Catawba’s football team hosts SAC rival Wingate today at 1:30 p.m. on Kirkland Field at Shuford Stadium.
It’s a huge outing for the Indians (3-2, 1-2), who are seeking consistency after sandwiching a great performance against Carson-Newman with lesser ones against Newberry and Tusculum.
Catawba lost in overtime at Wingate in 2012 and has dropped the last two meetings in the long series.
The series has almost always produced lots of points and lots of excitement. Wingate has scored at least four TDs in each of the the last five meetings.
Wingate (1-3, 0-2) is off to one of its slower starts in recent years under successful coach Joe Reich, who is 6-6 against Catawba and 78-57 at Wingate. Reich was named SAC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2010.
Wingate put up 382 yards in losing last week to Newberry, a team that whipped Catawba. Wingate QB Robbie Nallenweg threw for 358 yards, and Patrick Derenda caught 10 passes.
“Wingate is another pass-happy team like Tusculum,” Catawba coach Curtis Walker said. “But we’ve got to be aware that Wingate also can run the ball.”
Pass-happy teams aren’t the best matchup for a Catawba team that is youngest in the defensive secondary.
“We counted 27 or 28 breakdowns against Tusculum,” Catawba defensive coordinator Keith Henry said. “But we can learn from that. No excuses. We just have to grow up.”
Catawba offensive coordinator Kevin Brown, who had many battles with Wingate as a player and assistant coach, was impressed by the Bulldogs on film.
“They’re very physical, especially their linebackers and defensive backs,” Brown said. “Wingate is similar to Newberry in that regard, and we didn’t do well against Newberry. This is a chance to show we’ve gotten better.”
T.J. Bell, who long-snaps for Wingate, is a Carson grad.
Livingstone is on the road in Raleigh and will take on CIAA opponent St. Augustine’s at Baker Stadium at 2 p.m. today.
The teams have the same record (2-3) and very similar statistics, so it figures to be a to-the-wire matchup.
Linebacker Kenneth White Jr. and running back Justin Forte have been recent CIAA players of the week and will lead coach Daryl Williams’ improved Blue Bears, along with QB Drew Powell and receiver Anthony Holland.
The Blue Bears dug an early hole against St. Aug’s and lost 32-27 in Salisbury on homecoming last season.
Livingstone has won on the road at Edward Waters and Lincoln, but Williams calls today’s game an opportunity for his first “signature win” as head coach.
In CCC golf, Salisbury’s girls easily won Thursday’s 18-hole conference championships at the Country Club of Salisbury and dominated the league overall standings.
Salisbury’s Isabella Rusher shot 38-37 — 75 to win on Thursday. Salisbury’s Grace Yatawara was second at 80, and Salisbury’s Madeline Hoskins was third at 83.
Salisbury’s Caroline Parrot was sixth at 101.
East Davidson’s Sam Smith shot 93. West Davidson’s Olivia Mast shot 96.
Rusher was the season CCC individual champ with a nine-hole stroke average of 37.4.Yatawara was second at 38.7, and Hoskins was third at 41.0. Smith was fourth at 45.7.
Parrott was eighth at 51.7, and Salisbury’s Shelby Holden was ninth at 53.2.
• In a nine-hole SPC golf match at Rolling Hills, Cox Mill shot 137 to win. East Rowan was second at 145. West Rowan and Carson tied for third at 156, South Rowan shot 159 for fifth. Concord was sixth at 174.
The medalist was Cox Mill’s Jamie Cassell with a 41. Cox Mill’s Stella Schayan-Aragh shot 44.
Grace Stokes shot 45 to lead East and placed third. East’s Kathryn Marcum shot 46 for fourth place, and Riley Padgett shot 54.
Kelly Boley shot 48 to lead West. Savannah Lloyd shot 53, and Markey Brandt shot 55.
Addison Collins shot 48 to lead Carson. Alishia Sears shot 51, and Katlyn Smith shot 57.
Alex Bare shot 48 to lead South. Casey Pruitt shot 54, and Lea Morris carded a 57.
The 18-hole SPC championship match is at Corbin Hills on Monday with a 1 p.m. start time.
A.L. Brown’s jayvees rolled 56-0 against Robinson on Thursday. The Wonders’ special teams dominated the game.
• Correction: Carson’s jayvees are still undefeated in the SPC and won their game with Central Cabarrus. The Cougars’ only JV loss was outside the league to North Rowan.
In the Country Club of Salisbury’s Women’s Golf Association Member-Member Best-Ball tournament, the team of Susan Morris-Mechelle Kuld won the championship in a scorecard playoff with Blanche Glover-Jayne Hubbard. Both teams shot 63s.
The team of Cindy Carmazzi-Kathy Carlton shot 69 for third place.
• The Corbin Hills Women’s Golf Assocation played its second annual Judy Cristman Club Championship.
Phyllis Durland won the Championship Flight. Beth Calhoun was second, and Treva Honeycutt placed third. Mary Seaford won the Second Flight, with Faye Cline second and Margaret Meek third. Tammie Drew won the Third Flight, with Karla Swanson second and Joy Maughmer third.
West Rowan built a 36-0 halftime lead and rolled past China Grove.
Brandon Wallace scored three TDs before halftime. Rick Phelps had scoring runs of 38 and 65 yards.
Bryant Young threw a 48-yard scoring pass to Malcolm Ingram. Anthoy Renegar had a 28-yard scoring run. Wallace, Owen White, Dillon Simpson, Zach Owen, Zarrek Barger, Cale Link and Luke Hager led West’s defense. Josiah Dixon led the special teams for the undefeated Bulldogs (5-0).
West goes to Erwin on Wednesday.