Pembroke, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are off to a 1-0 start for the 12th straight season, opening up the Rashaan Jordan era with a gritty 17-12 victory at UNC Pembroke in NCAA Division II football action. The Bulldogs are 1-0 overall, with the Braves fall to 0-1. Wingate has the next week off, returning to action Sept. 14, hosting #14 Delta State at 3 p.m. in the home opener.

KEY STATS

- The Bulldogs held a 338-310 advantage in total yards
- Wingate had 210 passing yards and 128 rushing yards
- The Braves accumulated 206 passing yards and a 104 rushing yards
- Each team had two turnovers
- UNCP held a 20-18 advantage in first downs
- The Bulldogs held the ball for nearly 34 minutes in the contest
- The 'Dogs converted six-of-13 third down opportunities; the Braves were just one-for-seven
- UNCP was also zero-for-three on fourth down
- Wingate registered five tackles for loss and a sack

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks Bentley was 21-for-29 with 208 passing yards, adding 23 rushing yards
- Corey Siemer ran for 57 yards on nine carries, scoring a touchdown
- Carlos Estronza had five receptions for 56 yards
- Evan McCray added four grabs for 31 yards and a touchdown
- Xavier Jackson hauled in four catches for 38 yards
- Noah Bell's lone pass attempt was a two-yard touchdown pass
- Dontorian Best had six tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up
- Joseph Reddish had five tackles and an interception
- Kai Russell contributed five tackles with one TFL and half a sack
- Jaquan Edwards registered four tackles, a TFL and an interception
- Daquan Mosley and Mark Burks each added a tackle for loss

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate's first drive was halted by an interception, which was returned to the WU 16
- Colin Johnson hit Jayden Smith for an eight-yard touchdown to put UNCP on top 6-0
- The extra point attempt was blocked
- The 'Dogs fumbled the ball on the first play of the ensuing drive, but the defense was up to the task
- Big TFL combos from Russell and Best, along with Edwards and Jaden White setup a fourth and 17
- Wingate forced a turnover on downs and took over at the WU 30
- The 'Dogs went on a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to take the lead
- Bentley hit McCray for the nine yards and a first down, while an 18-yard pass to Estronza got it to the UNCP 40
- Bentley's 11-yard run, followed by an Ethan Wallace eight-yard rush got the 'Dogs into the red zone
- Bentley hit McCray again for 11 yards on third and seven to get it to the 13
- Siemer scored from 13 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 advantage

SECOND QUARTER

- Mark Burks blocked a UNCP 33-yard attempt to keep the 'Dogs on top
- Wingate go the ball inside the UNCP 10 late in the half
- Bentley hit Estronza for 11 yards and Jackson for 14 yards
- Wingate got it to the nine in the final seconds, but were unable to convert on the field goal
- The Bulldogs to a 7-6 lead into the half

THIRD QUARTER

- A Reddish interception halted UNCP's first drive of the third quarter
- Wingate went 45 yards on nine plays to find the end zone for the second time
- A Siemer 11-yard run and Bentley 20-yard connection with Jackson got it into the red zone
- Bentley's 10-yard run got the Bulldogs inside the UNCP 10
- Bell connected with McCray from two yards out to give Wingate a 14-6 advantage
- The Braves answered with a five-play, 85-yard touchdown drive
- Johnson's 11-yard TD run made it 14-12
- The 'Dogs stuffed the Braves on the two-point try to keep the lead

FOURTH QUARTER

- Wingate used an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive to extend the lead
- Bentley's 28 yard connection to Jaylen Brown-Wallace got the 'Dogs to midfield
- Bentley found Estronza for 15 yards, getting the 'Dogs to the UNCP 21
- Bentley hooked up with McCray for nine yards to get it to the 12
- A Caleb Bonesteel 29-yard field goal gave WU a 17-12 lead
- UNC Pembroke went on an 80-yard drive, getting inside the Wingate 10
- Brice Colter's tackle on third down for no gain set up a fourth and five from the WU six
- The 'Dogs forced an incompletion on fourth down, taking over with 6:25 to go
- Wingate chewed up over five minutes of the clock
- Siemer and O'Brien Barnett both picked up rushing first downs
- A Rivers Teeter punt pinned the Braves at their 23 with 54 seconds left
- Pembroke got the ball inside the Wingate 30 with 12 seconds left
- Edwards clinched the game with the interception

UP NEXT

- Wingate has the week off, getting set for the home opener on Sept. 14
- The 'Dogs will host #14 Delta State at 3 p.m.
- The Bulldogs open SAC play the followed weekend, traveling to Carson-Newman Sept. 21