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Bulldogs revamp for upcoming football season Thursday, Aug 29, 2002 By David Sherwood |
WINGATE, N.C. (BP)--The 2002 season marks year two of the Joe Reich era at Wingate University. In Reich’s first season, the Bulldogs compiled a 4-7 overall record (1-6 in the South Atlantic Conference). Optimism in the Bulldog camp is running high, as Wingate had a tremendous spring practice season and a record 40-plus student-athletes participate in voluntary summer workouts at the university.All-South Atlantic Conference strong safety Chad Clonch returns for his senior campaign to lead a much-improved defensive unit. Clonch led the SAC with 108 tackles last season. In addition, he had 14 pass break-ups, six tackles for loss, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Clonch led the team in pass break-ups and interceptions. Clonch is one of the most versatile Bulldogs, as he carried the ball four times for 86 yards and one TD on trick plays last season. Nine starters return on the Wingate defense. Senior defensive end Keith Thompson and junior linebacker Jerel Mosley joined Clonch on the pre-season All-SAC team. Thompson was fifth on the team in tackles last season, recording 60 total stops. Mosley had 90 tackles last season, placing fourth on the team charts. He had five quarterback sacks, also third on the team. Clonch leads a veteran group of defensive backs. Senior Kendrick Dobson had 35 tackles from his cornerback position. Junior Terrance Johnson had 44 tackles, three tackles for loss and one fumble return for 65 yards. The defensive secondary is very deep, as seniors Terrance Hinton and Chris Irby also return. Hinton earned Verizon Academic All-District III honors (as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America) last season. He had 37 tackles and one interception last season. Irby had 52 tackles in 2001, good enough for sixth on the team. He had one interception. Wingate’s linebacking corps will be strong, as senior Demarkes Dogan returns. Demarkes Dogan led the SAC in tackles per game with 10.3 stops per game. Senior linebacker Ricky Hinson will be a leader for the Bulldogs during his final campaign. At defensive end, James Dogan (no relation to Demarkes) came into his own during the 2001 season, notching 32 tackles and three tackles for loss. Junior defensive end Darrell Nicholson has recovered from injuries that caused him to miss six games in 2001. In only five games last season, Nicholson had 43 tackles, four tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries. Senior punter/placekicker Richard Straup joined Clonch on the All-South Atlantic Conference defensive unit last season as a punter. This year, the SAC sports information directors selected Straup as pre-season All-SAC first team as a punter and a placekicker. As a punter, Straup led the SAC in punting average with 41.8 yards per punt. In addition, Straup earned Daktronics All-South Region honors. He had 15 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. As a placekicker, Straup hit eight-of-18 field goals last season. He made eight-of-eight field goals between 20 and 29 yards. On offense, nine starters return. The battle at quarterback is wide open, as several players will be competing for the starting nod. Sophomore Brad Hinson shared starting time with graduate Jeron Cain last season. Hinson completed 80-of-178 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 2001. Cain completed 90-of-169 passes for 902 yards and nine touchdowns in 2001, compiling a team-best 112.11 quarterback rating. Cain led Wingate to a thrilling 13-12 come-from-behind victory over Virginia Union last fall. VUU won the 2001 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship. Junior Shane Knipple had an impressive spring campaign, while sophomore Stuart Card saw limited action in 2001. Knipple is a top-notch student, with a 3.405 GPA in his Physical Education major. Freshman signal-caller Brandon Boone will make an impact before his Wingate career is over. Running back Kenyatta Stackhouse graduated. He led the Bulldogs with 146 carries for 603 yards and two touchdowns in 2001. Senior Rashad Hair is Wingate’s top returning rusher. Hair rushed 90 times for 261 yards and one score in 2001. Five offensive line stalwarts return for the 2002 campaign. Seniors Shannon Wallace and Marcus Johnson have started all four years, giving the Bulldogs much stability up front. Wallace is a member of the 2002 preseason All-SAC team. Senior Michael Kivett has also started throughout his career. Sophomores Drew Lunday and Josh Yow both started last year as true freshmen. Lunday is an outstanding student who has compiled a 3.433 GPA in his Biology major. Both Lunday and Yow will play a big role in Wingate’s future plans. Multi-purpose back Erie Williams returns to lead a talented receiving corps. A junior, Williams is Wingate’s top returning receiver. He caught 37 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns in 2001. Williams is one of the most talented return specialists in the South Atlantic Conference. He led the team in punt returns last season with 24 returns for 375 yards. He returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown on October 13 against Newberry, leading the Bulldogs to the SAC home win. In addition, Williams returned 14 kick-offs for 241 yards. Williams is one of many talented receivers returning for the 2002 campaign. Sophomore T.J. Hawthorne caught 22 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns during his first season in the Wingate blue-and-gold. Sophomore Lamar Brown had 12 catches for 105 yards in his inaugural campaign. Williams, Hawthorne, Brown and company will miss fellow receiver Shannon Dawson, who led Wingate with 43 catches for 584 yards (13.6 ypc) and seven touchdowns last year. Wingate’s first-ever graduate student-athlete, Dawson moves to the sidelines this fall as an graduate assistant coach. --30--
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