Wingate, N.C.----The Anderson University Trojans jumped out to a 14-0 lead Saturday afternoon, but the Wingate University Bulldogs responded by scoring the final 35 points of the day, rolling to a 35-14 victory in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. The Bulldogs improve to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the SAC, while the Trojans fall to 4-5 overall and 3-4 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 254 passing yards and 234 rushing yards, piling up 488 yards of offense
- Anderson had 118 passing yards and just 33 rushing yards for 151 total yards
- The Bulldogs had a 21-8 edge in first downs
- The Trojans had three of the five turnovers
- The 'Dogs were six-for-13 on third down and one-for-two on fourth down
- AU was two-for-10 on third down and zero-for-one on fourth down
- The Bulldogs held the ball for over 38 minutes on the day
KEY BULLDOGS
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Ethan Wallace had 26 carries for 146 yards and three touchdowns
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Brooks Brien threw for 254 yards and a pair of TDs
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Xavier Jackson had five catches for 170 yards and a touchdown
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Damonte James added 11 carries for 60 yards
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Kayden Bash had three receptions for 31 yards
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Jesse Clinesmith had a 22-yard grab
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Silas Tate added a five-yard touchdown reception
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Chris Harris had five tackles with half a sack and a fumble recovery
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Anthony Dangerfield added four tackles and an interception
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Tory Kelly had five tackles including a tackle for loss
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Gee Walker had four tackles with 1.5 sacks
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Elijah Evans contributed three tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a forced fumble
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J'Von Mack had two tackles, an interception and a pass break-up
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Gunnar Hilsinger made all five PATs
FIRST QUARTER
- Wilson Edwards connected with Lennix Valarie for a 36-yard touchdown to give AU a 7-0 lead at the 5:20 mark
- Anderson then forced a punt and blocked it, with Chase Sturgeon picking it up and taking it in for a TD
- The Trojans had a 14-0 lead with 3:46 left in the opening quarter
- The 'Dogs responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive
- A Wallace 13-yard run got the Bulldogs to the AU 27
- Brien connected with Jackson for 26 yards to the Anderson five
- Brien found Tate for a five-yard touchdown on the next play to make it 14-7
SECOND QUARTER
- Wingate forced a three-and-out on the Anderson drive, taking over at its own 26
- Brien hit Bash for 14 yards and
Tanner Mays for 15 yards to start the drive
- Wallace broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run to tie it at 14 with 10:36 remaining
THIRD QUARTER
- Mack intercepted Edwards on the first play of the third quarter, setting WU up at the AU 39
- Brien found Jackson for 35 yards, getting it to the Anderson two
- Wallace punched it in on the next play to put the 'Dogs on top 21-14
- Dangerfield picked off Edwards on the next drive to set the Bulldogs up on their own 35
- A 12-yard pass to Bash and 22-yard connection with Clinesmith got Wingate to the AU 30
- James followed with runs of seven and eight yards to get it to the red zone
- A Wallace five-yard run got the Bulldogs down to the one
- He punched it on the next play to give Wingate a 28-14 cushion at the 4:03 mark
- Wingate forced another three-and-out, taking over at its own 30
- Brien hit Jackson on the first play for a 70-yard touchdown to make it 35-14
UP NEXT
- Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting Emory & Henry at 1:30 p.m.
