Football | 10/6/2017 3:22:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University football team returns home Saturday to host UNC Pembroke at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus. Kick-off is slated for 6:04 p.m. as the Bulldogs conclude a five-night-games-in-five-chances stretch Saturday night (ESPN3 video).
 
2017 Wingate University Football
UNC Pembroke at Wingate University
Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 (6:04 p.m., ESPN3)
GAME DAY CENTRAL: www.wingatebulldogs.com
 
THE TWO TEAMS
Wingate: 4-0 overall, 2-0 SAC (2016: 8-3 overall, 5-2 SAC)
UNC Pembroke: 1-4 overall (2016: 10-2 overall)
 
The coaches: Wingate's Joe Reich is 105-73 overall in 17 years with the Bulldogs. Reich has more victories than any other WU football coach. A two-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year award winner, Reich helped the 'Dogs win the SAC title and advance to the NCAA play-offs in 2010. Shane Richardson is 19-18 overall in four years as UNCP head coach (he spent the seven previous years as the team's defensive coordinator). Last year, the Braves won their first-ever NCAA play-off game on the way to a 10-2 overall record.
 
Joe Reich on UNC Pembroke: "Obviously, UNC Pembroke has a good program…they are trying to put things together the right way…the UNCP defensive line is very athletic…tough and physical…We believe the UNCP D-Line is one of the strengths of the team."
 
"On offense, UNC Pembroke is big up front…they keep getting better and better each week…they are a very young team…and they are still trying to see what works…We believe they are very capable."
 
…on the way the team has navigated the last two weeks (following the Sept. 30 bye):
 
"We are trying to get healthy. We are still banged up…we still have many bumps and bruises…we want to get people back…the biggest advantage the week off has allowed us…is the opportunity to recharge our batteries. In practice, we dialed things back…working on basic stuff, basic things and conditioning."
 
…on the week of practice for your team: "As I have said previously, our number one priority is working on making ourselves better. We are in the middle of our season…when you count the preseason…we don't want this to be a grind. We believe it is easy for our minds to wonder…during practice and competition."
 
"We want to continue to work on our fundamentals…and find creative ways we can practice better without crushing our student-athletes with a million repetitions…we believe it is the quality of reps, not the quantity."
 
…on which student-athletes are ready for a break-out weekend: "On offense, James Whitaker has had four games to get comfortable with our system. We are not a huge throwing team…but we believe James is getting better and better each week. He is making great decisions each week as we see him putting things together. We think he is capable of completing 75 percent of his passes…he is very close to having this type of day. On Sundays, he will watch film and learn how he can get better."
 
"On defense, Cardell Rawlings continues to get better and better each week. He is putting together solid performances week after week…in practices and games. We believe Cardell is developing into a great leader for us."
 
Last game: The Bulldogs enjoyed a bye week on Sept. 30. On Sept. 23, Wingate running back Lawrence Pittman rushed 37 times for 127 yards and one touchdown to lift the Bulldogs to a 22-14 SAC victory over Lenoir-Rhyne at Moretz Stadium. Place kicker Freddy McCollum made a career-high three field goals.
 
Newberry scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions and held the visiting UNC Pembroke football team to only 77 yards in the second half on the way to a 28-6 victory over the Braves on Saturday at Setzler Field. Wide receiver E.J. Williams caught four passes for 43 yards for UNCP.
 
The Wingate/UNCP series: Wingate leads the series between the two schools 5-3. The last time the two teams met (Sept. 27, 2014), Wingate's defense limited UNC Pembroke to 120 yards total offense (with only 25 on the ground) in a 21-3 NCAA Division II football victory at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus.
Wingate quarterback Kyle Johnson completed 19-of-29 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Wingate earned a 57-14 victory in the first meeting between the two schools (2007).
 
Wingate vs. UNC Pembroke series history
2007    Wingate 57, UNC Pembroke 14                     Pembroke
2008    Wingate 23, UNC Pembroke 16                     Wingate
2009    UNC Pembroke 24, Wingate 13                     Pembroke
2010    Wingate 28, UNC Pembroke 23                     Wingate
2011    Wingate 29, UNC Pembroke 26 (OT)            Pembroke
2012    UNC Pembroke 49, Wingate 35                     Wingate
2013    #16 UNC Pembroke 38, Wingate 10              Pembroke
2014    Wingate 21, UNC Pembroke 3                       Wingate
2017    UNC Pembroke vs. Wingate (Oct. 7)             Wingate
 
Singleton is Campbell Trophy semi-finalist: Wingate linebacker Zack Singleton is one of 181 semi-finalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments®. Sponsored by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), the award is college football's premier scholar-athlete recognition. Singleton was an All-SAC choice last year. In the classroom, the Academic All-America® candidate has a 3.902 GPA with his Community and Commercial Recreation major and Exercise Science minor.
 
Game notes: Wingate's BJ Muckelvene leads the NCAA Division II in punt return TDs with two…The Bulldogs top the NCAA team charts with their 31.88 yards per punt return average…Auntrell Mack and Freddy McCollum lead the SAC in forced fumbles and field goals per game, respectively…Wingate's 60.2 completion percentage is the best in the SAC…The Bulldogs also top the league charts in fumbles lost (one), turnovers lost (four) and time of possession (33:46)…Today's game marks the fourth SAC opponent in a row for the Braves, as they have played Catawba, Tusculum and Newberry in prior weeks…UNC Pembroke athletic director Dick Christy is a WU alum and previous men's golf student-athlete…
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,600 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 96 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 96 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 105 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.