Turnover-plagued Wingate ousted from Division II playoffs
The Wingate Bulldogs made the NCAA Division II football playoffs on their ability to — as the coaches say — “take care of the football.”
They didn’t do that Saturday in a first-round game against West Florida, resulting in an early exit in their first postseason in seven years. The visiting Argonauts took advantage of four turnovers by the No. 16 nationally-ranked Bulldogs to take a 31-0 victory at Irwin Belk Stadium.
“We finished in the top 10 in the country in turnover margin and led the South Atlantic Conference,” said Wingate coach Joe Reich, whose team suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday at Tusculum. “We didn’t execute very well and that’s the name of the game. It’s frustrating.”
The Bulldogs’ turnover troubles (three interceptions, one lost fumble) helped limit them to 205 yards total offense.
Records: Wingate 9-2; West Florida 8-3
Three who mattered
Mike Beaudry, West Florida: Freshman quarterback completed 18-of-31 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
Jalen Spencer, West Florida: The defensive back’s two first-quarter interceptions helped the Argonauts take control. He returned the first for a 23-yard touchdown and the second stopped a Wingate drive into West Florida territory.
Lawrence Pittman, Wingate: The senior, a former Mallard Creek High standout, accounted for more than half of the Bulldogs’ total offense. He ran for 119 yards on 17 carries, including a 35-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Worth mentioning
▪ Wingate was shut out for the first time since a 26-0 home loss to Newberry on Nov. 14, 2015.
They said it
“Minus our last two games, this was a dream season. We celebrated a conference championship with fireworks going off. You remember the great moments and we had some.” — Reich
What’s next
Wingate’s season is concluded. West Florida will play West Georgia next Saturday in the second round.
This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Turnover-plagued Wingate ousted from Division II playoffs."