Wingate, N.C.----The Virginia Union University Panthers scored with 20 seconds remaining in regulation Saturday afternoon to force overtime, then scored a touchdown on their opening drive to pick up a 34-31 victory against second-seeded Wingate University in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Division II football play-offs at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. The Panthers improve to 9-3 overall, while the Bulldogs end their season at 9-2.

KEY STATS

- Virginia Union had 251 passing yards and 153 rushing yards for 404 yards of offense
- Wingate put up 266 passing yards and 123 rushing yards for 389 total yards
- The Panthers had 22 first downs compared to Wingate's 19
- VUU was seven-for-12 on third down and two-for-three on fourth down
- Wingate was eight-for-13 on third down
- The 'Dogs scored on all four red zone trips; the Panthers scored on two of four chances
- The Bulldogs had three of the five sacks in the contest
- Each team had one turnover on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks Bentley was 18-for-28 for 266 yards and two touchdowns
- Evan McCray had four catches for 113 yards and a TD
- Corey Siemer had 18 carries for 90 yards and a score
- O'Brien Barnett added 39 rushing yards
- Xavier Jackson had five receptions for 54 yards
- Austin Cain added a 26-yard TD grab
- Kai Russell had nine tackles, three TFLs, a sack and a forced fumble
- Dontorian Best added nine tackles, 1.5 TFLs and two QB hurries
- Mark Burks had eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up
- Daniel Morrison added five stops with 1.5 TFLs and a sack
- Joseph Reddish had five tackles, an interception, a break-up and 0.5 TFLs
- Jaden White added a tackle for loss and a break-up
- Bryan Bordeaux had half a sack and two QB hurries
- Caleb Bonesteel connected on field goals of 18, 48 and 39 yards
- Rivers Teeter put both of his punts inside the 10

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate fumbled on its opening drive, but a Morrison sack forced a VUU three-and-out
- The 'Dogs took over at their own 48 and needed just four plays to score
- Bentley hit McCray for 28 yards to get it inside the red zone
- Bentley found McCray on the next play for an 18-yard touchdown
- The Panthers answered with a six-play, 73-yard scoring drive
- Mark Wright connected with Reggie Vick for a 44-yard touchdown, making it 7-7 at the 7:24 mark
- Wingate went 58 yards in eight plays on the ensuing drive
- Barnett had a 10-yard run and 33-yard reception to get it to the VUU one
- The 'Dogs had to settle for a 19-yard Bonesteel field goal to take a 10-7 lead

SECOND QUARTER

- The Panthers went 75 yards in seven plays spanning the first and second quarter
- Curtis Allen's two-yard rushing TD on the first play of the second quarter gave VUU a 14-10 lead
- The Bulldogs answered with a 13-play, 73-yard touchdown drive
- A 12-yard Matt Flanders catch and 13-yard Siemer run got it inside the Virginia Union 25
- Bentley connected with Jackson for 22 yards to get it down to the one
- Siemer punched it in to put the 'Dogs on top 17-14
- VUU responded with another seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive
- Wright hit Keon Davis for a 34-yard TD on third and five to make it 21-17
- Xavier Pugh's 13-yard return on the ensuing kickoff set the 'Dogs up at the WU 46
- Siemer went 21 yards on the next four plays to get it to the 33
- Bonesteel nailed a 48-yard field goal to make it 21-20 heading to halftime

THIRD QUARTER

- The Bulldogs forced a three-and-out on the opening Virginia Union drive
- Wingate's drive stalled at the VUU 32-yard line
- Teeter's perfect punt was downed inside the one
- The Panthers drove in 91 yards, getting it inside the Wingate 10
- Wright was intercepted by Reddish at the four to end the drive
- The Bulldogs went on a seven-play, 98-yard scoring drive
- Bentley hit McCray for 56 yards on third and 13 to get it to the VUU 35
- Barnett followed with a nine-yard run
- Bentley connected with Cain for a 26-yard TD on the next play to make it 26-21

FOURTH QUARTER

- Russell's sack forced a fumble, which Jonathen Cross recovered at the WU 46
- The drive stalled, but Teeter's punt was downed at the six
- Bordeaux and Reddish combined for a sack in the end zone for a safety to make it 28-21 with 6:25 to go
- Bentley was intercepted at midfield on the ensuing drive with 5:16 remaining
- Virginia Union would go 48 yards on 13 plays to tie it in the final minute
- RJ Rosales ran for 15 yards to convert a fourth and 11
- He then had a 16-yard run on fourth and 14 to get it to the WU 22
- Rosales connected with Jada Byers for 18 yards on third and 15 to get it to the nine
- Rosales hit Jeremi Frances for a nine-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left

OVERTIME

- Wingate got the ball first and had to settle for a 39-yard Bonesteel field goal to take a 31-28 lead
- Rosales went 18 yards on third and four to set up a first and goal at the one
- Rosales punched it in from one yard out to give the Panthers the win