Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs outscored Lenoir-Rhyne University 17-3 in the second half Saturday afternoon, getting a
Gunnar Hilsinger go-ahead field goal with 1:27 remaining en route to a 20-17 victory in South Atlantic Conference football action. Wingate wins its fifth straight over LR, improving to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the SAC. The Bears fall to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 247 passing yards and 151 rushing yards for 398 yards of offense
- LR had 233 passing yards and 51 rush yards for 284 total yards
- The 'Dogs held a 21-15 advantage in first downs
- The Bears had three of the five turnovers
- The Bulldogs were 10-for-17 on third down; Lenoir-Rhyne went four-for-13
- Wingate held the ball for just over 31 minutes
- The 'Dogs had all six sacks in the contest
KEY BULLDOGS
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Brooks Brien threw for 247 yards and a touchdown, adding 26 rushing yards
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Jason Willis ran for 90 yards and a TD, adding four catches for 27 yards
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Xavier Jackson had five receptions for 108 yards
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Damonte James added a 51-yard touchdown reception
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Jesse Clinesmith had a 34-yard catch
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Ethan Wallace added 23 rushing yards
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Anthony Dangerfield led the 'Dogs with nine tackles, adding a pick and two break-ups
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Elijah Evans had five tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble
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J'Von Mack added five tackles with a TFL and a break-up
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Tyson Brown contributed four tackles with a pair of sacks and a QB hurry
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Chris Harris added three tackles with a sack
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Bryson Steele had two tackles and an interception
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Geviaunta Walker collected two tackles with half a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery
- Hilsinger made two field goals and a pair of PATs
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Oliver Whisonant averaged 37 yards per punt on three punts including a 52-yarder
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Aaron Griffin added 35 kick return yards
FIRST QUARTER
- Wingate took over at its own 20 and drove inside the 10 to get on the board
- Brien hit Clinesmith for 34 yards to get to LR territory
- Willis had runs of four and nine yards to get inside the 30
- Brien hit
Zymill Patterson for nine yards on third and nine to set up a first down in the red zone
- Brien's 10-yard scramble got it inside the 10
- Hilsinger drilled a 25-yard field goal to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead
- Steele's interception on the ensuing drive set Wingate up on the LR 37
- Brien's 23-yard strike to Jackson set up a first and goal at the seven
- The 'Dogs could not add to the lead, turning it over on downs
SECOND QUARTER
- Evans sacked the LR quarterback and forced a fumble, with Walker recovering it at the 40
- The Bears got it back and went on a 77-yard scoring drive
- Carson Spoonts hit Tye Roberson for a 48-yard TD to give the Bears a 7-3 advantage
- A Wingate turnover set Lenoir-Rhyne up at midfield for its next possession
- LJ Turner punched it in from five yards out to give the Bears a 14-3 lead with 1:51 to go
THIRD QUARTER
- The Bulldogs went 75 yards on the opening drive of the second half to cut the lead to four
- A Willis 16-yard run got the 'Dogs into LR territory
- Brien scrambled for four yards on third down to keep the drive alive
- He hit Jackson for 19 yards to get Wingate into the red zone
- Willis scored from nine yards out to make it 14-10
- Wingate took over at its own 27 with 3:33 left in the quarter
- Brien found Jackson for 21 yards to get the Bulldogs to midfield
- Brien then hit James for a 51-yard touchdown, putting the 'Dogs on top 17-14
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Bears got into the red zone, tying the game at 17 on a Cole Allbaugh 37-yard field goal
- Wingate took over at its own 15 with 7:19 to go
- Brien connected with Willis for 14 yards to get it to the 30
- He hit Kayden Bash for six yards on third and five to keep the drive alive
- Brien then found Jackson for 34 yards, getting Wingate to the LR 25
- Brien's five-yard scramble setup a first and 10 at the 14
- A Willis seven-yard run got it inside the 10
- Hilsinger drilled the go-ahead 25-yard field goal with 1:27 remaining
- On third and 10, Wells Bettenhausen had his pass intercepted by Dangerfield with under a minute to go, securing the victory
UP NEXT
- Wingate has a bye next week
- The 'Dogs will host Anderson Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. on Homecoming weekend
