Wingate Finishes Season in First Round of NCAA Playoffs

Wingate, N.C.----The University of West Florida redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Beaudry threw three touchdown passes and the Argonauts' defense forced four turnovers on the way to a 31-0 NCAA Division II first round play-off victory over number 16 Wingate University in Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field Saturday afternoon.
 
West Florida improves to 8-3 overall with the victory. The Argonauts will face Gulf South Conference rival the University of West Georgia in the NCAA second round Saturday, Nov. 25. The South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate Bulldogs complete the 2017 campaign 9-2 overall, matching the school record for victories set by the school's last NCAA play-off squad in 2010.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: West Florida 31, #16 Wingate 0
Records: West Florida 8-3, Wingate 9-2
Location: Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Beaudry completed 18-of-31 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. He utilized seven different receivers and threw one scoring strike each to three teammates.
-On the third play from scrimmage, West Florida graduate student defensive back Jalen Spencer returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown.
-Spencer had two interceptions on the afternoon, as he recorded a pick on Wingate's second possession as well.
-The UWF Argonauts had nine quarterback sacks by eight different players.
-Wingate senior running back Lawrence Pittman concluded his stellar Bulldog career with 17 carries for 115 yards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED


First Quarter
 

Jalen Spencer had a 23-yard interception return for a TD to open the scoring for the Argonauts of West Florida. Austin William hit a 51-yard field goal to add to UWF's lead. The three-point boot was the second 51-yard field goal Wingate had allowed this season.
 
Second Quarter
 
Mike Beaudry completed a quick out route to Tate Lehtio for the next UWF score. Lehtio took the ball 10 yards and dove over a defender to boost the visitors' lead to 17-0.
 
Third Quarter
 
Beaudry hit junior wide receiver Antoine Griffin in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard Argonauts TD midway through the third frame. Wingate moved the ball to the UWF 30-yard line on the next possession, but an interception ended the Bulldog threat.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Beaudry flipped the ball to senior tight end Austin Blake-Smith for a two-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter. The two teams traded punts the rest of the way.
 
TURNING POINT
 
West Florida turned two Wingate miscues into 10 first-quarter points, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Austin Williams' 51-yard field goal matched the longest successful try Wingate had allowed this season. The Bulldogs surrendered a 51-yard field goal to Limestone in Wingate's regular season home finale.
-Wingate and West Florida were meeting for the first time ever. The UWF Argonauts are a second-year program coached by previous UNC Pembroke head mentor Pete Shinnick.
-The last team to shutout the Bulldogs was SAC foe Newberry. The Wolves blanked the Bulldogs 26-0 on Nov. 14, 2015 at Wingate.
 
UP NEXT
 
Wingate's season is complete following today's contest. The Bulldogs will open the 2018 campaign with a home contest against Johnson C. Smith University (date and time TBA).