Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Carson-Newman University Eagles connected on a 34-yard field goal in overtime to secure a 31-28 victory over #24 Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday afternoon. The Eagles move to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 235 passing yards and 112 rushing yards for 347 yards of offense
- C-N had 178 passing yards and 57 rushing yards for 235 total yards
- The Bulldogs held a 21-12 advantage in first downs
- The 'Dogs held the ball for over 33 minutes
- Wingate had the lone turnover of the contest
- The Eagles fumble three times, but recovered all three
- Carson-Newman blocked a field goal and an extra point, returning the PAT for two points
- C-N had seven sacks on the day compared to Wingate's three
- Each team registered 10 tackles for loss
- Each team was four-for-14 on third down
- The Eagles scored on all four red zone trips; the 'Dogs scored on three of four
- C-N entered the game fourth in the nation with 364 rushing yards per game
- Wingate held them to just 57 yards and 1.4 yards per carry
- The Bulldogs had eight penalties for 70 yards on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks Bentley was 15-for-25 for 235 yards and two touchdowns
- Ethan Wallace ran for 77 yards and a pair of scores
- Corey Siemer added 50 yards on 13 carries
- Evan McCray had five receptions for 104 yards
- Carlos Estronza added four catches for 64 yards and a TD
- Austin Cain hauled in a pair of grabs for 29 yards and a touchdown
- Xavier Jackson added three catches for 34 yards
- Ryan Green led the Bulldogs with 11 tackles
- Bryan Bordeaux added nine tackles
- Marquise Fleming piled up eight tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks
- Daniel Morrison added five stops, 1.5 TFLs and a sack
- Joseph Reddish had three tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass break-up
- Jake Snapp had 124 kickoff return yards
- Christian Teeter averaged 43.5 yards per punt on four punts, with a long of 50

FIRST QUARTER

- The Eagles got on the board first, with a Bennett Smith 37-yard field goal capping a seven-play, 55-yard drive
- Wingate went 43 yards on the ensuing drive, setting up a tying field goal
- The attempt was blocked, setting C-N up at midfield
- Carson-Newman took a 10-0 lead on Tre Luttrell's four-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Carroll
- The 'Dogs answered with a three-play, 74-yard touchdown drive
- Bentley hit McCray for 40 yards to start the drive, getting to the C-N 34
- Wallace scored from 22 yards out two plays later to get Wingate on the board
- The PAT was blocked and returned for two points, making it 12-6

SECOND QUARTER

- The Bulldogs used a four-play, 57-yard scoring drive to take the lead
- Bentley hit McCray for 44 yards to get it inside the C-N 10
- Wallace scored from nine yards out to put the 'Dogs on top 13-12
- An interception set the Eagles up at the WU 24-yard line
- Gavin Gosnell connected with Cade Meeks for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 18-13
- The Bulldogs had the answer, going 56 yards on eight plays to regain the lead
- Bentley hit Estronza for 15 yards and Cain for 10 yards to get it inside the C-N 30
- Bentley found Cain from 19 yards out to give WU a 20-18 halftime lead

THIRD QUARTER

- The Eagles took advantage of three separate 15-yard Wingate penalties to put together a scoring drive
- Smith's 38-yard field goal gave Carson-Newman a 21-20 advantage at the 8:18 mark
- After a Wingate three-and-out, the Eagles added to their lead with an eight-play, 56-yard TD drive
- Gosnell hit Carroll on third and 16 for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 28-20 with 2:09 to go

FOURTH QUARTER

- Wingate got the ball at its own 47 with 7:30 to go
- Wallace started the series with an 11-yard run, followed by Estronza's 27-yard catch
- Bentley hit Estronza again on the next play for a 15-yard TD strike
- Bentley connected with McCray for the two-point conversion, tying it at 28 with 6:18 remaining
- Sacks from Morrison and Fleming on the ensuing possession helped Wingate get the ball at midfield
- Back-to-back 10-yard runs from Braylon Ratcliff got it to the C-N 31
- The 'Dogs got it to the 25, but turned it over on downs with 2:14 to go
- Wingate stuffed the Eagles, forcing a punt from their own 29 with 1:13 to go
- The Grayson Campbell punt with 69 yards, going out at the Wingate two-yard line
- The Bulldogs ran out the clock, sending it to overtime

OVERTIME

- A sack on second down on Wingate's opening drive set up a third and 10
- Bentley couldn't' connect with Estronza, setting up a 42-yard field goal try
- The Mason Suber attempt was wide right
- Carson-Newman picked up seven yards on their three OT plays
- Smith ended it with a 34-yard field goal

UP NEXT

- Wingate returns home Saturday, hosting Mars Hill at 6 p.m. on Family Weekend