Cleveland, Miss.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored 26 points in the fourth quarter Saturday night en route to an impressive 36-13 victory at Delta State in NCAA Division II football action. Wingate improves to 1-1 on the season, while the Statesmen fall to 0-2 overall.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 251 rushing yards and 162 passing yards for 413 total yards
- Delta State had 140 passing yards and 57 rushing yards for 197 yards of offense
- The 'Dogs had a 21-13 edge in first downs
- The Statesmen turned it over three times; the Bulldogs did not turn it over
- Wingate had the ball for over 35 minutes on the night
- The 'Dogs went six-for-13 on third down and two-for-two on fourth down
- DSU was five-for-10 on third down
- The Bulldogs had seven tackles for loss including a pair of sacks
KEY BULLDOGS
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Brooks Brien was 12-for-20 for 162 yards and a touchdown
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Ethan Wallace had 19 carries for 80 yards, adding a 10-yard reception
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Jason Willis ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on nine carries
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Justin Little added a 52-yard TD run
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Jayshawn Appling had five carries for 26 yards and a touchdown
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Xavier Jackson had three catches for 30 yards and a TD, adding a three-yard touchdown run
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Hudson Cooper had a 47-yard reception
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Kayden Bash added three grabs for 44 yards
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Tyson Brown had seven tackles with two tackles for loss and half a sack
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Chris Harris had five tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a sack
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Elijah Evans contributed four tackles with half a sack
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David Squires and
Brandon Perry each had an interception
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Geviaunta Walker added a fumble recovery
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Gunnar Hilsinger averaged 41.2 yards per punt on four punts
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Rocco Caldarella had 63 kick return yards, including a 50-yarder
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Mason Suber added a field goal and three extra points
FIRST QUARTER
- Wingate forced a three-and-out to start the game, then went on a 73-yard TD drive
- Brien hit
Jesse Clinesmith for a first down on third and six, then hit Jackson for 10 yards
- Brien connected with Bash for 17 yards, getting it to the DSU 34
- Brien found Bash again for nine yards on fourth and four to get it into the red zone
- Brien connected with Jackson for a 10-yard touchdown to give Wingate a 7-0 lead
SECOND QUARTER
- Emile Picarella connected with Lawrence Armstrong for a 41-yard TD to tie it at seven at the 14:01 mark
- The 'Dogs ended the half with a drive lasting over eight minutes, starting at their own 20
- Bash started it with an 18-yard reception
- Brien hit Wallace for a 10-yard connection on third and six to get to DSU territory
- A Willis 10-yard run on fourth and two got the Bulldogs back in the red zone
- Suber's 22-yard field goal gave Wingate a 10-7 halftime lead
THIRD QUARTER
- The teams traded punts throughout the third quarter
- Wingate took over on its own 10 in the final minute, starting the drive with a Wallace 13-yard run
FOUTH QUARTER
- Brien started the fourth quarter with a 47-yard connection to Cooper, getting it to the DSU 30
- He hit
Zymill Patterson for 15 yards to get Wingate in the red zone
- Willis set up a first and goal at the three with a 10-yard run
- Jackson scored from three yards out to make it 16-7
- Delta State fumbled on the first play of the ensuing drive, recovered by Walker at the DSU 13
- Appling scored from 13 yards out on the next play to make it 23-7 with 11:49 to go
- The Statesmen got the ball to the WU 21, but a Squires interception halted the drive
- A Wallace 19-yard run got the Bulldogs into Delta State territory
- A Willis 10-yard run got it to the DSU 28
- He followed with a 28-yard TD run to put the 'Dogs on top 29-7
- Perry picked off Picarella on the first play of the next drive, setting the Bulldogs up at the WU 40
- Three plays later, Little took it 52 yards to the house to give Wingate a 36-7 lead at the 4:59 mark
UP NEXT
- Wingate is back in action Saturday, opening SAC play at Carson-Newman at 1 p.m.
- The 'Dogs have their home opener Sept. 19, hosting Newberry at 6 p.m.
