Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs held visiting Tusculum to 122 yards of offense and just five first downs Saturday afternoon en route to a 31-14 victory in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. Wingate improves to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 211 passing yards and 173 rushing yards for 384 yards of offense
- Tusculum had 72 passing yards and 50 rushing yards for 122 total yards
- The Pioneers averaged just 2.8 yards per play
- The 'Dogs had a 20-5 advantage in first downs
- Wingate went 10-for-19 on third down and two-for-three on fourth down
- The Pioneers went four-for-14 on third down
- The Bulldogs held the ball for over 37 minutes
- Wingate had three of the four turnovers on the day
KEY BULLDOGS
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Jayshawn Appling had 16 carries for 109 yards
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Brooks Brien threw for 211 yards and a pair of touchdowns
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Aaron Griffin had five catches for 81 yards and a TD
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Xavier Jackson had four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown
- Jackson also had 23 rushing yards on a pair of carries
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Ethan Wallace had 49 yards and a TD on the ground, adding three catches for 16 yards
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Gunnar Hilsinger made all four PATs and a 33-yard field goal
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Chris Harris had eight tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack
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Elijah Manning added eight tackles
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Tyson Brown had seven tackles with half a tackle for loss and two QB hurries
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Geviaunta Walker added six tackles, a TFL and a fumble recovery
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GW Clemmer collected seven tackles
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Bryson Steele and
Anthony Dangerfield each had a pass break-up
FIRST QUARTER
- Walker forced a fumble and recovered it on the opening drive, setting Wingate up at the TU 42
- A Jackson nine-yard run and
Danny Gilliard six-yard reception got the 'Dogs to the 28
- Brien connected with Griffin for a 28-yard TD on the next play to make it 7-0 at the 9:25 mark
- Wingate took over at its own 15 with four minutes left in the quarter
- Brien's 24-yard strike to Jackson got the Bulldogs to the 42
- Wallace's 12-yard run got WU to the Tusculum 25 as the quarter ended
SECOND QUARTER
- Brien hit Jackson in the end zone from 21 yards out to make it 14-0 with 11:55 left in the half
- Tedros Gleaton hit Ashton Hagans for a 54-yard touchdown to cut the lead in half at the 1:49 mark
- A Wallace 11-yard reception and Tusculum 15-yard penalty got Wingate into Tusculum territory
- Brien connected with Tanner Mays for 21 yards on fourth and 10 to get it into the red zone
- Hilsinger drilled a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make it 17-7
THIRD QUARTER
- The 'Dogs fumbled at their own 20, with Judah Knight recovering it and taking it to the house and making it 17-14 at the 11:49 mark
- The Bulldogs got it at their own 15 with 5:34 mark and went on an 85-yard scoring drive
- Brien started the drive with a 38-yard reception to Griffin, getting into Tusculum territory
- An Appling 12-yard run got it inside the 30
- Brien found
Kelson Tate for 16 yards to get it inside the 10
- Wallace punched it in from two yards out to make it 24-14 with 20 seconds left in the quarter
FOURTH QUARTER
- A Harris sack on third and seven moved Tusculum back to its own 15
- After a punt, Wingate took over at its own 47
- Appling broke free from 50 yards out, but fumbled at the two yard line
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Zymill Patterson recovered it in the end zone to put the 'Dogs on top 31-14 with 2:55 to go
UP NEXT
- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 2 p.m. start
