Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs came up with four interceptions Saturday night, while redshirt freshman quarterback Shaw Crocker threw four more touchdown passes to lead the 'Dogs to a 35-25 victory over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The Bulldogs move to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the SAC, while the Indians fall to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league play.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH REICH
"The defense played great in spots, we just have to be a little bit more consistent against the pass and with our rush lanes. The four interceptions tonight, that definitely helps. When our offense wasn't committing penalties, we were running the ball really well. We mixed some good throws in there, but we were running the ball very effectively, but then we'd get a penalty and have to back up. If we were more disciplined and didn't' get those penalties, we could mash them up a little more, control the clock and expand our lead. We've got a lot of work to do, we need to get rid of some of the penalties. I like the aggressive mentality, but you have to be disciplined.
NOTES
- Wingate is now 14-17 all-time against Catawba and 6-5 at Irwin Belk Stadium
- The Bulldogs have won seven of the last eight against the Indians
- 17th straight win for the 'Dogs when scoring at least 30 points
- Wingate improves to 7-1 under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium
- Snaps a two-game home losing streak
- WU has now scored 86 total points the last two weeks
- Cal Hanford had the first defensive TD for WU since Zack Singleton's pick-six Oct. 28, 2017
KEY TEAM STATS
- Wingate outgained Catawba 383-362
- The Bulldogs had 193 rushing yards and 190 passing yards
- The Indians threw for 275 yards and rushed for 87
- Catawba had four turnovers compared to Wingate's two
- Wingate had 185 penalty yards; Catawba had 88 yards in penalties
- The 'Dogs won the time-of-possession battle by nearly six minutes
- The teams combined for just three red zone trips, scoring TDs in all three
- Catawba was seven-for-15 on third down; WU went four-for-13
KEY BULLDOGS
- Shaw Crocker was 12-for-18, throwing for 190 yards and four TDs
- Reigning SAC Player of the Week Crocker has nine TD throws last two games
- Nijere Peoples had 151 rushing yards on 22 carries
- Domineke McNeill added 58 rushing yards
- J.T. Stokes hauled in five catches for 56 yards and two TDs
- Stokes has eight touchdown catches on the year and six his last four games
- Bryan Mitchell had three catches for 40 yards and a score
- Mason Flynt added two receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown
- Joe Kelly, Robbie Wallace, Cal Hanford and Cameron Mattison each had an interception
- Cardell Rawlings had nine tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks and two QB hurries
- Elijah Gilmore added nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a sack
- Matthew Ellis-White had eight tackles and a pass break-up
- Kelly added seven tackles to go along with his pick
- Hanford scored his first career touchdown on his pick-six
- Chris Birozes had six punts for 49 yards, with two inside the 20 including one at the Catawba one
- McLean Robertson hit all five PATs
FIRST QUARTER
- Catawba went 59 yards on seven plays on the opening drive
- Ken Avent hit Will Sweeper for a 38-yard TD to make it 7-0
- A 16-yard BJ Muckelvene punt return set the 'Dogs up at the Catawba 33
- After a 13-yard Peoples run, Crocker hit Mitchell for a seven-yard TD to tie it
SECOND QUARTER
- Another good Muckelvene return put the 'Dogs back in Catawba territory
- Crocker hit Flynt for a 26-yard score on third-and-two to put Wingate on to 14-7
- Hanford put the 'Dogs on top by 21 midway through the quarter with a pick-six
- He picked it off right around midfield, taking it 52 yards to the house to make it 21-7
- Mattison's interception put the Bulldogs back around midfield
- A Peoples 14-yard run and Flynt 20-yard catch got it deep into Catawba territory
- Crocker found Stokes from seven yards out to make it 28-7
- Lee Brackman's 19-yard field goal got the Indians within 18 heading to halftime
FOURTH QUARTER
- Catawba's seven-play, 99-yard drive spanned the third and fourth quarter
- Avent followed a 21-yard pass with an 18-yard run to get it to WU territory
- Avent hit Dre Dunbar for a 37-yard score to make it 28-17
- Wallace picked off Avent to give Wingate good field position once again
- Crocker capped the 40-yard drive with a 24-yard hookup with Stokes to make it 35-17
- Catawba went 91 yards on 11 plays to get within 10 at 35-25
- Avent's 38-yard pass to Sweeper capped the drive, followed by the two-point conversion
- Wingate recovered the onside kick and went into victory formation
UP NEXT
- Wingate is at home next week for the sixth time in eight weeks
- WU hosts Mars Hill Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. on homecoming Saturday
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