WINGATE, N.C. - - No. 12 Wingate University took advantage of its scoring opportunities Saturday as the Bulldogs scored on 4-of-5 red zone chances to outlast UVa-Wise 45-13 at Belk Stadium. Wingate running backs Nijere Peoples (151 yards) and Domineke McNeill (108 yards) each posted over 100 rushing yards on the ground as the Bulldogs outgained the Cavaliers 295-to-40 on the ground en route to the school's 14th consecutive regular season win.
Wingate (8-0, 5-0 SAC) struck early as the hosts deflected a Drew Vermillion punt to begin their first possession of the game inside UVa-Wise (1-7, 0-6 SAC) territory.
Five plays later, McLean Robertson booted a 28-yard field goal to give the hosts a lead they would never relinquish.
Moments later, Matthew Ellis-White intercepted a Tanner Bernard pass and returned it 47-yard four a touchdown, Robertson's conversion kick made it a 10-0 game just five minutes into the game.
The high scoring first quarter continued as Bernard hooked up with Mykael Anderson on a slant pattern, the freshman then out raced the Wingate defense 69 yards to the end zone for his first career touchdown. The Cavs would be unable to convert the extra point, leaving the score 10-6.
McNeill would cap a 7-play, 63-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown scamper with 1:58 to play in the opening quarter only to see the Cavs respond with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Bernard to Kadarius Singleton. This time, Caleb Wilkins was true on the point after making it a 17-13 affair.
Just 12 seconds later, Jalen Brooks hauled in a 66-yard strike from Shaw Crocker to send the game to the second period with Wingate leading 24-13.
Things would settle down from there as neither side would score in the second quarter. The Bulldogs took advantage of a short field following an unsuccessful pooch kick to drive 48 yards on just three plays on the opening possession of the second half. The big play came when Crocker again found Brooks, this time from 44 yards out pushing the Wingate lead to 31-13.
UVa-Wise would keep Wingate off the board for the remainder of the third quarter but would be unable to generate any offense.
For the game, the Cavs finished 0-for-2 in red zone scoring chances. The Bulldogs also controlled the clock in the contest having possession for nearly 34 minutes.
The ball control proved to be critical in the fourth quarter as Wingate scored a pair of touchdowns. BJ Muckelven hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Crocker and Peoples added a 3-yard touchdown run to provide the final margin of 45-13.
Anderson finished the game with a career-high nine catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. It marked the first time since Sept. 15, 2018 that UVa-Wise had a 100-yard receiver. Singleton finished a yard shy of 100 yards as he caught five passes to go along with his first career touchdown reception.
On defense, Austin J. Hicks tallied a career-high 14 tackles, including a sack. Rondre Knowles-Tenner also had a career-night as the defensive lineman posted a career-best seven tackles.
Vermillion continued his strong season punting. The freshman booted a 57-yard punt in the game and had two punts downed inside the 10-yard line. Overall, the Gate City product pinned the Bulldogs inside their own 20-yard line three times.
Bernard passed for a season-best 261 yards as he completed 23-of-38 passes.
Crocker completed just five passes in the win but, three went for six. The signal caller finished 5-for-15 for 137 yards and the three scores. Brooks caught three passes for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Elijah Gilmore led the Wingate defense by posting 10 tackles in the win. As a unit, the Bulldogs defense registered six sacks.
Next week, Wingate travels to Lenoir-Rhyne in a game that will decide the South Atlantic Conference. UVa-Wise returns home to face Limestone for the school's annual Homecoming Game. Kickoff from Smith Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.
