Hayes and Bulldogs take 38-18 season-opening victory over Johnson C. Smith

Charlotte, N.C.----Wingate University senior running back Blake Hayes (Greenville, S.C.) rushed 18 times for 152 yards and one TD, leading the Bulldogs to a 38-18 NCAA Division II triumph over Johnson C. Smith University Saturday night at the Irwin Belk Complex and Eddie McGirt Field. The contest was the season opener for both teams.

Wingate continues its tour of the CIAA next Saturday, venturing to Fayetteville State University for a 6 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs and the Broncos will meet for the first time since 2007. Johnson C. Smith opens CIAA play the same day, hosting Virginia State University at 4 p.m.

"This is a good win for us over a very well-coached team," Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. "We know we have much improvement to make…it is nice to get the win, but good for us to have adversity as well. If we can clean up our mistakes, we believe the sky is the limit for us."

Johnson C. Smith fumbled the opening kick-off, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position at the JCSU 24-yard line. WU senior running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) opened the scoring for the visitors, concluding a seven-play drive with a three-yard TD run. Wingate redshirt senior placekicker Freddy McCollum (Sanford, N.C.) booted his first collegiate extra point to give the 'Dogs a 7-0 lead at the 11:48 mark.

On Wingate's next possession, Bulldog sophomore quarterback James Whitaker (Roswell, Ga.) tossed his first career touchdown pass (five yards) to junior wide receiver Malik Bledsoe (Culloden, Ga.) with 6:17 to play in the first quarter. McCollum's PAT made the score 14-0 Wingate.

Whitaker led his troops on a 90-yard drive to conclude the opening frame, hitting redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jay Hood (Lancaster, S.C.) with a 13-yard scoring strike at the first quarter buzzer. Hood's first collegiate TD reception and the subsequent PAT by McCollum gave Wingate a 21-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.

Johnson C. Smith got on the board late in the second stanza, as senior running back Wilson Curtis (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored on a seven-yard run. The Curtis score concluded a seven-play, 63-yard drive for the hosts and finished the first half scoring with Wingate up 21-6.

McCollum continued his night of firsts, nailing his first collegiate field goal (25 yards) with 1:42 left in the third quarter. After the Golden Bulls went three-and-out, WU redshirt sophomore wide receiver BJ Muckelvene (Waxhaw, N.C.) returned a JCSU punt 73 yards for another Bulldog touchdown. McCollum contributed his final PAT of the night to make the score 31-6 with 19 seconds left in the third frame.

Golden Bull junior quarterback Terrance Ervin (Richmond, Va.) led his team on two long TD drives (73 yards, 85 yards) in the fourth quarter. Ervin rushed for one score (11:54) and passed for another (0:31). The two Johnson C. Smith touchdowns were sandwiched around a three-yard scoring jaunt for Hayes at the 8:32 mark. Wingate freshman placekicker McLean Robertson (Lexington, S.C.) contributed his first collegiate PAT after the Hayes' TD for the Bulldogs' 38th (and final) point.

Muckelvene compiled 137 all-purpose yards with 55 rushing yards and nine receiving yards to go with his 73-yard punt return. Whitaker completed eight-of-19 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Wingate redshirt junior punter Christopher Birozes (Suwanee, Ga.) made a triumphant return after missing the 2016 season due to a liver transplant. The 2015 Academic All-America® boomed six punts for 258 yards and a 43-yards-per-punt average. He had three boots inside the 20-yard line.

Ervin was a bright light for the hosts, completing 17-of-30 passes for 228 yards and one score. Ervin was the Golden Bulls' leading rusher as well, posting 11 carries for 57 yards. He scored on a seven-yard run to open the fourth quarter scoring for JCSU.

Wingate Academic All-America® candidate and senior linebacker Zack Singleton (Germanton, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with seven tackles (six solo). He added two tackles for losses. WU redshirt freshman defensive lineman Louis Rogers (Spartanburg, S.C.) had six tackles (five solo) with a game-high 4.5 tackles for losses. Bulldog defensive backs Joe Kelly (Columbia, S.C.) and Cameron Mattison (Charlotte, N.C.) had interceptions, while redshirt sophomore linebacker Robbie Wallace (Covington, Ga.) had one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.