Pittman, Williams lift #20 Wingate to 42-21 SAC triumph at Mars Hill

Mars Hill, N.C.----The number 20 Wingate University football team compiled 508 yards total offense on the way to a 42-21 South Atlantic Conference victory over Mars Hill University at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs (7-0 overall, 4-0 SAC) are the only undefeated team in the league. 

WU senior running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed 28 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt junior quarterback Dylan Williams (Whiteville, N.C.) completed 16-of-19 passes for 216 yards and two scores in his first collegiate start. The Bulldogs win at Mars Hill for the first time since Nov. 7, 2009, when Wingate claimed a 56-35 decision over the host MHU Lions. 

GAME INFORMATION

Score: #20 Wingate 42, Mars Hill 21

Records: #20 Wingate (7-0 overall, 4-0 overall), Mars Hill (2-6 overall, 1-5 SAC)

Location: Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium, Mars Hill, N.C. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

-The two teams combined for 999 yards total offense (Wingate 508, Mars Hill 491) Saturday.

-Bulldog senior running back Blake Hayes rushed 25 times for 76 yards.

-Wingate redshirt sophomore return specialist BJ Muckelvene rushed for a touchdown (first quarter) and caught a TD pass (second quarter). His 48-yard scoring connection with Williams gave the visitors a 35-7 halftime lead with 42 seconds left in the second stanza.

-Mars Hill senior quarterback David Salmon completed 20-of-29 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Lions' homecoming crowd, Salmon threw two interceptions.

-Bulldog redshirt sophomore linebacker Robbie Wallace had a team-best 11 tackles.

-The number one time of possession unit in the SAC, Wingate dominated the ball control stat Saturday with 39:46 of offensive efficiency. Mars Hill had the ball for only 20:14.

-Wingate (11 for 111) and Mars Hill (10 for 98) combined for 209 penalty yards on 21 infractions.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter

Lawrence Pittman rushes 34 yards for a Wingate touchdown to open up the scoring in the first quarter. Mars Hill responds on the next possession, giving the ball to sophomore running back Elijah Jett for a 10-yard rushing TD. This play tied the game at 7-7. BJ Muckelvene adds six to Wingate's scoring total with a 15-yard reverse run to pay dirt.

Second Quarter

Pittman stretches the football across the goal line and scores from two yards out to open the second quarter scoring. Wingate redshirt junior defensive back Kam Johnson intercepts a David Salmon slant pass at the Bulldog nine-yard line. The Bulldogs cap a 91-yard drive when redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jay Hood catches a 35-yard TD throw from Dylan Williams, who has now completed nine-of-nine attempts for 108 yards and a TD. Muckelvene pulls the second of two Williams' TD passes for 48 yards later in the quarter. The PAT from redshirt senior place kicker Freddy McCollum makes the score 35-7 at intermission.

Third Quarter

Salmon launches the ball down the field and hits senior wide receiver Keshaun Taylor in stride for 81 yards and a MHU TD. McCollum attempts a 32-yard field goal, but pushes wide to the right. Wingate true freshman quarterback Clemson Allen makes the most of his first appearance in the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold, taking a designed QB run for 18 yards and a touchdown. A few minutes later, Salmon connects with Taylor for a 62-yard TD to conclude the scoring. 

Fourth Quarter

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs moved the ball to the Mars Hill 23-yard line, while the Lions made a drive to the Wingate 19-yard marker. Both drives came up empty as the nationally-ranked visitors prevailed for a 42-21 SAC victory.

TURNING POINTS

Dylan Williams connecting on back-to-back touchdown passes in the second quarter (in his first collegiate start) to turn a 21-7 contest into a 35-7 game moments before halftime.

NOTABLES

-Wingate senior running back Lawrence Pittman posted his 15th 100-yard rushing game for his Bulldog career (five each his sophomore, junior and senior years). His two rushing touchdowns give him 37 career rushing TDs.

-Bulldog redshirt senior placekicker Freddy McCollum remains perfect on extra points, as he made six-of-six Saturday for a 26-of-26 ledger this year.

-Wingate redshirt junior punter Christopher Birozes boomed two punts for 104 yards, a 52-yard per punt average. Birozes was named an Academic All-America® by the College Sports Information Directors of America in 2015.

-Mars Hill senior wide receiver Keshaun Taylor caught 10 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns (each statistic a game-high). His second half scoring receptions covered 81 yards and 62 yards, respectively.

QUOTABLES

Wingate head coach Joe Reich: "Dylan Williams played like a senior. He was spot on with his decisions and throws. Our defense was opportunistic in getting turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). I thought we had great energy all day."

Wingate redshirt senior linebacker Zack Singleton: "This was an awesome team win today! On the defensive side, we played with tremendous effort and passion. The D-line dominated and the defensive backs executed when we needed it the most."

UP NEXT

Wingate returns home Saturday, Oct. 28 for a 6 p.m. SAC contest against defending league champion Newberry College. Mars Hill is off next Saturday. The MHU Lions step out of the league fray on Saturday, Nov. 4, hosting UNC Pembroke for a 1 p.m. encounter.

(Wingate sophomore Garren Janes contributed information to this article. A graduate of Piedmont High School, Janes is a Sport Management major at Wingate. He hails from Monroe, N.C.)