Wingate Downs JCSU Football 14-0 in 2015 Season Opener

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Johnson C. Smith University football team was able to get into scoring position three times but came up empty on each trip and dropped a tough 14-0 decision to visiting Wingate in the first home night game since 2009 at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday.

In the first quarter, Wingate wasted no time, jumping up 7-0 on their first drive by marching 80 yards in 13 plays. The Bulldogs capped the drive when quarterback Kyle Johnson scampered in from nine yards out at the 8:27 mark to put Wingate up 6-0. Caleb Baird's point-after made it 7-0.

JCSU, led by freshman quarterback Jordan Lane (Charlotte, N.C.) was unable to respond on their initial drive, only managing six yards before junior punter Matias Lambrecht (Venice, Fla.) boomed a 59 yard punt to force the Bulldogs to start on their own 20 yard-line.

The JCSU defense came up big on a fourth down conversion attempt by Wingate when senior linebacker Austin Jacques (Springdale, Md.) tackled Bulldog receiver Jody Fuller after only a five yard gain, giving JCSU the ball with 1:54 left in the first quarter. The JCSU offense again struggled to get anything going, managing 10 yards in their next possession before punting back to Wingate.

After a scoreless second quarter, Wingate took the 7-0 lead into the halftime break, but JCSU responded on the opening drive of the third quarter, driving to the Wingate 23 yard line. On a second down play, JCSU would make a crucial mistake, fumbling a pitch that was recovered by Wingate's Robert Wallace on the Bulldog 21 yard line.

Wingate took advantage of the turnover, marching 79 yards in eight plays, capped by a 38 yard completion to Fuller. Baird knocked the point after attempt through to provide the 14-0 lead.

JCSU then drove to the Wingate one yard line on their first drive of the fourth quarter, but another JCSU mistake would bite the Golden Bulls, as Wingate forced the fumble and recovered it at the Wingate 3 to thwart the drive.

The Golden Bulls were not able to get back inside the Wingate 30 yard line late in the game and following a fourth down sack from Bulldog linebacker Eric Mapoles, Wingate took over and ran out the clock, taking the 14-0 win.

Wingate quarterback Kyle Johnson finished with 141 yards, going 14-for-19 with one touchdown toss on the evening. Receiver Jody Fuller hauled in five passes for 64 yards while teammate Jordan Berry also caught five passes for 39 yards. Lawrence Pittman led the way on the ground, rushing for 94 yards on 19 carries.

JCSU got 44 yards from freshman running back Desean Binyard (Winston-Salem, N.C.) while Lane got 192 yards on a 13-for-24 performance. Junior receiver Fred Scott (Stone Mountain, Ga.) hauled in five passes for 99 yards for JCSU. Defensively, Austin Jacques finished with nine tackles, including five solo hits while Carlo Thomas (East Orange, N.J.) and Jamaal Tutt (Atlanta, Ga.) each had eight tackles on the night. Michael Grant (Bluffton, S.C.) also had a productive night, registering seven tackles and had one interception.

JCSU will return to action next Saturday, traveling to Frankfort, Kentucky to take on Kentucky State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION