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Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods (Shelby, N.C.) rushed 21 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns, establishing the school’s career rushing record and helping the Bulldogs outlast number 14 UNC Pembroke 28-23 in NCAA Division II football action Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field.

Wingate is 2-1 overall, while the UNCP Braves lose their first game of the season to drop to 2-1 overall. The Bulldogs have a bye week before returning home to entertain South Atlantic Conference foe Catawba College Saturday, Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. UNC Pembroke continues its SAC tour next Saturday, hosting 2009 SAC regular season champion Carson-Newman College at 2 p.m.

With Saturday’s effort, Woods has 2985 yards on 630 carries for his Bulldog career. Wingate’s previous record-holder was Tracy Bowen (1996-98), who compiled 2946 career yards. Interestingly enough, Woods broke the record with a 58-yard, game-clinching scoring scamper late in the fourth quarter. The TD and the PAT by senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) put Wingate up 28-16 with 5:38 remaining in the contest.

The Braves did not go down without a fight. The 2009 NCAA Division II play-off qualifiers took the ensuing kick-off and drove 76 yards on 11 plays. UNC Pembroke senior quarterback Cory Smith (Indian Trail, N.C.) sealed the deal, completing a six-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Josh Throckmorton (Hope Mills, N.C.) with 2:08 remaining. Braves junior place kicker Taylor Baskett (Fayetteville, N.C.) tacked on the PAT to finish the scoring.

Wingate got the ball back and Woods rushed for three yards followed by a nine-yard run by redshirt junior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.). The Bulldogs took a knee (twice) to end the contest.

The opportunistic Bulldogs scored both of their second half touchdowns after turnovers by the visiting Braves. On the third play after receiving the second half kick-off, Smith threw an interception to Wingate redshirt sophomore safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.). The Bulldog All-American candidate made the pick at the Wingate 38-yard line. The interception broke Smith’s string of 111 consecutive passes without an interception.

Haffly took charge, completing five passes on a 10-play, 62-yard drive. The fifth connection of the march was a 12-yard TD pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) to make the score 21-9 Wingate. A fumble by the Braves set up Woods’ 58-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Wingate rallied to take a 14-9 halftime lead. UNC Pembroke struck first, converting an interception into a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Rashon Kennedy (Sanford, N.C.) at the 8:49 mark of the opening frame. Wingate redshirt junior linebacker Morris Gatewood (Morven, N.C.) blocked Baskett’s PAT to keep the Bulldog deficit at 6-0.

The Bulldogs responded, taking the lead for good on a one-yard TD run by Woods with 5:18 to play in the first quarter. The Lopez PAT concluded a nine-play, 54-yard drive. In the second quarter, Haffly found sophomore wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) for a TD and Baskett contributed a field goal.

Both quarterbacks had big days (and almost identical numbers) in front of the overflow Family Weekend/Patriots’ Day/Church Youth Day crowd. Haffly was 25-of-37 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice. Smith was 25-of-32 for 227 yards and two touchdowns (both to Throckmorton). The local product from Sun Valley High School was intercepted once (Fletcher).

Smith utilized nine receivers, while Haffly connected with seven. Bulldog senior wide receiver Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) and Floyd caught seven passes each. Ellington had seven grabs for 86 yards, while Floyd posted seven catches for 51 yards and one touchdown.

Wingate redshirt senior linebacker Greg Harmon (Hope Mills, N.C.) led all defenders with 13 tackles (two solo, 11 assists). Bulldog redshirt senior cornerback Justin Squirewell (Decatur, Ga.) posted 11 total stops (five solo, six assists). Fletcher had nine tackles to go with his interception. UNCP redshirt senior linebacker Adam Deese (Laurinburg, N.C.) led the Braves with 12 tackles (five solo, seven assists) and one tackle for loss.

Both teams were perfect in the red zone. UNC Pembroke was four-for-four, while Wingate was three-for-three. The Braves converted 11-of-18 third-down conversions, while the Bulldogs capitalized on five-of-10 third-down situations. Wingate was two-for-two on fourth downs, while UNC Pembroke took advantage of its only fourth-down try. The Braves held an 11-minute advantage in time of possession.