WINGATE – The Carson-Newman Eagles handed the No. 19-ranked Wingate Bulldogs their first home defeat of the season, winning 21-14 in South Atlantic Conference action at Irwin Belk Stadium in a contest delayed twice by lightning and played through steady rain. Carson-Newman improved to 3-1 (2-1 SAC), while Wingate dropped to 3-1 (1-1 SAC) in front of 2,257 fans who endured a four-hour, twenty-one-minute marathon of defensive stands and dramatic momentum swings. 

First Half: Slow and Soggy Start

Both teams struggled to gain traction early as weather delays disrupted rhythm, but Carson-Newman’s ground attack managed to break through first. After Isaiah Cane intercepted Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes on the Bulldogs' first offensive play, the Eagles seized momentum with a methodical 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive capped by Zane Whitson's two-yard touchdown run. Bennett Smith’s extra point gave the visitors a 7-0 edge with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter.

The remainder of the first half was marked by strong defensive play, missed opportunities, and another substantial weather delay. Carson-Newman marched into field goal range late in the second but came up empty when Smith pulled his 45-yard attempt wide left. The teams combined for just seven first downs and traded punts as field position battles dominated the stat sheet. Despite the wet conditions, Wingate managed the only turnover of the game, while Carson-Newman recovered all six of its own fumbles.

Second Half: Breakout Runs and Critical Field Goals

After halftime, Elijah Holmes delivered a needed spark for Wingate, engineering a six-play, 74-yard drive that featured his own 52-yard touchdown burst to knot the score at 7-7. Holmes’ dual-threat ability was on display throughout—he finished with 148 passing yards, a touchdown through the air, and 51 more on the ground, including his score.

Carson-Newman’s offense, built on a deep rotation of running backs, answered when Smith drilled a 39-yard field goal to retake the lead in the third quarter. The Eagles stuck mostly to the run—Jayden Sullins led all rushers with 102 yards, highlighted by a game-changing 60-yard dash late in the fourth. Mario Sanchez was pivotal as well, finding the end zone for the Eagles’ final touchdown and executing a successful two-point conversion, helping Carson-Newman push the margin to 21-7 with under two minutes remaining.

Fourth Quarter: Defensive Resistance and Late Drama

Wingate’s defense kept the outcome in doubt with timely tackles for loss and pressure up front, led by Ryan Green (15 tackles, 2.5 for loss) and Mandjou Berte (13 tackles, 4 for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles). The Bulldogs forced key punts and set up their offense with favorable field position, including one sequence where Green’s TFL pinned Carson-Newman at its own goal line, eventually resulting in a short field for Wingate. However, missed opportunities loomed large when kicker Caleb Bonesteel missed a crucial 45-yard field goal with 4:37 left, keeping Wingate behind by six.

Carson-Newman chose aggression, converting a fourth-and-one from its own 37 with Sullins' 60-yard gallop, effectively setting up Sanchez’s clinching score. Wingate mounted a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive inside the final minute, capped by Holmes finding Jaylen Himes (seven catches, 110 yards, one TD) on a 16-yard toss. Jayden James and Jasiah Hill contributed tackles for loss as Wingate tried to keep the Eagles in check, but Cade Meeks' recovery of the ensuing onside kick sealed the result for Carson-Newman.

Statistical Context

Carson-Newman controlled the clock, holding possession for over 37 minutes and earning a narrow edge in first downs (14-12). The Eagles ran 59 times for 215 yards and managed just 33 passing yards, relying almost exclusively on their ground game and strong special teams. Meanwhile, Wingate finished with 241 total yards—148 passing, 93 rushing—and outperformed the Eagles on third-down conversions but struggled to sustain drives in key moments. Both teams were perfect in the red zone, but Carson-Newman capitalized on all three trips while Wingate found the end zone just once.

Special teams also played a role, with Wingate’s Christian Teeter averaging 41.3 yards on seven punts (three inside the twenty) and Kayden Bash providing 98 yards on four kickoff returns. Carson-Newman’s Bennett Smith converted from 39 and 52 yards, giving the Eagles a crucial edge as points were scarce in difficult conditions.

Defensive Performances

Wingate’s defense featured multiple standouts who helped keep the game within reach:

• Ryan Green: 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss
• Mandjou Berte: 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, sack, two forced fumbles
• Guy Taylor: seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, forced fumble
• Diego Aviles: seven tackles, one tackle for loss

Carson-Newman’s defense was anchored by Mekhi Brown, Martavis Mason, and Terry Lemon, each with at least five tackles and combined contributions in the pass rush and run defense.

Key Stats and Top Performers

• Jayden Sullins: 17 carries, 102 yards (long of 60), key fourth-quarter conversion
• Mario Sanchez: 14 carries, 34 yards, touchdown, two-point conversion
• Zane Whitson: 11 carries, 45 yards, rushing touchdown; also 17 passing yards
• Elijah Holmes: 12-29, 148 yards, passing touchdown, one interception; 51 rushing yards, rushing touchdown
• Jaylen Himes: seven catches, 110 yards, one touchdown
• Christian Teeter: seven punts, 41.3 average (long of 62), three inside the 20

WINGATE – The Wingate Bulldogs captured their first South Atlantic Conference championship since 2017, stifling 19th-ranked Carson-Newman's potent rushing attack in a 28-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs' defense, which entered the game as one of the nation's best units, held Carson-Newman to just 84 total yards - including a mere 54 yards rushing. The Eagles had been averaging 295 yards on the ground and 386 total yards per game before meeting Wingate's defensive wall.

Place-kicker Caleb Bonesteel earned MVP honors, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts from distances of 43, 38, 48, 36, and 36 yards. His consistent performance kept the Bulldogs in control throughout a game that remained close into the fourth quarter.

Wingate (9-1) took command in the third quarter after leading just 9-6 at halftime. Jake Snapp's 49-yard kickoff return to open the second half set up the Bulldogs at the Carson-Newman 44-yard line. The drive culminated in Noah Bell's one-yard touchdown plunge on fourth down, extending the lead to 16-6.

The Eagles (9-2) showed life early in the fourth quarter when Zane Whitson scored on a one-yard run to cut the deficit to 19-13. But Wingate responded immediately with an explosive four-play, 81-yard drive, highlighted by quarterback Brooks Bentley's 26-yard run and capped by Corey Siemer's 38-yard touchdown burst.

Siemer finished with 86 yards on 13 carries to lead all rushers, while O'Brien Barnett added 70 yards on 13 attempts for the Bulldogs. The Wingate ground game accumulated 165 yards overall, complemented by Bentley's 91 passing yards.

The Bulldogs' defense, which has now held Carson-Newman under 180 rushing yards in both meetings this season, was led by Kai Russell's 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Daniel Morrison and Dontorian Best each contributed seven tackles, while Joseph Reddish sealed the victory with two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Carson-Newman's offensive struggles were particularly evident in the second half, when they managed just 10 yards of total offense. The Eagles' passing game never found rhythm, completing only 2 of 6 attempts for 30 yards with two interceptions.

The game's tone was set early when Wingate capitalized on field position and Carson-Newman miscues. After a methodical 12-play drive resulted in Bonesteel's first field goal, the Bulldogs quickly added another three points following a fumble recovery by Darius Randolph at the Carson-Newman 25-yard line.

The Eagles briefly showed life in the second quarter with two field goals from Bennett Smith, including a 45-yarder that tied the game at 6-6. However, Wingate reclaimed the lead just before halftime on Bonesteel's 48-yard kick and never trailed again.

The Bulldogs' defense took over in the fourth quarter, with Russell and Morrison recording consecutive sacks that pushed Carson-Newman into a fourth-and-28 situation. The defensive effort helped Wingate control the clock, holding possession for nearly 34 minutes in the contest.

Wingate now awaits Sunday's NCAA Division II playoff selection show to learn its postseason fate. The Bulldogs entered the game ranked second in Super Region 2, positioning themselves for a potential home playoff game when the bracket is announced.

The victory marks Wingate's third conference championship in program history, achieved through a suffocating defensive performance that limited one of the conference's most productive offenses to its lowest output of the season by more than 150 yards.

JEFFERSON CITY, TN – The 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs held Carson-Newman University to 137 yards of offense, blanking the Eagles over the final three quarters en route to a 25-3 victory in South Atlantic Conference football action at Burke-Tarr Stadium. Wingate improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while Carson-Newman falls to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in league play. It's the first time the Eagles have been held to three points at home since the 2005 season. Wingate has held Carson-Newman to just three points over the last six quarters dating back to the 2019 meeting.

Photo Credit: Ashley Garcia

Four Takeaways From the Win

Series Momentum is With Wingate

Although Carson-Newman leads the overall series with Wingate 25-8, Wingate has won seven of the last eleven in the series. The Bulldogs are now 4-13 in Jefferson City with each of the four wins being in the last six games at Carson-Newman. The 22-point win is Wingate's biggest ever margin of victory against the Eagles.

Wingate is Leaning on McLean

Bulldogs kicker McLean Robertson tied a school record with four field goals made, all coming in the first half. Roberton was a national finalist for the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award in 2019 and is kicking in top form in 2021.

The Dogs' Defense is Stout

Saturday's game was the first time Carson-Newman has been held to three points since 2018 (at Newberry) and the first time the Eagles have been held to three points at home since 2005 (vs. Presbyterian). Dating back to the 2019 meeting, Carson-Newman has just three points against Wingate over the last six quarters of play. The vaunted Carson-Newman running attack has just been held to exactly 87 yards the last two against Wingate.

With his 16 of 28 passing for 238 yards, Shaw Crocker now has sixteen career 200-yard passing games for Wingate. His touchdown pass to RJ Mobley in the third quarter was his 53rd career touchdown pass. Crocker also rushed for forty yards on the ground, the second-highest of his career.

Up Next

Wingate (3-0, 1-0)  is back home the next two weeks, hosting Catawba next Saturday and Tusculum on October 2nd for Homecoming. Both games are at 6pm.