Union News

Wingate University Athletics issued the following announcement on Aug. 16.

The Wingate University Bulldogs have earned a preseason ranking from the American Football Coaches Association, with the first top 25 poll of the 2021 season coming out Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs are ranked 24th in the preseason poll.

The last AFCA poll released came out at the end of the 2019 season. Wingate was ranked 19th in that poll. The Bulldogs were a part of every top 25 poll during the 2019 season, when they finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 in league play, earning a third straight bid to the NCAA Division II play-offs. The 2019 season saw the Bulldogs outscore opponents 403-263 on the year, notching their first-ever 10-win season and make the fourth D2 play-off appearance in program history.

Wingate climbed as high as 12th in the AFCA poll in the 2019 season, which was the third straight season with at least nine wins for the Bulldogs. The 'Dogs have piled up a program-best 36 victories over the last four full seasons, the most in the conference during that span. Wingate also had a program-record 13 players earn All-SAC accolades in 2019. The Bulldogs scored over 400 points in a season just one time before 2018, but did so in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, including a school-record 422 points in 2018.

The Bulldogs have five remaining All-SAC honorees from the 2019 squad, which includes All-American and Academic All-America offensive lineman Andrew Strickland. Nijere Peoples piled up 831 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns to earn All-SAC honors in 2019, after going for 1,103 rushing yards and 14 TDs in 2018 to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors and all-conference accolades. Shaw Crocker was the second team All-SAC quarterback in the 2019 season, while McLean Robertson earned first team accolades as a kicker. Jordon Anderson earned first team all-conference recognition as a defensive lineman.

The Bulldogs are one of three SAC schools to earn a preseason ranking from the AFCA, joining Lenoir-Rhyne, who ranks sixth and Carson-Newman, who is tied for 24th with Wingate. Tusculum is receiving votes, just two spots out of cracking the top 25. 2019 national champion West Florida is one of six NCAA Division II Super Region teams ranked in the preseason poll, checking in as the number one team. In addition to West Florida and the three SAC schools, the region is represented by Valdosta State, who is tied for sixth with Lenoir-Rhyne, and Bowie State, who checks in at number 18.

The Bulldogs are back in action in September after playing a four-game slate in the spring of 2021. Wingate went 2-2 in the season that began March 13 and ran through April 10.

Wingate opens the 2021 season by playing four of its first five games at home. The Bulldogs host Shaw Thursday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m., while hosting Fayetteville State Sept. 11. The 'Dogs open SAC play at Carson-Newman the following weekend before returning home to host Catawba and Tusculum. That is followed by a three-game SAC road trip before coming home to face Lenoir-Rhyne Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. Wingate wraps up the season at home against Mars Hill at 3 p.m. on Nov. 13.

Original source can be found here.