Wingate, N.C.----Carson-Newman freshman place kicker Carson Wise (Blacksburg, Va.) hit an 18-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the visiting Eagles to a wild 41-38 South Atlantic Conference victory over number 21 Wingate University Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The two teams combined for 889 yards of total offense (C-N 464, WU 425).
 
Carson-Newman improves to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SAC, while Wingate falls to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SAC. The Eagles even their lifetime overtime slate with the Bulldogs at one victory each, as Wingate won a 38-35 thriller in Jefferson City, Tenn. on Oct. 9, 2010. Wingate earned the SAC title and advanced to the NCAA play-offs the same season.
 
Wingate sophomore running back Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed 24 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing the 1000-yard plateau for the season. Carson-Newman junior running back Montavious Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) carried the ball 21 times for 145 yards. Eagle senior quarterback De'Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, Ga.) rushed for two TDs and passed for one score.
 
"We showed the ability to score a lot of points and make some big plays," Wingate head football coach Joe Reich says. "We talked about needing to make some big plays on offense and we were able to do that today. We made a couple of really big throws that we executed really well, but we were just too inconsistent. We came up with some big turnovers as well, but it was just a frustrating day."
 
Neither team led by more than seven points and the game was tied up five times. The Wingate offense got the offense motor revving with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter as Pittman came up with a two-yard rushing touchdown that allowed the Bulldogs to strike first 7-0.
 
Immediately after the first score by Wingate, Carson-Newman senior running back TraShaun Ward (Miami, Fla.) took the ensuing kick-off 85 yards for the touchdown to even the game up at 7-7. The back-and-forth swing of momentum was the story of today's contest.
 
The Bulldogs had notable impact players in the receiving game. Redshirt junior wide receiver Jody Fuller (Indian Trail, N.C.) collected two receptions for 92 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown play to tie the game at 28 with 14:02 in the fourth quarter. Junior receiver Jordan Berry (Irmo, S.C.) had three catches for 23 yards.
 
After leading the 'Dogs to last week's win over number 16 Lenoir-Rhyne, redshirt junior quarterback Kyle Johnson (Hickory, N.C.) put his dual-threat playing style on display again. He finished the game passing 12-of-20 for 205 yards and three touchdown passes. Johnson rushed 20 times for 81 yards.
 
Two of Johnson's touchdowns passes were to his tight ends. Redshirt sophomore Jake Jensen (Fayetteville, N.C.) caught a 16-yard TD to tie the game at 21 with 7:59 left in the third quarter, while redshirt freshman Grayson Cobb (King, N.C.) was the recipient of two-yard scoring strike early in the fourth quarter. Jensen collected his third touchdown reception in the last three games. Cobb picked up his first collegiate touchdown catch to give the Bulldogs a 35-28 lead with 12:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Wise kicked a 33-yarder to give Carson-Newman the 38-35 lead with 3:51 left in the game. With 21 seconds remaining in the contest, Wingate junior kicker Caleb Baird (Kinston, N.C.) hit a career-long 46-yard field goal to tie the game at 38 and force overtime.
 
In overtime, Carson-Newman won the toss and deferred, giving Wingate the ball first. Baird missed a 35-yard attempt wide left on Wingate's possession. Taylor had a big 19-yard rush to set the stage for the Wise game-winner.
 
The Eagles compiled 351 yards on the ground, thanks to their triple-option attack. C-N senior running back Damian Baker (Columbus, Miss.) added 89 rushing yards on 17 attempts. In addition to his three kick-off returns for 117 yards, Ward made an impact on the receiving end with four receptions for 69 yards. 
 
The Wingate defense had many notable contributors. Redshirt junior defensive end Andre Foulks (York, S.C.) had another double-digit tackle game with 14 total. Senior defensive back Nortavius Otis (Gastonia, N.C.) and juniors Mackenzie Battle (Simpsonville, S.C) and Josh Mills (Gastonia, N.C.) collected 11 tackles each.
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Charlie Hosea (Newhall, Calif.) picked up 10 tackles and senior All-SAC linebacker Eric Mapoles (Snellville, Ga.) added nine stops. Mapoles also had a key fumble recovery he returned for 48 yards to put the Bulldogs in scoring position in the fourth quarter. The return eventually led to the Bulldogs tying the game at 28.
 
"It should be a frustrating loss," Reich says. "There were a lot of good and bad things that we did, but we need to learn from this game and put it behind us. I'm glad we are upset after this loss, because that will give us some motivation going into next week."
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action next week as they host North Greenville University. The Crusaders enter the game with a 6-2 record, an identical slate to Wingate's overall mark. The Bulldogs and the Crusaders are slated for a 1:30 p.m. kick-off at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
(Wingate University sports information/sports network student assistant Jackson Kaplan contributed this article. A freshman from Raleigh, Kaplan is a Communication Studies major at Wingate. The former Millbrook High School baseball player is the son of Harrison and Dona Kaplan.)