Evan Patrick
Redshirt-senior Evan Patrick tallied a game-high 11 tackles in his final game with the Blue and Gold.
20
Limestone LC 4-6 , 3-4
44
Winner Wingate WU 9-0 , 6-0
Limestone LC
4-6 , 3-4
20
Final
44
Wingate WU
9-0 , 6-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LC Limestone 7 7 6 0 20
WU Wingate 20 0 10 14 44

Game Recap: Football | | Ernest Meyers, Assistant A.D. for Media Relations

Limestone Closes Season with a 44-20 Loss to No. 14 Wingate

WINGATE, N.C. – Looking to end the 2017 campaign with an upset victory, the Limestone College football team kept things close through three quarters of play before nationally 14th-ranked Wingate University pulled away late to secure the South Atlantic Conference Championship with a 44-20 decision on Saturday, November 4 at Irwin Belk Stadium.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 14 Wingate 44, Limestone 20
Records: No. 14 Wingate (9-0, 6-0), Limestone (4-6, 3-4)
Location: Irwin Belk Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 
  • Freshman RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) finished with 95 yards and a TD on the ground
  • Patton paced the offense with 119 all-purpose yards
  • Redshirt-senior WR D'Anta Fleming (Greer, S.C.) recorded his 29th career touchdown reception
  • Redshirt-freshman DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) went 19-of-41 for 231 yards and a TD
  • Senior kicker Nick Smith (Plain City, Ohio) connected on field goals of 30 and 51 yards
  • Redshirt-senior LB Evan Patrick (Charlotte, N.C.) posted a game-high 11 tackles in his final game
  • Sophomore LB Jacob Carver (Nichols, Ga.) collected 10 tackles
  • Junior DB Jabarus Saxon (Santee, N.C.) added nine tackles, a pick, and a fumble recovery
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The Saints needed just four plays to jump out to an early 7-0 lead as Fleming came back for an underthrown ball before turning up the field to finish a 54-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Limestone marched 75 yards on four plays as Phillips went 3-for-3 on the scoring drive.
 
Wingate countered on its opening drive, moving the ball 69 yards on 11 plays as Dylan Williams found Bryan Mitchell at the front pylon for a 3-yard touchdown reception. Following a Limestone 3-and-out, the Bulldogs capitalized on a short field as Blake Hayes hit a hole on a 49-yard TD run to make it 14-7.
 
The Saints had their punt blocked on the ensuing possession, giving the Bulldogs terrific field position at the LC 28-yard line. Wingate took full advantage as Williams connected with Jay Hood in the back of the endzone as the home team extended the lead to 20-7 late in the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Limestone defense came up with a big stop when junior Kelvin Atkins (Columbia, S.C) jarred the ball loose on a short pass play, allowing Saxon to jump on the rock at the 39. Phillips then hit Hornsby down the visiting sideline for a 37-yard gain before Patton made it 20-14 ballgame with a two-yard TD plunge.
 
Third Quarter
 
The Bulldogs got on the board early in the third as Hayes ripped off another big TD run, this one for 55 yards, to give the home team a 27-14 edge with 14:24 left. Limestone would then respond with points on its first drive of the third as Smith split the uprights from 30 yards out, cutting the margin to 27-17.
 
Redshirt-sophomore DJ Witherspoon (Moncks Corner, S.C.) gave the Saints the ball right back with his second pick of the season, putting the offense back on the field at the Wingate 35-yard line. After a big pickup on 3rd-and-36, Smith brought Limestone to with 27-20 with 5:58 left on a 51-yard field goal.  
 
Fourth Quarter
 
After taking a 30-20 lead on a 33-yard field goal to close the third, Wingate started the fourth by collecting its first turnover of the night on an interception as Phillips was hit on the release. Starting the drive at the LC 43-yard line, the Bulldogs began pulling away as Williams hit BJ Muckelvene on a 30-yard TD strike.
 
Limestone would turn the ball over on back-to-back plays as Phillips was picked off for a second time in the quarter. Wingate put the game away when Williams found Mitchell again for a 15-yard touchdown catch on 4th-and-7 with 5:25 left in regulation.
 
TURNING POINT
 
With the game still close, 30-20, at the end of the third, the Saints turned the ball over twice on back-to-back plays early in the fourth. Wingate turned both of those turnovers into touchdowns to pull away late.
 
NOTABLES
 
  • Limestone scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season.
  • The Saints put up 330 yards of total offense, but surrendered 436 yards on the defensive side
  • Patton rushed for 907 yards and eight touchdowns during his rookie season
  • Senior Vyncint Smith (Columbia, S.C.) and Fleming both graduate with a combined 4,640 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns
  • Fleming tied his own program single season record with his ninth touchdown of the season
  • Redshirt-senior DB Titus Williams (Greenwood, S.C.) graduates with 250 career tackles
  • Patrick wraps up his career in the Blue and Gold with 221 career stops
  • Picked to finish last during its first season in the SAC, Limestone goes 3-4 in league play
 
UP NEXT
 
With the 2017 season now in the books, the coaching staff will continue to hit the recruiting trail hard as the team now prepares for signing day and spring practice.
 
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