WINGATE – Benedict pulled off one of the most improbable finishes in NCAA Division 2 playoff history, stunning 16th-ranked Wingate 25-24 on a miraculous 86-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium.

With the ball at their own 14-yard line and the clock showing only three seconds remaining, quarterback Jackson Jensen threw a desperation pass to Tre Simmons. What happened next defied belief. Simmons caught the ball near the 20-yard line, then threw a lateral all the way back across the field to Malik Mullins, who raced down the sideline untouched for the game-winning score as time expired.

The stunning victory capped a furious fourth-quarter rally by the 23rd-ranked Tigers, who overcame a 24-0 third-quarter deficit to advance in the Division 2 playoffs. Benedict improved to 10-2 while Wingate's season ended at 9-3, snapping the Bulldogs' six-game winning streak.

The comeback seemed unlikely after Wingate's Omar Ba intercepted Jensen's pass and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown with 14:46 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 24-0 advantage. Benedict had managed just 118 total yards to that point and trailed by three scores midway through the third quarter.

But the Tigers' defense stiffened considerably after that score. Benedict forced three consecutive three-and-out possessions and benefited from crucial Wingate mistakes that shifted momentum. The Tigers held Wingate to just 139 total yards and no points over the final 28 minutes of game action.

Benedict finally broke through late in the third quarter when Jensen directed a six-play, 27-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Malaqhi Jones with 1:03 remaining in the period. Logan Karwacki's extra point made it 24-7, giving the Tigers their first points after falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Benedict's defense and special teams. Isaiah Isidore provided the spark with 10:05 remaining when he blocked a 21-yard field goal attempt by Caleb Bonesteel and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. The failed extra point left Benedict trailing 24-13, but the Tigers had seized momentum.

Benedict's offense took over at its own 50-yard line after a Kolten Ford punt with 5:59 remaining and methodically moved downfield. Triston Morgan carried five times for 33 yards on the drive, including a critical 27-yard run to the Wingate 21 that gave Benedict first-and-10 deep in Bulldogs territory.

Jensen completed the march with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Charle Simmons with 3:36 remaining. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Benedict trailing 24-19 and needing to get the ball back with little time remaining.

Wingate tried to run out the clock but could only manage 22 yards on six plays before punting back to Benedict with 19 seconds left. The Tigers took over at their own 14-yard line with one final chance.

Jensen's first three passes fell incomplete, all intended for Troy Hillman. Facing fourth-and-10 with the season on the line and the clock at zero, Jensen dropped back one final time. The improbable lateral play that followed sent the Benedict sideline into celebration and silenced the Wingate home crowd who .

Jensen finished 11-of-29 passing for 158 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 33 yards rushing on seven carries. Mullins caught four passes for 126 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Morgan led Benedict's ground game with 50 yards on 12 carries.

Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes completed 14 of 32 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Freshman receiver Jaylen Himes caught four passes for 138 yards and both of Holmes' touchdown passes, scoring on connections of 25 and 34 yards in the first quarter that staked the Bulldogs to their early lead.

The Bulldogs dominated the first half, taking a 17-0 lead into the break. Holmes connected with Himes for touchdown passes on back-to-back drives in the opening quarter. The first score came on a four-play, 68-yard drive capped by the 25-yard connection at 11:56 of the first quarter. The second touchdown came less than five minutes later when Holmes found Himes again, this time for 34 yards to complete a six-play, 63-yard march.

Bonesteel added a 26-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first quarter to extend Wingate's advantage to 17-0. The Bulldogs reached the red zone four times but managed just one field goal from those trips, a crucial shortcoming that proved decisive.

Benedict's defense recorded four sacks and limited Wingate to 3-of-14 on third-down conversions. Isaiah Stephens led the Tigers with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Israe Nwokocha added seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack, plus the blocked field goal return for touchdown that sparked the comeback.

The loss ended Wingate's seventh playoff appearance in school history and sixth in the last eight years. The Bulldogs had won at least eight games in nine consecutive seasons and were appearing in their fifth home playoff game.

Benedict advances to face Albany State, the region’s top seed, in the second round of the Division 2 playoffs. The Tigers are making their third playoff appearance in the last four years and earned their second road playoff victory after previously winning at Wingate in 1998 in the teams' first meeting. Wingate had defeated Benedict 23-6 in the second round of the 2022 playoffs before advancing to the national quarterfinals.

The dramatic finish will be remembered as one of the wildest endings in recent playoff history, a fitting conclusion to a game that seemed decided until the final seconds ticked off the clock.

CHARLOTTE – In a championship game that will be remembered for its heart-stopping finale, Clemson secured the ACC Football Championship with a dramatic 56-yard field goal by kicker Nolan Hauser as time expired, defeating SMU 34-31 in a rocking Bank of America Stadium that witnessed an instant classic.

The game was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with both teams trading blows in a contest that seemed destined to be decided in its final moments. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik emerged as the game's defining player, throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns, while SMU's Kevin Jennings matched him with a gutsy 310-yard, three-touchdown performance that nearly carried his team to victory.

Photo Courtesy of the Atlantic Coast Confernce

Clemson started the game with lightning speed, scoring on its first two possessions and quickly building a 14-0 lead. Klubnik connected with tight end Bryant Wesco Jr. for a 35-yard touchdown on the Tigers' opening drive after an SMU fumble, then found Wesco again for a 43-yard scoring strike that seemed to put the game out of reach early.

But SMU refused to surrender. Quarterback Kevin Jennings orchestrated a pivotal 75-yard drive late in the first quarter, punctuated by his 24-yard rushing touchdown that breathed life into the Mustangs and cut the deficit to 14-7.

The first half continued as a showcase of offensive firepower, with Clemson extending its lead to 24-7 before SMU began to mount a comeback in the second half. Jennings, showing remarkable resilience, led his team back into contention. His 10-yard touchdown pass to Brashard Smith in the third quarter brought SMU within ten points, signaling the start of a dramatic fourth quarter.

With just over 13 minutes remaining, Jennings connected with Matthew Hibner for a 20-yard touchdown, pulling SMU to within 31-24. A subsequent field goal by Collin Rogers cut the lead to just four points, setting the stage for a breathtaking finish.

The game's final moments were a testament to the unpredictability of championship football. With just 16 seconds remaining, Jennings found Roderick Daniels Jr. for a 4-yard touchdown that seemingly pushed the game to overtime, tying the score at 31-31.

But Clemson had other plans. The Tigers' special teams unit and kicker Nolan Hauser would have the final say. An outstanding 61-yard kickoff return by Adam Randall got the Tigers across midfield. On the game's last play, the Charlotte native launched a remarkable 56-yard field goal that sailed through the uprights as time expired, giving Clemson a 34-31 victory and the ACC Championship.

"I mean, what a kick. I think it's the longest game-winning kick in Clemson history," Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said after the game. "I've been a part of some big ones, obviously the Catanzaro kick against LSU with two seconds on the clock and then this kick right here, I've been a part of some big ones. But that was huge, the protection, the snap, the hold, everything. And when he hit it, I went, oh, man. We were talking about overtime, trying to get our overtime plan ready to go, what we were going to do there, but as soon as he hit it and it cleared the line, I went, this thing has got a chance, and it just goes through. I'm just so happy for Nolan, right here, Charlotte kid, a freshman, and those are the type of things that -- those are the type of wins that really propel you."

Statistically, the game told a story of Clemson's balanced attack and resilience. The Tigers outgained SMU 458 to 326 yards, with a powerful rushing performance of 148 yards. Klubnik's four touchdown passes came without a single interception, while Bryant Wesco Jr. emerged as a key playmaker with eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

For SMU, Jennings was nothing short of heroic. Despite the loss, he completed 32 of 51 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns, adding a crucial 35 yards on the ground. Roderick Daniels Jr. led the receiving corps with eight catches for 97 yards, keeping the Mustangs competitive throughout the contest.

The game's defensive battle was equally compelling. Clemson's defense, led by Sammy Brown's 14 total tackles, created crucial stops and one interception. SMU's defense, anchored by Kobe Wilson's 15 total tackles, fought hard but couldn't completely contain Klubnik and the Clemson offense.

In the end, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney secured another championship, adding to his legacy of postseason success. The victory showcased the Tigers' ability to perform under pressure and their status as a perennial contender in college football's highest echelons. "It's fun to be a part of it, and it never gets old. But really happy for all those guys, all the way back, every single one, from the Dandy Dozen to this year's freshmen. They've all won a championship. But we've done it, again, by fulfilling the purpose that we've set out to do," Swinney mentioned after the game.

For SMU and head coach Rhett Lashlee, the loss was heartbreaking but not without merit. Their performance proved they belonged on this stage, pushing the conference’s best team of the last decade to the absolute limit in a game that will be discussed for years to come. "We have good players, but the secret sauce is they're a true team. I've said it. It's real. You feel it. That's why it hurts when they lose because they do everything the right way. They work hard. They trust each other. They love each other. They compete with each other. They have each other's back. They don't blame other people when they make a mistake. There's no finger-pointing," Lashlee said postgame. "They're just a true team. That's why I think they respond so well to everything. They'll respond well to this. They're hurting right now, but they'll respond well to this just like they did tonight coming back. I just think it's a special group. I've said it all year, it's been really, really fun to coach them, and I hope we're not done."

As the fireworks sparkled in the Charlotte skyline and Clemson celebrated, the ACC Championship game lived up to its billing – a thrilling, unpredictable contest decided in the most dramatic fashion possible, with Nolan Hauser's foot writing the final chapter of an unforgettable championship story.

Both teams played playoff-worthy football on Saturday night and will await their fate with the College Football Playoff committee on Sunday afternoon.

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 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has released the seeds for this year’s highly anticipated high school football playoffs. Teams from across the state will begin their journey toward the championship on November 15, with the ultimate goal of reaching the State Championships held at Kenan Memorial Stadium at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Carter-Finley Stadium at North Carolina State University.

 Playoff Schedule

- First Round: November 15

- Second Round: November 22

- Third Round: November 29

- Fourth Round: December 6

- Regional Finals: December 13

- State Championships: December 20-21

Road to the Championship

The NCHSAA playoff system is built to recognize excellence across conferences, rewarding top-performing teams and those who fought hard throughout the season. Teams earn playoff berths through conference standings, with champions from conferences of 1-5 teams receiving automatic berths, while conferences of six or more teams also send runner-ups or tournament winners. Further playoff spots are filled by wild-card selections based on Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) ratings.

RPI ratings are used extensively in the seeding process, ensuring that high-performing teams are rewarded based on their conference rankings and season strength. Each region, East and West, is seeded independently, with conference champions getting precedence over other qualifying teams.

Path to Victory

From the opening round, higher-seeded teams will have the advantage of home field until the State Championships, where champions from each division will clash. Fans across North Carolina can look forward to an intense season finale, as the top teams from each region converge in Chapel Hill and Raleigh for a two-day championship event.

1A First Round

East

(1) Tarboro vs BYE

(16) Weldon vs (17) Lejeune

(8) Perquimans vs (25) Northwest Halifax

(9) Warren vs (24) Southside

(5) Northside (Pinetown) vs (28) East Columbus

(12) Gates vs (21) Washington County

(13) Rosewood vs (20) Hobbton

(4) Pender vs (29) Chatham Central

(3) Wilson Prep vs BYE

(19) KIPP Pride vs (14) West Columbus

(6) North Moore vs (27) Union

(11) Bertie vs (22) North Edgecombe

(7) Bear Grass vs (26) Pamlico

(10) Lakewood vs (23) Northampton

(15) East Bladen vs (18) Southeast Halifax

(2) North Duplin vs BYE

West

(1) Mount Airy vs (32) Thomas Jefferson

(16) Mountain Island vs (17) Bishop McGuinness

(8) South Stanly vs (25) Avery

(9) Starmount vs (24) Andrews

(5) Corvian vs (28) Elkin

(12) Mitchell vs (21) Draughn

(13) Cherokee vs (20) Carver

(4) Eastern Randolph vs (29) Swain

(3) Murphy vs (30) Highland Tech

(14) Alleghany vs (19) Christ the King

(6) Bessemer City vs (27) South Stokes

(11) Robbinsville vs (22) Thomasville

(7) North Rowan vs (26) Cherryville

(10) East Wilkes vs (23) Albemarle

(15) Union Academy vs (18) Hayesville

(2) Mountain Heritage vs (31) North Stokes

2A First Round

East

(1) Northeastern vs (32) Hertford

(16) Midway vs (17) Greene Central

(8) St. Pauls vs (25) East Duplin

(9) Nash Central vs (24) West Craven

(5) Martin County vs (28) North Johnston

(12) James Kenan vs (21) Roanoke Rapids

(13) Cummings vs (20) SouthWest Edgecombe

(4) Wallace-Rose Hill vs (29) Washington

(3) Southeast Alamance vs (30) Heide Trask

(14) South Columbus vs (19) Kinston

(11) Ayden-Grifton vs (22) North Lenoir

(6) South Granville vs (27) Edenton Holmes

(7) Eastern Wayne vs (26) Northwood

(10) East Carteret vs (23) Princeton

(15) Farmville Central vs (18) North Pitt

(2) Whiteville vs (31) Pasquotank

West

(1) Reidsville vs (32) RS Central

(16) North Surry vs (17) East Rutherford

(8) Bunker Hill vs (25) Hendersonville

(9) Brevard vs (24) Anson

(5) Salisbury vs (28) West Davidson

(12) Walkertown vs (21) Surry Central

(13) Forest Hills vs (20) Lexington

(4) Randleman vs (29) East Gaston

(3) Monroe vs (30) TW Andrews

(14) Burns vs (19) North Stanly

(11) East Surry vs (22) Southwestern Randolph

(6) West Stokes vs (27) North Forsyth

(7) Mount Pleasant vs (26) West Lincoln

(10) CS Davidson vs (23) Bandys

(15) Lincolnton vs (18) Maiden

(2) Shelby vs (31) Morehead

3A First Round

East

(1) Havelock vs (32) Westover

(16) Western Alamance vs (17) Vance County

(8) Terry Sanford vs (25) South Central

(9) Union Pines vs (24) Scotland

(5) Williams vs (28) East Wake

(12) Jacksonville vs (21) West Carteret

(13) Cape Fear vs (20) Southern Alamance

(4) Aycock vs (29) Eastern Alamance

(3) Northern Nash vs (30) Rose

(14) Southern Nash vs (19) Harnett Central

(11) Southern Durham vs (22) Fike

(6) Currituck vs (27) West Johnston

(7) White Oak vs (26) Lee County

(10) North Brunswick vs (23) Hunt

(15) Rocky Mount vs (18) Richlands

(2) Seventy-First vs (31) Croatan

West

(1) Erwin vs (32) Parkwood

(16) Pisgah vs (17) Smoky Mountain

(8) West Charlotte vs (25) Hunter Huss

(9) Freedom vs (24) West Rowan

(5) Dudley vs (28) Asheboro

(12) AC Reynolds vs (21) Central Davidson

(13) Kings Mountain vs (20) East Lincoln

(4) Robinson vs (29) Northeast Guilford

(3) Hickory vs (30) Tuscola

(14) Statesville vs (19) Franklin

(11) Oak Grove vs (22) North Iredell

(6) Crest vs (27) Eastern Guilford

(7) West Henderson vs (26) South Rowan

(10) North Lincoln vs (23) North Davidson

(15) Ashbrook vs (18) Northwest Cabarrus

(2) South Point vs (31) Montgomery Central

4A First Round

East

(1) Cleveland vs (32) Heritage

(16) Ashley vs (17) Laney

(8) Jordan vs (25) Enloe

(9) Apex Friendship vs (24) Pine Forest

(5) Rolesville vs (28) Middle Creek

(12) Pinecrest vs (21) New Hanover

(13) Clayton vs (20) Corinth Holders

(4) Richmond vs (29) Topsail

(3) Hoggard vs (30) Broughton

(14) Leesville Road vs (19) Conley

(6) New Bern vs (27) Gray’s Creek

(11) Millbrook vs (22) South View

(7) Jack Britt vs (26) Wake Forest

(10) Overhills vs (23) Hillside

(15) Garner vs (18) Southeast Raleigh

(2) Cardinal Gibbons vs (31) Willow Spring

West

(1) Grimsley vs (32) Western Guilford

(16) Reagan vs (17) Southeast Guilford

(8) Charlotte Catholic vs (25) Porter Ridge

(9) Palisades vs (24) Page

(5) Hough vs (28) South Iredell

(12) Mount Tabor vs (21) Independence

(13) Mallard Creek vs (20) Lake Norman

(4) Watauga vs (29) Ragsdale

(3) East Forsyth vs (30) Butler

(14) West Forsyth vs (19) Cuthbertson

(6) Mooresville vs (27) Alexander Central

(11) Northwest Guilford vs (22) Olympic

(7) Asheville vs (26) Marvin Ridge

(10) Northern Guilford vs (23) West Cabarrus

(15) Sun Valley vs (18) Roberson

(2) Weddington vs (31) Brown

COLUMBIA, SC – In a thrilling second-round NCAA Division II playoff game, Lenoir-Rhyne emerged victorious over Benedict, whose #1 seed in the region allowed them to host the second-round game. Homefield advantage was not enough for the Tigers as the visiting Bears were able leave Columbia with a 35-25 victory.

How it Happened

The first quarter saw Lenoir-Rhyne's Dwayne McGee run 29 yards for a touchdown, followed by an extra point from Jake Brown. However, Benedict quickly retaliated with two touchdowns from Reginald Harden, who ran 58 yards and 87 yards respectively.

In the second quarter, Zayvion Turner-Knox from Lenoir-Rhyne ran 4 yards for a touchdown, with an extra point added by Jake Brown. Benedict's Aeneas Dennis completed a pass to Caden High, who ran 29 yards for a touchdown, with Tom Piccirillo securing the extra point.

The third quarter saw Lenoir-Rhyne take the lead with two touchdowns. Sean White completed passes to Songa Yates and John Godwin, who ran 21 yards and 26 yards respectively for touchdowns, with Jake Brown adding the extra points.

In the final quarter, Zayvion Turner-Knox ran 2 yards for a touchdown, with Jake Brown adding the extra point. Benedict's Aeneas Dennis completed a pass to Reginald Harden, who ran 36 yards for a touchdown.

Playmakers

Lenoir-Rhyne's Dwayne McGee had an impressive game, rushing 216 yards from 21 attempts and scoring one touchdown. Zayvion Turner-Knox also contributed significantly, rushing 45 yards from 8 attempts and scoring two touchdowns. In the passing game, Sean White completed 27 out of 35 attempts, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns.

On the receiving end, Kelin Parsons caught 6 passes for 103 yards, while Songa Yates caught 4 passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Deondre Lester and Tate O'bryan also contributed to the receiving game.

On the defensive side, Jon Ross Maye led the team with 11 total tackles, while C'darius Kelley made 2 solo tackles.

What’s Next

This victory propels fourth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne into the national quarterfinals, with a matchup against region #3 Valdosta State, who upset the number two seed Delta State, 38-31, on Saturday afternoon.