Rock Hill, S.C.----The South Atlantic Conference Football Players of the Week have been announced for the week ending October 10, 2009. Wingate University redshirt freshman safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.) was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Mars Hill College running back Jonas Randolph was tabbed the SAC Offensive Player of the Week, while Brevard College punter/tight end Eric Watts was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Week.

A graduate of Lancaster High School, Fletcher had 11 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble return for a touchdown as the Bulldogs rallied to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University 50-49 in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium.

In the second quarter Saturday, Fletcher picked up a fumble in stride and took it 52 yards to pay dirt. The touchdown cut the Wingate deficit to 28-14. The score marked the third time Fletcher has found the end zone this season.

Fletcher and his opportunistic teammates forced three turnovers Saturday, recovering three fumbles. Wingate leads the SAC with its plus-11 turnover margin. The 2009 Bulldog defense hopes to fill big shoes left behind by its 2008 predecessors. The Wingate defense finished the 2008 campaign ranked number one in pass defense in the league and number nine nationally.

A sophomore from Daleville, Ala., Randolph carried the ball 40 times for 248 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 34-28 victory over SAC rival Newberry College Saturday night. MHC was a perfect four-for-four in the red zone with all four red zone scores coming on touchdown carries by Randolph.

Thanks to his efforts Saturday, Randolph is over the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 1,122 yards. He is averaging 187 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. Randolph wins the award for the third time this season.

A sophomore from Powhatan, Va., Watts punted the ball seven times for 318 yards Saturday as the Tornados edged SAC foe Tusculum College 27-24 in overtime. Three of his kicks traveled over 50 yards as he consistently pinned the Pioneers’ offense deep in their own territory. He had two boots inside the 20-yard line.

Watts kicked a season-long 75-yarder in the second quarter and added punts of 55 and 54 in the game as he averaged 45.4 yards per punt. In addition to his punting duties, Watts also played wide receiver. He caught two passes for 67 yards, including the game-winning 33-yarder in overtime to clinch the Tornados first winning season in modern program history.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.



Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.