GAFFNEY, S.C. – Freshman RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) set a program record with 169 rushing yards, but the Limestone College football team could not hold up against a second-half surge as visiting Wingate University collected a 49-26 conference decision on Saturday, November 3 at The Reservation.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Wingate 49, Limestone 26
Records: Wingate (7-3, 4-2), Limestone (0-10, 0-7)
Location: The Reservation
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Sophomore QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) went 11-of-33 for 188 yards and two touchdowns
• Phillips also added a rushing touchdown – his fourth of the season
• Senior WR Cody Rau (Litchfield, Minn.) hauled in nine catches for 71 yards and a pair of scores
• Senior TE Andrew Hutto (Charleston, S.C.) added four receptions for 69 yards
• Freshman WR Juwan Scott (North Charleston, S.C.) registered 112 all-purpose yards
• Senior K Griffin Martin (Goose Creek, S.C.) went 2-of-2 on field goal attempts
• Senior DB Destinn Middleton (Lithonia, Ga.) posted a team-high six tackles
• Graduate DB Justin Wyatt (Suwanee, Ga.) added four tackles and a sack
• Martin booted a career-long 51 yard field goal in the first quarter
• Limestone registered 349 yards of total offense, but turned the ball over twice
• Defensively, the Saints held Wingate to 55 yards passing but allowed 344 yards on the ground

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Brooks got the day started for the Saints with a 33-yard run down the visiting sideline, setting up the Blue and Gold's first TD in the first half since week 5. Hutto hauled in a 22-yard catch during the scoring drive before Phillips surged into the end zone from a yard out behind senior center Cody Meree (Ladson, S.C.).
 
Following a three-and-out by the Limestone defense, Scott would give Limestone great field position at the Wingate 42 with a 33-yard punt return. A bad snap on the second play of the series would nullify a 15-yard catch by Scott, but Griffin staked the Saints to a 10-0 lead with a conference-long 51-yard field goal.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Bulldogs got on the board early in the second quarter when Nijere Peoples scored from 4-yards out to cap an 8-play, 64-yard drive to cut the margin to 10-7. Wingate would then take its first lead of the day, 14-10, with 4:46 remaining in the opening half on an 8-yard touchdown run by Peoples.   
 
Third Quarter
 
The Limestone defense got a three-and-out to start the second half, but the offensive struggles continued after its first two drives of the game. Wingate capitalized with defensive touchdown on a strip sack before adding a score on offense a few plays later to take a 28-10 advantage with 6:47 remaining in the third.
 
The Saints took the ensuing possession and moved the ball to the Wingate 11, highlighted by an 18-yard catch by Rau, but the drive stalled following a personal foul. However, Martin would add his second field goal of the day, a 41-yarder, as Limestone closed the gap to 28-13 with three quarters in the books.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Wingate needed just three plays to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter. Peoples broke through for a 45-yard touchdown run on the very first play of the period, and then Phillips threw an interception on the very next snap. Peoples scored from a yard out one play later to make it 42-13.
 
Brooks then busted through the line for a 71-yard run to set up a 1^st-and-goal at the Wingate 10 for Limestone before Phillips found Rau at the front pylon for a 5-yard TD pass on 4^th down. The momentum was short-lived, however, as another long run by the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 49-19 a few plays later.
 
The Blue and Gold continued to show fight though, moving the ball 75 yards on nine plays when Phillips floated a 27-yard pass that Rau was able to track down for his second TD of the game. Nevertheless, that would be the closest things would get as Wingate ran out the final 5:32 to secure the 49-26 decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Trailing 14-10 at half, the Limestone defense came up big by forcing the Bulldogs to go three-and-out to start the third quarter. However, a scoop-and-score by the Wingate defense on a strip sack was followed by an offensive score a few plays later to shift the momentum in favor of the visitors.  
 
NOTABLES
 

• The 71-yard run by Brooks was the second longest run in Limestone history
• The Saints matched a season-high with 160 rushing yards
• Despite the late push, the Blue and Gold failed to reach 1,000 yards rushing on the season
• Graduate DB Joshua Simmons (Moncks Corner, S.C.) moved to corner for his final game, just missing out on his 16^th career interception – he finished with three tackles and a pass breakup
• Sophomore LB Kingston Best (Columbia, S.C.) recorded a sack
• Junior Christian Shupe (Hull, Ga.) tallied five tackles and a quarterback hurry