Presbyterian Clinches 2005 SAC Football Title
Wingate, N.C.----Presbyterian College senior quarterback Zach Ellis (Tifton, Ga.) tossed three touchdown passes and redshirt junior running back Corey Fidler (Savannah, Ga.) topped the 100-yard plateau as the Blue Hose defeated Wingate University 27-21 Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus.
The number 10 team in this week's American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll, Presbyterian improves to 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the SAC. The Blue Hose clinch the 2005 SAC regular season championship with the win. The title is Presbyterian's first SAC regular season crown since 1979. Wingate is 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the SAC.
Presbyterian controlled the ball, compiling a 13-minute advantage in time of possession (36:43 to 23:17). The Blue Hose amassed 488 yards of total offense, while holding Wingate to 293. Ellis completed 22-of-33 passes for 262 yards and three scores. Fidler led all rushers with 26 carries for 115 yards. Fidler also handled Presbyterian's kick-off duties in the absence of redshirt sophomore punter/place kicker Stuart Mull (Morganton, N.C.).
After a scoreless first quarter, the Blue Hose struck first. PC marched 70 yards on 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead at the 6:31 mark of the second quarter. Ellis found redshirt junior wide receiver Brett Wilhoit (Johnson City, Tenn.) with a five-yard scoring pass to end the drive and give the visitors the early lead. PC freshman kicker Andy Schlimmer (High Point, N.C.) added the PAT.
Wingate turned a Presbyterian fumble into six points late in the second frame. Bulldog redshirt junior quarterback Anthony Metzelaars (Charlotte, N.C.) hit sophomore tight end Chris Conklin (Snow Camp, N.C.) with a 34-yard TD strike to put the hosts on the board. Wingate redshirt sophomore place kicker Jonathan Beford (Charlotte, N.C.) tacked on the PAT to tie the score.
Presbyterian took the lead for good midway through the third quarter. Ellis marched his troops 74 yards on 17 plays to set up a 24-yard field goal by Schlimmer with 8:01 to play in the third frame. The drive consumed six minutes and 59 seconds from the game clock.
Wingate junior cornerback David Jones (Greenville, S.C.) returned the ensuing kick-off 46 yards to the Presbyterian 48-yard line. The Blue Hose defense answered the challenge, holding the Bulldogs on downs to set up the next score. PC senior wide receiver Kip McAlister (Richburg, S.C.) caught a 44-yard TD aerial from Ellis to give the visitors a 17-7 lead with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter.
The opportunistic Bulldogs converted another fumble into six points. Wingate junior special teams wizard Gabe Nail (Cary, N.C.) recovered a fumbled punt in the PC end zone at the 2:05 mark of the third quarter. Beford's PAT pulled Wingate within three at 17-14.
Wingate would get no closer, as Presbyterian scored 10 points to start the fourth frame. The Blue Hose took advantage of a Bulldog fumble in PC territory to take a 24-14 advantage. Ellis connected with sophomore wide receiver Justin Durant (Florence, S.C.) for a 32-yard scoring play at the 13:57 plateau.
Presbyterian held Wingate four-and-out on the Bulldogs' next possession. PC moved the ball 58 yards on nine plays to set up Schlimmer's second field goal of the afternoon. The 28-yard field goal made the score 27-14 with 9:23 to go in the contest.
Wingate added its final score with 17.7 seconds remaining in the game. The Bulldogs moved the ball 80 yards on 15 plays. Wingate freshman wide receiver Gary Tatum (Hope Mills, N.C.) made a beautiful catch of a 26-yard Metzelaars spiral to pull the Bulldogs within six points at 27-21.
Beford's onside kick was caught in the air by Durant, ending Wingate's comeback hopes. Durant was one of seven PC receivers to catch passes from Ellis Saturday afternoon. Durant had five receptions for 56 yards and one score. Blue Hose junior wide receiver Chris Pope (Ninety-Six, S.C.) had seven catches for 99 yards.
Metzelaars completed 21-of-46 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Both junior wide receiver Dan Brooks (Monroe, N.C.) and senior running back Rip Smith (Union, S.C.) caught five passes each for the Bulldogs. Smith led Wingate's ground attack with 16 carries for 68 yards.
Five Wingate defenders had 10+ tackles. Bulldog senior linebacker Travis Knight (Rockingham, N.C.) led the way with 20 tackles (12 solo). Knight added one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Wingate junior safety Jeremy Kent (Danbury, N.C.) had 16 tackles and a pass interception.
For Presbyterian, redshirt junior linebacker Cheyenne Keener (Canton, N.C.) had 13 tackles. Keener's 13 tackles included 10 solo stops. Blue Hose redshirt freshman linebacker Antwan Thomas (Hawkinsville, Ga.) had 11 tackles. PC redshirt freshman defensive tackle David Dunagan (Gainesville, Ga.) notched his first career interception for the visitors.
Wingate returns home Saturday to host number 24 Carson-Newman College. Game time is slated for 1:30 p.m. at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Presbyterian will venture 22 miles down the road to battle Newberry College in the annual Bronze Derby contest. Kick-off at Newberry's Setzler Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Box Score (Final)
#10 Presbyterian vs Wingate (Oct 29, 2005 at Wingate,
N.C.)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
#10 Presbyterian.... 0 7 10 10 - 27 Record: (9-1,6-0)
Wingate............. 0 7 7 7 - 21 Record: (5-4,2-4)
Scoring Summary:
2nd 06:31 PC - Brett Wilhoit 5 pass from Zach Ellis (Andy Schlimmer
kick)
01:39 WU - Chris Conklin 34 pass from Anthony Metzelaars
(Jonathan Beford kick)
3rd 08:01 PC - Schlimmer 24 FG
04:06 PC - Kip McAlister 44 pass from Ellis (Schlimmer
kick)
02:05 WU - Gabe Nail 0 fumble recovery in end zone (Beford
kick)
4th 13:57 PC - Justin Durant 32 pass from Ellis (Schlimmer
kick)
09:23 PC - Schlimmer 28 FG
00:17 WU - Gary Tatum 26 pass from Metzelaars (Beford kick)
PC WU
FIRST DOWNS................... 27 13
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 52-226 20-63
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 262 230
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 33-22-2 47-21-2
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 85-488 67-293
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 2--9 2--2
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-19 5-104
Interception Returns-Yards.... 2-9 2-12
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 3-40.3 5-45.2
Fumbles-Lost.................. 2-2 2-1
Penalties-Yards............... 1-10 3-23
Possession Time............... 36:43 23:17
Third-Down Conversions........ 6 of 15 7 of 17
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 1 of 1 1 of 4
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 3-4 0-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-6 1-3
RUSHING: Presbyterian-Corey Fidler 26-115; George Mathis 6-47;
Chetyuane Reeder 12-37; Zach Ellis 3-12; Corey Mitchell 3-10; Chris
Pope 1-7; Team 1-minus 2. Wingate-Rip Smith 16-68; Marvin McLain
2-1; Dan Brooks 1-0; Anthony Metzelaars 1-minus 6.
PASSING: Presbyterian-Zach Ellis 22-33-2-262. Wingate-Anthony
Metzelaars 21-46-2-230; TEAM 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Presbyterian-Chris Pope 7-99; Justin Durant 5-56; Kip
McAlister 3-62; Corey Fidler 3-14; Brett Wilhoit 2-13; Terrance
Butler 1-11; Chetyuane Reeder 1-7. Wingate-Dan Brooks 5-54; Rip
Smith 5-26; Dustin Matthews 4-35; Gary Tatum 3-56; Bobo Thompson
2-18; Chris Conklin 1-34; Gabe Nail 1-7.