GAFFNEY, SC – The eighth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs trailed 14-0 in the opening quarter Saturday afternoon, but responded by scoring the next 28 points and 35 of the final 38 points of the contest en route to a 35-17 victory at Limestone University in South Atlantic Conference football action. Wingate improves to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SAC, while the Saints fall to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in league play. This is the fourth time in the last six seasons the 'Dogs have started a season 5-0.
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| Wingate RB Nijere Peoples (Photo Credit: Wingate Athletics) |
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 465 yards of offense; Limestone had 311 yards
- The 'Dogs had 261 passing yards and 204 rushing yards
- Limestone had 174 passing yards and 137 rushing yards
- The Bulldogs held a 25-17 advantage in first downs
- The Saints had the only two turnovers of the day; one fumble and one interception
- The 'Dogs held the ball for 40:38 on the afternoon
- Wingate converted eight-of-14 third downs
- The Bulldogs scored on five of six red zone opportunities
- WU had the only four sacks of the afternoon
- Limestone went five-for-12 on third down while scoring on two-of-three red zone trips
KEY BULLDOGS
- Shaw Crocker completed 20 of 29 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns
- Kamal Desor had seven catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns
- RJ Mobley hauled in six receptions for 94 yards
- Ra'Quan Simmons added four catches for 63 yards
- Trevor Grant had a three-yard TD grab
- Nijere Peoples ran for 86 yards and a touchdown
- Kalen Clark added 86 rushing yards on 13 carries
- Alexander Wilson added 17 rushing yards and a touchdown
- Tre Morrison piled up eight tackles, two TFLs, and two pass break-ups
- Davon Gilmore added eight stops with a pair of TFLs
- Marquise Fleming had seven tackles, two TFLs, a sack, and a forced fumble
- Raymond Owens collected five tackles with a sack
- Justin Armwood had two tackles and an interception
- Sirod Cook registered three tackles, a TFL, and a fumble recovery
- Jordon Anderson added a sack for the Bulldogs
- McLean Robertson made all five PATs
- Ethan Evans averaged 37 yards per punt on a pair of punts, putting both inside the 20. He also had two touchbacks on six kickoffs
FIRST QUARTER
- Limestone scored on both drives in the opening quarter to race out to a 14-0 lead
- Jerkoya Patton's 17-yard run on third and goal gave the Saints a two-score lead with four minutes left
SECOND QUARTER
- The Bulldogs outscored Limestone 28-0 in the second quarter
- A 13-play, 75-yard drive got Wingate on the board
- Crocker hit Wilson for 10 yards on fourth and three to keep the drive alive
- Peoples scored from four yards out to get Wingate on the board
- A four-play, 70-yard drive tied it
- Clark's 29-yard run started the drive, while a 16-yard Desor catch got it to the LU 10
- Crocker hit Grant from three yards out to tie it
- Wingate added a four-play, 60-yard drive to take the lead
- Crocker hit Mobley for 42 yards to start the drive, getting it inside the Limestone 20
- Crocker connected with Desor from five yards out to give the Bulldogs the lead
- WU capped the quarter with an 11-play, 88-yard drive
- Crocker's 16-yard scramble on third and seven kept the drive alive
- He hit Desor for 14 yards and Simmons for 30 yards to get it to the Limestone 14
- Crocker found Desor in the end zone again to cap the 28-point quarter
SECOND HALF
- A Fleming sack and Cook recovery around midfield halted Limestone's first drive
- Wingate's drive was halted inside the LU five on downs
- Austin Kemp capped a 74-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal to make it 28-17
- The Bulldogs took a 35-17 lead with a 32-yard drive midway through the fourth
- Evans pinned the Saints inside their own 10, then the defense forced a three-and-out
- The Limestone punt went just 22 yards, setting WU up at the LU 32
- Wilson got the ball to the one with a four-yard run
- He scored on the next play to put Wingate on top by 18
- Armwood's interception on the ensuing drive halted the Limestone drive at the WU 30
UP NEXT
- Wingate is on the road for two more weeks
- The Bulldogs are at Barton at 4 p.m. next week
- The road trip ends at UVA Wise Oct. 23 at 12 p.m.
- The 'Dogs return home Oct. 30 to host Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m.
Story courtesy of Wingate Athletics
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