WINGATE – Xavier Pugh rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries as Wingate defeated Catawba 41-28 on Saturday night at Irwin Belk Stadium, improving to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in South Atlantic Conference play. The Bulldogs amassed 527 total yards without punting once, ending the Indians' four-game winning streak.

Wingate controlled the game from the opening drive, building a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter before Catawba mounted a late rally that fell short. The Bulldogs held possession for more than 35 minutes and converted seven of 11 third-down attempts while averaging eight yards per play.

"We didn't punt tonight," could have been Wingate's calling card as the offense sustained drives consistently throughout the contest. The Bulldogs' balance on offense—281 rushing yards and 246 passing yards—kept Catawba's defense from finding answers.

First Half Surge

Wingate forced a three-and-out on Catawba's opening possession and took over at its own 26-yard line. The Bulldogs converted their first scoring opportunity into points with a methodical 10-play, 74-yard drive. Quarterback Elijah Holmes connected with Laron Warner for 14 yards to cross into Catawba territory, then found Jaylen Himes for 13 yards to reach the 30. Holmes capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Himes at the 7:55 mark of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs needed just 2:28 to strike again after Jake Snapp's 14-yard punt return set up Wingate at its own 29. A 31-yard reception by Xavier Jackson moved the ball to midfield, and Holmes took over from there, scoring on a 33-yard run to make it 14-0 with 2:12 remaining in the opening period.

Wingate extended its advantage early in the second quarter with a 12-play, 88-yard drive that consumed 5:32. Holmes connected with Pugh for 42 yards to reach the Catawba 28, then scrambled for 12 yards to get inside the 10. Pugh finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0 at the 8:36 mark.

Catawba finally broke through late in the half after Wingate kicker Caleb Bonesteel missed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left. Starting at their own 25 with 2:07 remaining, the Indians used an eight-play, 75-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. Preston Brown completed a 42-yard pass to Bo Pryor to reach the Wingate 25, then ran for 11 yards to move inside the 15. Brown connected with Amari McArthur for a 16-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to 21-7 at intermission.

Second Half Trading Blows

Wingate answered immediately to start the third quarter, marching 80 yards in eight plays. Holmes opened the drive with a 19-yard completion to Himes, then connected with Himes again for 20 yards to reach the Catawba 40. After a 21-yard pass to Silas Tate, Pugh scored from 21 yards out to restore the three-touchdown cushion at 28-7 with 10:51 left in the period.

The Indians showed resilience after a turnover gave them favorable field position at their own 19. Brown was sacked and fumbled on third down, but Catawba recovered. Following a pass interference penalty that gave the Indians a first down at their own 33, Brown hit RJ Jackson for 28 yards to reach Wingate territory. Jay Moore converted a third-and-one with a two-yard run, and Brown found Jalen Brown for a 17-yard touchdown with two seconds remaining in the third quarter, pulling Catawba within 28-14.

Fourth Quarter Separation

Snapp's 46-yard kickoff return to start the fourth quarter set Wingate up at the 50-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Pugh broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 35-14 at 14:14.

Catawba responded with a seven-play, 71-yard drive. Brown converted a third-and-19 with a 26-yard completion to Nick Venezia, and penalties against Wingate helped move the ball into scoring position. Brown scored on a 15-yard run to make it 35-21 with 11:24 remaining.

The Bulldogs countered with a six-play, 46-yard drive. Holmes connected with Xavier Jackson for 25 yards, and Mason Avery added a 13-yard run before Bonesteel kicked a 37-yard field goal at the 9:11 mark to push the advantage to 38-21.

Ephraim Wright forced a fumble on Catawba's next possession, recovered by Ryan Green near midfield. Wingate ran 11 plays and drained 5:45 off the clock, with Avery carrying seven times for 27 yards on the drive. Bonesteel converted a 25-yard field goal to make it 41-21 with 2:02 remaining.

Catawba added a late touchdown when Brown threw a four-yard scoring pass to Jalen Brown with eight seconds left, but the outcome was already decided.

Statistical Standouts

Holmes finished 14-of-24 passing for 246 yards and one touchdown while adding 64 yards and a score on the ground. Pugh also caught two passes for 43 yards, giving him 207 all-purpose yards for the night. Himes led all receivers with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson added two receptions for 56 yards.

Brown completed 23 of 32 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns for Catawba while leading the team in rushing with 39 yards on 12 carries. Pryor hauled in seven catches for 69 yards, and Jalen Brown caught four passes for 31 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Jaquan Edwards paced Wingate with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Eli Lipscomb recorded eight tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Mandjou Berte added 1.5 sacks, and Jasiah Hill contributed six tackles with one tackle for loss.

Jaylen Hinton led Catawba with eight tackles, while Braylon Baker and Kyle Perry each recorded seven tackles with one tackle for loss. Isaiah Herrera notched a sack on a critical third-and-goal play in the third quarter that forced a fumble recovered by Rickey Jones.

The Bulldogs' red-zone efficiency proved decisive—Wingate scored on three of five trips inside the 20, while Catawba converted all four of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. Wingate's ability to sustain drives and control the clock limited Catawba's offensive possessions to 57 plays compared to 66 for the Bulldogs.

Catawba falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Wingate evened its SAC record at 2-2.

Key Performers

Wingate:

• Xavier Pugh: 20 rushes, 164 yards, 3 TDs; 2 catches, 43 yards
• Elijah Holmes: 14-of-24 passing, 246 yards, 1 TD; 9 rushes, 64 yards, 1 TD
• Jaylen Himes: 7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
• Jaquan Edwards: 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL
• Eli Lipscomb: 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Catawba:

• Preston Brown: 23-of-32 passing, 232 yards, 3 TDs; 12 rushes, 39 yards, 1 TD
• Bo Pryor: 7 catches, 69 yards
• Jaylen Hinton: 8 tackles

SALISBURY – Catawba scored 21 unanswered points across the second half to defeat Mars Hill 42-28 on Friday night at Shuford Stadium. The Indians improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Lions dropped to 3-2 and 2-1.

The game featured five lead changes and was tied 21-21 at halftime before Catawba's offense found its rhythm after the break.

Preston Brown completed 17 of 27 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns for Catawba, adding a rushing score despite losing nine yards on the ground. His ability to spread the ball around proved crucial, connecting with eight different receivers. Brown found the end zone through the air on throws of 13 yards to Kevin Lalin, 26 yards to Marquece Williams, and 18 yards to Jalen Brown.

The real story for Catawba was Lalin's performance on the ground. The running back carried 25 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-sealing 26-yard touchdown run with 2:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Lalin added a receiving touchdown and consistently moved the chains, averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

Mars Hill quarterback JR Martin put together an impressive stat line in a losing effort, completing 25 of 40 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. However, he threw one interception and was sacked three times for 40 yards in losses. Martin also rushed for a touchdown but managed just one net yard on 11 rushing attempts after losing 42 yards to sacks and negative plays.

The Lions opened the scoring with an 84-yard drive capped by a 62-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Edward Louis Jr. The connection tied the game at 7-7 just 1:35 after Catawba had taken an early lead. Louis Jr. finished with four catches for 90 yards and the touchdown.

Charlie Guinade emerged as Martin's favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 78 yards and a 31-yard touchdown that tied the game at 21-21 with 47 seconds left in the first half. Guinade also returned one punt for 12 yards.

The first half featured explosive plays and quick-strike scoring. Neither team punted until late in the second quarter, as the offenses combined for six touchdowns in the first 30 minutes. Mars Hill's David Hargro caught a three-yard touchdown pass to cut Catawba's lead to 21-14 in the second quarter, part of a 10-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:26.

Catawba's defense made the critical difference after halftime. Evan Simons led all defenders with 12 total tackles, including three tackles for loss totaling 31 yards. Simons recorded two sacks for 28 yards and intercepted Martin's pass in the first quarter, returning it 23 yards to set up the Indians' first touchdown. His quarterback pressure disrupted Mars Hill's timing throughout the second half.

The turning point came midway through the third quarter. After Mars Hill failed to sustain any offensive momentum following the halftime intermission, Catawba mounted a 10-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in Brown's 26-yard touchdown pass to Williams. The score gave Catawba a 28-21 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter, and Mars Hill never recovered.

Early in the fourth quarter, Brown connected with Jalen Brown for an 18-yard touchdown on a six-play, 65-yard drive, extending the lead to 35-21. Mars Hill responded with Martin's eight-yard rushing touchdown to pull within 35-28, but the Lions couldn't get stops when they needed them most.

Catawba converted eight of 13 third-down attempts and went 4-for-4 in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all four trips inside the 20-yard line. Mars Hill went 3-for-3 in the red zone but struggled on third down, converting just four of 12 attempts. The Lions also failed on all three fourth-down tries.

Bo Pryor led Catawba's receivers with seven catches for 72 yards, consistently finding soft spots in Mars Hill's coverage. Bennett Galloway added 50 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, providing a complementary rushing threat to Lalin's dominance.

Catawba controlled time of possession, holding the ball for 34:03 compared to Mars Hill's 25:57. The Indians outgained the Lions 425 to 366 in total offense and rushed for 218 yards on 43 attempts.

Bryson Sims handled all kicking duties for Catawba, converting all six extra points and averaging 62.7 yards on seven kickoffs with four touchbacks.

Key Performers:

• Kevin Lalin (CAT): 25 rushes for 173 yards and 2 TDs; 1 catch for 13 yards and 1 TD
• Evan Simons (CAT): 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT
• JR Martin (MHU): 25-40 passing, 307 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 1 rushing TD
• Preston Brown (CAT): 17-27 passing, 207 yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD
• Charlie Guinade (MHU): 7 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD

DURHAM – The Catawba Indians secured their first win of the season, defeating the Shaw Bears 37-28 at Durham County Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The game featured multiple lead changes and showcased offensive prowess from both teams.

First Half: Back-and-Forth Battle

Catawba struck quickly, scoring on a 14-yard run by LJ Turner just 36 seconds into the game. Shaw responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Travon Tensley's 2-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7.

The second quarter saw both offenses hitting their stride:

- Catawba regained the lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Preston Brown to Deuce Linder.

- Shaw answered with two consecutive scores:

  - A 10-yard touchdown pass from Christian Peters to Jon Barnes (PAT blocked)

  - An 8-yard touchdown pass from Peters to Ah'shaan Belcher, followed by a successful two-point conversion

- Catawba tied the game at 21-21 just before halftime with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Quece Williams, concluding a impressive 90-yard drive.

Second Half: Catawba Pulls Ahead

Catawba dominated the third quarter, scoring 9 unanswered points:

- A 27-yard field goal by Bryson Sims

- A 24-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Jordan Mitchell (PAT failed)

Shaw fought back in the fourth quarter with Belcher's second touchdown reception, cutting Catawba's lead to 30-28. However, Catawba sealed the victory with another Brown-to-Linder connection, this time for a 16-yard touchdown.

Key Statistics

- Total Yards: Catawba 419, Shaw 254

- Passing Yards: Catawba 295, Shaw 115

- Rushing Yards: Shaw 139, Catawba 124

- Time of Possession: Catawba 33:45, Shaw 26:15

- Third Down Conversions: Catawba 6/11, Shaw 5/12

Standout Performances

- Catawba's Preston Brown: 24/29 for 295 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

- Shaw's Travon Tensley: 20 carries for 99 yards, 1 TD

- Catawba's Deuce Linder: 7 receptions for 98 yards, 2 TDs

- Catawba's Kobe Christian: 6 receptions for 101 yards

- Shaw's Ah'shaan Belcher: 4 receptions for 51 yards, 2 TDs (became Shaw's all-time leader in touchdown receptions)

- Catawba's Deno Wardlow: 10 tackles

- Shaw's Jalen Banks: 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack

Notable Moments

- Shaw won the turnover battle, recovering one Catawba fumble without committing any turnovers themselves.

- Catawba's defense held Shaw to a season-low 254 yards of total offense.

- Shaw's offense was efficient in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all four of their trips.

This victory improved Catawba's record to 1-1 for the season, while Shaw dropped to 2-1. The game showcased the offensive capabilities of both teams, with Catawba's aerial attack ultimately proving too much for Shaw's defense to contain.

Up Next

Both teams open conference play next week as Catawba will travel to UVA Wise for their SAC opener and Shaw will host Lincoln (PA) to begin CIAA play.

HICKORY – #15 Lenoir-Rhyne clinched the Piedmont Division Championship, celebrating Senior Day at Moretz Stadium with a convincing 28-7 victory over Catawba. A spirited crowd of over 7,000 witnessed this remarkable feat on Saturday, propelling the Bears to the SAC Championship, where they will face Tusculum in a rematch of the first-ever SAC Championship game from the 2020-21 COVID season.

In a matchup that showcased the Bears' dominance, Lenoir-Rhyne took an early lead, with Sean White connecting with DeAree Rogers for a 35-yard strike in the first quarter. White added to the lead with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Deondre Lester. At the close of the first half, White executed a 1-yard QB sneak, tallying three first-half touchdowns and a 21-0 advantage.

Catawba attempted a comeback in the second half, scoring a 3-yard touchdown, but the Bears responded swiftly when White threw his third touchdown pass, connecting with Malakei Sumner. The game's latter half saw solid defensive performances from both teams, with no further scoring.

Lenoir-Rhyne's defense held Catawba to 44 rushing yards on 37 attempts and just 232 total offensive yards on 70 plays. Offensively, the Bears amassed 418 yards and 228 rushing yards, averaging 6.9 yards per play. Sean White completed 15-of-23 passes for 190 yards, while Dwayne McGee exceeded 1,000 yards on the season, rushing for 96 yards.

Defensively, Jon Ross Maye tallied 14 total tackles and two pass breakups, while D.J. Taylor contributed nine tackles and three sacks. Andre Jefferson recorded four tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. As a team, Lenoir-Rhyne secured seven sacks.

The victory marked the 102nd all-time meeting between Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba, with each team now having 49 wins and four ties. Notably, the Bears lost their first two fumbles of the season in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Lenoir-Rhyne's seven sacks tied for the second-highest in a single game in the NCAA era.

Lenoir-Rhyne's strong home record continued, with a 60-21 record at home since the start of the 2010 season. The game broke a streak of 16 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown at home.

Lenoir-Rhyne's victory sets the stage for the SAC Championship clash with Tusculum, scheduled for 1 p.m. in Greeneville, Tenn., after the Pioneers secured a win over Mars Hill in overtime.

In a rare Saturday night matchup, the Appalachian State Mountaineers will face off against Marshall at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. The game, scheduled for 6 p.m., is generating buzz as it is believed to be the first Saturday night home game played in Boone during November or December in recent memory. The last time the Mountaineers played a Saturday night game at Kidd Brewer Stadium was in 2014, their inaugural year as an FBS member. Since then, the team has enjoyed significant success at home, boasting a remarkable 51-10 record and drawing record-breaking crowds, with 2022 seeing ten of the top 12 crowds in stadium history.

The Mountaineers' strong performance at home, coupled with an average attendance of 35,774, has cemented their reputation as a powerhouse in college football. The 2023 season has also seen quarterback Joey Aguilar shine, leading the Sun Belt Conference with 20 touchdown passes and ranking 7th nationally. This upcoming game against Marshall carries added significance as it marks the first league matchup between the two teams in Boone since 1996, a nostalgic encounter for long-time fans. The game serves as a reminder of the rich history between Appalachian State and Marshall, who were both former FCS-level Southern Conference members and only recently reunited on the field in 2020 and 2021 for nonleague games. 

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Catawba: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, #16 Lenoir-Rhyne (8-1, 6-1 SAC) faces Catawba (4-5, 2-5 SAC) at Moretz Stadium in Hickory. For Lenoir-Rhyne, a win would secure their spot in the SAC Championship next week, thanks to their head-to-head win this season, giving them a tiebreaker over Limestone, and they also control their destiny in the Piedmont Division race. LR can also clinch a championship berth if Limestone loses against Barton. This game is significant as the Bears aim to add to their 24 overall conference championships in program history, with seven won since 2010. Additionally, it marks the 102nd all-time battle between Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba, one of the most played and closely contested rivalries in NCAA Division II. LR has recently dominated, winning four straight games and seeking to even the all-time series, which currently stands at 49-48-4 in Catawba's favor. The rivalry between the two schools has been a historic and pivotal part of the conference's football history, often deciding championships in their final regular-season game, although this tradition has changed with the introduction of the SAC Championship game after the regular season.

Freddy McCollum kicks the game-winning field goal (Photo credit: Brian Barnes)

Wingate got on the board first with a six-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Pittman (Mallard Creek) on the opening drive of the game. After stopping Catawba on the next drive of the game, a Freddy McCollum 31-yard field goal gave Wingate what seemed like a commanding 10-0 lead in the first quarter, especially after recovering a Catawba fumble near midfield.

Notable North Carolinians

Next Week

Both teams are on the road in South Atlantic Conference action as Catawba travels to Tusculum (4-3) while Wingate will take on Mars Hill (2-5).