Big Saturday---Dogs win!! Dogs win!!

Senior QB Robbie Nallenweg was 23 of 30 for 203 yards and 2 TDs as Wingate defeated Saint Andrews 24-3 on Saturday Spetember 14, 2013. Nallenweg utilized 8 receivers. His longest completion was a 30 yard catch and run by Redshirt Junior Hunter Haffly. 

Wingate's Defense came up big when it counted. They stopped the talented running corps of the Falcons and forced them into a passing offense. Wingate had no turnovers. The Falcons had a fumble and were intercepted twice by the Dogs. Sophomore Phillip Staples swiped a Falcon pass on his own 4 yard line and raced downfield 83 yards. He was touchdown bound but a desperate grab at his facemask by a Falcon stopped Phillip just short of the endzone. The refs tacked on a "half the distance" penalty putting the Dogs on the 4.

The Wingate Report

Richard Harding Davis

Under a clear Carolina blue sky and perfect fall football weather The Wingate University Bulldogs began their 2013 football season at Irwin Belk Stadium Saturday afternoon September 14.

 It was Patriot's Day at the stadium and all retired and active duty soldiers and veterans were recognized along with Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Emergency Personnel. To add to the excitement, fans were treated to a flyover by a WWII aircraft. 

The Saint Augustine Falcons found the Wingate defense against the run stout and turned to the air on their second possession. Quarterback A.J. Gilford found receiver Jermaine Jones for a long gainer to the Wingate 8. Two losses on successive running plays and an incomplete pass set up a Michael Lima field goal from the 28 and Saint Augustine took a 3 - 0 lead.  

Wingate came right back and marched downfield behind the passing of Senior Quarterback and Academic All American nominee Robbie Nalenweg. True Freshman Jordan Berry's third reception took the ball to the Saint Augustine 11 where the drive stalled. Junior placekicker Patrick Smith drilled a 28 yarder to tie the score 3 - 3.

Neither team held an advantage until Wingate Return Specialist Cameron Leviner, a Piedmont graduate, fielded a punt and scampered 12 yards into Saint Augustine territory. From there Nallenweg completed three passes, the last being to Tight End Mark Clyburn, a Forest Hills graduate which took the ball to the 4. The drive ended with Runningback Mycah Gaylord's dive into the endzone for the score. With the extra point Wingate led 10 - 3.

With less than two minutes before halftime Saint Augustine began a drive behind the passing of reserve quarterback Alex Munro. He completed four straight passes taking the ball to the Wingate 27. The Falcons called timeout with 30 seconds on the clock.  An incomplete and two quick short passes took the ball to the 9. Munro attempted to score on the quarterback draw but was stopped at the 1 by linebacker Josh Everts when the clock ran out. 

The second half began with Wingate's defense pushing the Falcons backwards, forcing them to punt from their own endzone. Leviner again gave the Bulldogs great field position with a 20 yard return, taking the ball all the way to the Saint Augustine 21. Four plays later Nallenweg found Clyburn for the score. With the extra point Wingate led 17 - 3.

Wingate's defense kept pressure on the Falcons and forced turnovers. Wingate's defensive ends were in the Falcon backfield stopping runners for losses and keeping pressure on the quarterback. The Bulldogs had two interceptions in the game. The second one took the wind out of the sails for the Falcons. Sophomore Defensive back Phillip Staples intercepted a Gilford pass at the Wingate 2 and rumbled 83 yards before he was tackled in desperation by the facemask at the 15. The resulting penalty put the ball on the Saint Augustine 7. Two plays later Nallenweg found runningback Nestor Lantiqua for the touchdown. The Patrick Smith extra point made it 24 - 3. 

Wingate used the clock to their advantage to wind down the final minutes and preserve the victory. 

The Bulldogs travel to Lenoir Rhyne Saturday for a 7 PM contest.