UWF Opens NCAA Playoffs With 38-17 Rout Of Wingate

November 24, 2019

The 20th-ranked UWF  Argonauts scored 31 unanswered points and forced three turnovers to defeat fourth-seeded Wingate, 38-17, in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs Saturday.

Anthony Johnson, Jr. ran for 109 yards on 19 carries as UWF (9-2) advanced to the second round for the second time in as many appearances. The Argos rushed for 195 yards and outgained the Bulldogs 360-264 overall.

Austin Reed threw for 165 yards with eight completions and three of those going for touchdowns. Tate Lehtio led the team with five receptions for 81 yards a score.

Quentin Randolph followed last week’s career game with two more touchdowns on two catches Saturday. He has now caught five touchdowns in his last nine receptions.

After Wingate made a 24-yard field goal on its opening drive, the Argos capitalized on a muffed punt that setup a 37-yard boot of their own by Austin Williams.

Two possessions later, Reed found Randolph down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. UWF got another score right before halftime when Johnson reached the blue and gold checkerboard end zone from five yards out as part of a 9-play, 60-yard drive in just 1:56.

Wingate received the second half kickoff and Andre Duncombe, Jr. intercepted Shaw Crocker’s third-down pass and returned it 12 yards to the 13. Two plays later, Reed connected with Tate Lehtio to put UWF up 24-3.

The Argonauts then began running the ball and consuming large chunks of time off the clock. Their next scoring drive was the longest all season and lasted 7:51, before Reed and Randolph connected again, this time on a 7-yard pattern with 4:11 left in the third.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth quarter as they bookended a 16-yard Jaden Gardner run with 6:18 to play that extended the UWF lead to 37-10.

Wingate (10-2) managed just 131 rushing yards after entering the game averaging 199. Their 264 yards were the second lowest this season.

Henry Montgomery had a career-high 11 tackles to lead the UWF defense.

UWF opened its 2017 playoff run with a 31-0 win over the Bulldogs at Irwin Belk Stadium. Prior to Saturday’s outburst, that was the most points scored in playoff history for the Argos.

With the win, UWF advances to the second round where it will meet top-ranked and defending national champion Valdosta State (10-0) next Saturday in Valdosta, Ga.

Comments

One Response to “UWF Opens NCAA Playoffs With 38-17 Rout Of Wingate”

  1. Whisperjet on November 24th, 2019 7:20 am

    ..way to go UWF..WE are all so proud..

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports