BSU 30
- Kelley found Patterson for a 14-yard touchdown to give the 'Dogs a 72-7 lead
UP NEXT
- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to UVA Wise for a 6 p.m. start
