WINGATE – Wingate defensive end Elijah Barnes crashed through the line on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime, sacking Khamoni Robinson and forcing a fumble that Tyson Brown recovered to preserve a 38-37 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the South Atlantic Conference, extending their winning streak to four games. Lenoir-Rhyne fell to 5-5 and 4-3 in league play. The victory marked Wingate's fourth consecutive win over the Bears.

After both teams scored touchdowns in overtime, Lenoir-Rhyne coach Doug Socha elected to attempt a two-point conversion rather than kick the extra point for a second overtime period. Robinson dropped back to pass, but Barnes broke through for the game-ending sack.

"It was a hard fought emotional game today," Socha said. "We had some missed opportunities and needed one more play."

The game reached overtime after Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes engineered a nine-play, 74-yard drive in the final 1:53 of regulation. Holmes completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Estronza with 19 seconds remaining to tie the score at 31-31.

Wingate needed just three plays to score in overtime. Xavier Pugh carried for five yards, then Holmes found Jaylen Himes for 10 yards to set up Pugh's 10-yard touchdown run. Caleb Bonesteel converted the extra point for a 38-31 lead.

Robinson answered with a six-yard touchdown run on Lenoir-Rhyne's possession, setting up the decisive two-point attempt.

Holmes completed 23 of 36 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns while adding 50 yards on the ground. Himes caught eight passes for 134 yards and two scores, while Xavier Jackson hauled in five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. Pugh contributed 71 rushing yards and a score along with three catches for 42 yards.

Robinson finished 21 of 30 for 283 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for two more scores. Alex Boyd recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 103 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.

Songa Yates tied a career high with nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown, moving into a tie for seventh place on Lenoir-Rhyne's all-time list with 17 career touchdown receptions. Zion Agnew added five catches for 86 yards and a score.

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped ahead early when Robinson connected with Agnew for a 47-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, capping an eight-play, 75-yard march. The Bears extended their lead to 14-3 when Robinson found Yates for a 52-yard scoring strike on their second possession.

Wingate responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Bonesteel's 24-yard field goal. Holmes completed passes of 23 yards to Himes, 12 yards to Pugh and 10 yards to Estronza during the drive.

The Bears appeared poised to build a commanding lead in the second quarter when they drove inside the Wingate five-yard line. But the Bulldogs' defense held on fourth-and-goal from the two, forcing a turnover on downs.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back Desmond Greene intercepted Holmes on Wingate's ensuing possession, his fourth interception of the season. The turnover set up Robinson's seven-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 21-3 advantage with 1:45 left in the half.

The Bulldogs cut into the deficit before halftime when Holmes hit Himes for 53 yards on the first play of a drive, then connected with him again for a nine-yard touchdown. That made it 21-10 with 1:19 remaining in the second quarter.

Brayden Cresimore's 44-yard field goal as time expired in the half, Lenoir-Rhyne's longest of the season, extended the Bears' lead to 24-10.

Wingate seized momentum in the third quarter with two touchdown drives. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bulldogs took over at their own 40 and drove 60 yards in six plays. Holmes connected with Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown on third-and-three to make it 24-17.

Following another Lenoir-Rhyne punt, Holmes led a six-play, 64-yard scoring drive. He completed a 19-yard pass to Jackson, then gained 11 yards on a scramble to reach the red zone. Holmes found Himes for an 18-yard touchdown that tied the game at 24-24 with 4:05 left in the third quarter.

Chris Harris gave Wingate prime field position late in the third when he sacked Robinson, forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Lenoir-Rhyne 33. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back John Royal intercepted Holmes on third-and-six from the 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter and returned it 52 yards to the Wingate 28. Boyd's five-yard touchdown run six plays later put the Bears ahead 31-24 with 10:58 remaining.

James Ussery intercepted Holmes later in the fourth quarter to give Lenoir-Rhyne possession at its own 41, but the Bears couldn't convert the turnover into points. Ussery finished with a career-high 13 tackles and an interception.

Wingate forced consecutive three-and-outs in the final minutes to set up the game-tying drive. Holmes completed passes of 26 yards to Pugh and 26 yards to Jackson during the march, getting the Bulldogs inside the 10 with 30 seconds left before finding Estronza for the tying score.

Wingate held a 507-453 advantage in total offense. The Bulldogs converted seven of 13 third-down attempts, while Lenoir-Rhyne succeeded on nine of 14. Wingate scored on four of five red zone trips compared to two of four for the Bears.

Jaquan Edwards led Wingate's defense with 10 tackles, while Anthony Dangerfield and Tory Kelly added nine and eight tackles respectively. Harris finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, the forced fumble and fumble recovery. Jonathen Cross contributed six tackles with a tackle for loss, half a sack and a pass breakup.

Tate O'Bryan set a career high with 76 receiving yards for Lenoir-Rhyne. Greene finished with seven tackles and an interception.

The game marked Lenoir-Rhyne's highest-scoring output of the season.

Lenoir-Rhyne's 2025 campaign got off to a difficult start Friday night as the Bears dropped their season opener to eighth-ranked West Florida 48-21 in a game that saw the visitors struggle with early mistakes and explosive plays allowed on defense.

The Argos jumped on the Bears immediately, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions to build a commanding 21-0 lead before the first quarter ended. West Florida quarterback Marcus Stokes orchestrated the early barrage, connecting with TJ Lane for an 11-yard touchdown pass just 1:06 into the game after recovering a Lenoir-Rhyne fumble on the opening kickoff.

Stokes continued his efficient night by finding Tyree Holloway for a 71-yard touchdown strike that extended the lead to 15-0. The senior signal-caller capped the first quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Bears in a three-score hole before they could establish any rhythm.

West Florida's offensive efficiency was on full display throughout the first half. The Argos converted on their first six possessions, adding a 29-yard field goal from Brogan Woeber and another touchdown pass from Stokes to Corey Scott to push the advantage to 31-0.

Lenoir-Rhyne finally broke through just before halftime when quarterback Khamoni Robinson, making his first career start, engineered a quick four-play, 65-yard drive. Robinson hit Zion Agnew for a 51-yard completion to set up a six-yard touchdown pass to Tate O'Bryan with no time remaining in the half.

The third quarter provided the game's most competitive stretch as both teams found the end zone twice. West Florida opened the second half with another long touchdown pass from Stokes to Holloway, this time for 33 yards, but the Bears responded with their best football of the night.

Robinson connected with Songa Yates for a 27-yard touchdown pass, completing an 89-yard drive that cut the deficit to 38-14. Four minutes later, running back LJ Turner broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run, capping an 87-yard drive that brought Lenoir-Rhyne within 17 points at 38-21.

However, West Florida's depth and talent eventually wore down the Bears. The Argos added two more field goals and a rushing touchdown from Stokes in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Robinson completed 24 of 35 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in his debut, becoming the first Bears quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in a season opener since 2018. Agnew led the receiving corps with four catches for 112 yards, while Yates added four receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Turner provided the ground game's lone bright spot, rushing for 35 yards and a score on just five carries. The Bears managed only 62 total rushing yards against a West Florida defense that consistently pressured Robinson, recording six sacks for 42 yards in losses.

Defensively, team captain Tre'von Cooper paced Lenoir-Rhyne with 10 tackles, while Desmond Greene recorded the Bears' first interception of the season. The Bears struggled to contain West Florida's balanced attack, allowing 537 total yards including 353 through the air.

Stokes completed 20 of 30 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns while adding two rushing scores. Scott led the Argos receivers with nine catches for 172 yards and a touchdown, while Holloway caught just two passes but turned them into 104 yards and two touchdowns.

The loss drops Lenoir-Rhyne to 0-1 on the season and mostly likely ends their 30-week streak in the national rankings. The Bears will look to rebound next Saturday when they travel to Tusculum for their South Atlantic Conference opener.

LIVINGSTON, AL – Powered by quarterback Jalen Ferguson's 411-yard passing performance and three crucial field goals from Jake Brown, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears went on the road to upset the third-seeded West Alabama Tigers 37-34 on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears (10-2) overcame a potent West Alabama rushing attack and multiple deficits to advance in the Super Region II playoffs, with Brown's 25-yard field goal with 4:46 remaining proving to be the difference maker.

Lenoir-Rhyne's aerial assault was spearheaded by wide receiver Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns, including a momentum-shifting 78-yard scoring strike in the third quarter that tied the game at 34. Songa Yates added five receptions for 107 yards as the Bears' passing game helped overcome a ground attack that was limited to just 49 yards on 27 carries.

West Alabama (9-2) dominated the rushing battle, accumulating 229 yards on the ground led by quarterback Spencer Arceneaux's 74 yards and running back Bry Webb's 70 yards. The Tigers appeared to take control early in the third quarter when Arceneaux broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run to put West Alabama ahead 34-24.

However, the Bears' defense stiffened in the fourth quarter, forcing two critical missed field goals by Tigers' kicker Eric Guyton from 28 and 44 yards that could have changed the outcome. Lenoir-Rhyne's defensive effort was anchored by linebacker Jon Willis, who recorded 10 tackles including one for loss.

The first half featured a back-and-forth scoring battle that saw five lead changes. After West Alabama opened the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Arceneaux to Tre Walker, Ferguson responded with a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7. The Tigers built their largest lead at 27-14 in the second quarter, but the Bears closed the half strong with a touchdown pass to Marcus Simmons and a 32-yard field goal by Brown to pull within 27-24.

Ferguson, who completed 22 of 40 passes without an interception, consistently found success against a Tigers defense that had been allowing just 2.4 yards per rush attempt coming into the contest. The Bears' offensive line provided excellent protection, as Ferguson wasn't sacked despite West Alabama's previously impressive pass rush that had recorded 32 sacks during the regular season.

The victory marked Lenoir-Rhyne's first-ever win against West Alabama in three meetings between the programs, avenging a 2018 loss in their last matchup. The Bears' defense forced three turnovers, including a crucial interception by Dareke Savage with 1:36 remaining that helped seal the victory.

Special teams played a decisive role, with Brown converting all three of his field goal attempts while Guyton missed both of his tries for the Tigers. The Bears' coverage units also contained West Alabama's dangerous return game, limiting the Tigers to an average of 27 yards on kickoff returns.

The win continues Lenoir-Rhyne's recent postseason success, following last year's run to the national semifinals. The Bears' defense showed resilience in the second half, holding West Alabama scoreless in the fourth quarter despite the Tigers averaging 6.7 yards per play for the game.

The Bears' victory sets up their next playoff matchup in the Super Region II semifinals against Virginia Union.

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Division II Football Committee released the 2024 championship bracket Sunday afternoon and both Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne will represent North Carolina in the race for the championship, continuing the South Atlantic Conference's strong football tradition.

The Wingate Bulldogs (9-1) earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region Two and will host Virginia Union (8-3) in the first round on November 23 at Irwin Belk Stadium. Meanwhile, Lenoir-Rhyne (9-2) will travel to face third-seeded West Alabama (9-1) in Livingston, Alabama.

Wingate enters postseason play as one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a seven-game winning streak that includes three shutouts. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 222-50 over their last seven games, culminating with Saturday's 28-13 victory over #19 Carson-Newman in the SAC title game. The victory secured Wingate's third SAC championship in program history.

The Bulldogs' success has been built on one of the nation's most dominant defenses. Wingate leads the nation in third-down defense while ranking second nationally in total defense and red zone defense. They're third in pass defense, fifth in scoring defense and eighth in tackles for loss. Reigning SAC and Region Defensive Player of the Year Marquise Fleming leads the nation in tackles for loss. The defense has held six different opponents to their lowest point total of the season this year.

For Lenoir-Rhyne, the path to the playoffs included bouncing back from an early October loss to Emory & Henry. The Bears responded by winning five of their final six games, with their only loss coming in a tight 14-10 battle against Wingate on November 2. They closed the regular season strong with victories over Catawba (33-14) and Anderson (27-24).

The Bears were particularly effective through the air, with quarterback Jalen Ferguson throwing for 2,613 yards and 14 touchdowns. The team showed good balance, adding 1,349 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns for the season, led by Alex Boyd and Zayvion Turner-Knox. The Bears' defense was a significant strength, forcing 19 interceptions and recording 20 sacks while holding opponents to under 17 points a game.

The two North Carolina schools could potentially meet again in the second round. If Wingate defeats Virginia Union, they would host the winner of the West Alabama-Lenoir-Rhyne matchup on November 30 at Irwin Belk Stadium.

Valdosta State (10-0) earned the top seed in Super Region Two and receives a first-round bye. Miles (9-2) rounds out the region's representation, hosting Carson-Newman (9-2) in the first round.

First-round games are scheduled for 1 p.m. local time on November 23, unless otherwise approved by the committee. The tournament will continue with second-round games on November 30, quarterfinals on December 7, and semifinals on December 14, leading up to the national championship game in McKinney, Texas on December 21. The championship game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD.

NCAA DII football championship history 

Harding, which won its first-ever DII football championship last season by defeating Colorado School of Mines 38-7, enters the tournament looking to become the first repeat winner since Ferris State captured back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

The NCAA Division II Football Committee released its first regional rankings of the 2024 season on Monday, with Wingate University (7-1) securing the number one position in Super Region Two. The rankings serve as a crucial indicator for playoff positioning, with the top seven teams typically qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Bulldogs' top ranking puts them in prime position to potentially secure a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs, marking another milestone in what has been a remarkable season for the North Carolina program. Wingate's defensive excellence has been a key factor in their success, as they currently lead several national statistical categories.

West Alabama (7-1) and undefeated Valdosta State (8-0) occupy the second and third spots respectively, while Johnson C. Smith (8-1) rounds out the top four. The Golden Bulls' high ranking represents a significant achievement for the Charlotte-based program only two years removed from a two-win season.

The rankings feature a strong showing from North Carolina schools, with Winston-Salem State (6-2) at seventh, and Lenoir-Rhyne (7-2) at eighth. Carson-Newman (7-1) holds the fifth position, followed by Virginia Union (7-1) and sixth while Miles (7-1) and West Florida (6-2) round out the top ten.

The playoff format for Super Region Two will see the top seed receive a first-round bye, while seeds two through four will host playoff games against lower-ranked opponents. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on November 23 at campus sites, with the second round following on November 30. The national quarterfinals will take place on December 7, leading up to the semifinals on November 14. The national championship game is set for November 21 in McKinney, Texas.

The release of these rankings sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the regular season, as teams jockey for playoff position in the final weeks. With four North Carolina schools in the top eight, the state is well-represented in the chase for the Division II national championship.