Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs got 164 rushing yards from
Ethan Wallace Saturday afternoon en route to a 27-20 victory at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference football action. Wingate wraps up the regular season at 6-5 overall and 5-4 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 5-5 overall and 4-5 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 183 rushing yards and 176 passing yards for 359 yards of total offense
- Mars Hill had 255 passing yards and 81 rushing yards for 336 total yards
- The Bulldogs held a 21-20 edge in first downs
- The 'Dogs were five-for-15 on third down and one-for-one on fourth down
- The Lions went three-for-12 on third down and zero-for-one on fourth down
- Wingate held the ball for nearly 35 minutes on the day
- Each team turned it over twice
KEY BULLDOGS
- Wallace had 35 carries on the day, going for 164 yards and a touchdown on the ground
- He added a 16-yard TD reception
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Brooks Brien threw for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adding 15 rushing yards
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Xavier Jackson had two receptions for 67 yards
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Kayden Bash added two grabs for 31 yards
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Tanner Mays had three catches for 21 yards and a touchdown
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J'Von Mack had a team-high seven tackles
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Jaden White had six tackles with a sack, adding an interception
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Paul Thompson notched five tackles with a pass breakup
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Ephraim Wright added a tackle, interception and QB hurry
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Elijah Evans had three pass break-ups on the day
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Chris Harris added five tackles with a QB hurry
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Gunnar Hilsinger made a pair of field goals on the day
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Oliver Whisonant averaged 44.5 yards per punt on four punts
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Rocco Caldarella piled up 128 yards on four kick returns with a long of 51
FIRST QUARTER
- Matthias Newsome connected on a 47-yard field goal to give MHU a 3-0 lead at the 7:41 mark
- Wingate got the ball at its own 34 with 2:43 left in the frame
- Brien hit Bash for 26 yards to get it to Mars Hill territory
- Brien found Mays for seven yards to get it into the red zone
- Brien then connected with Wallace for a 16-yard TD putting the 'Dogs on top 7-3
SECOND QUARTER
- An interception set the Lions up at midfield four minutes into the second
- Dax Varnadore hit Ryder Bush-Ivanko for a 26-yard touchdown to give MHU a 10-7 lead
- Caldarella took the ensuing kick back 51 yards to set Wingate up in Mars Hill territory
- The 'Dogs worked it in the red zone, but the drive stalled on a missed field goal
- Wingate got it back at the WU 38 with three minutes left in the half
- A 13-yard Wallace run and 24-yard reception from
Zymill Patterson got it to the MHU 25
- Wallace followed with runs of nine and five yards to get it to the 11
- Hilsinger nailed a 34-yard field goal to tie it at 10
THIRD QUARTER
- Wright intercepted Varnadore on the first play of the half, taking it back 22 yards to the MHU 23
- Hillsinger drilled a 42-yard field goal to put the 'Dogs on top 13-10
- Rayvon Durant ran it in from eight yards out with 8:55 left in the quarter to give Mars Hill a 17-13 lead
- The Bulldogs responded with a 79-yard scoring drive
- Wallace broke free for a 35-yard run to get it into MHU territory
- Brien connected with Mays for seven yards on third and six to keep it alive
- Wallace then scored from 12 yards out, giving Wingate a 20-17 advantage
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Lions got it deep into WU territory, but the 'Dogs stuffed them on fourth and one at the 10
- The teams traded a punt and missed field goal, with Wingate taking over at its own 20 with 10:17 left
- Brien hit Jackson for 21 yards on third and 10 to keep the drive alive
- Brien then found Jackson again for 46 yards, getting the Bulldogs inside the 10
- Brien connected with Mays on third and goal from the seven to give Wingate a 27-17 lead at the 6:12 mark
- Newsome answered by connecting on a 29-yard field goal to cut the lead to seven with four minutes left
- Wallace started the next drive with a 10-yard run
- He added a seven-yard run on third and six to get it near midfield
- Wingate had to punt with 14 seconds left, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the 'Dogs a first down
- The Bulldogs kneeled on it to secure the victory
