Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored with 19 seconds left in regulation to force overtime Saturday afternoon, then after scoring on their first possession, stuffed Lenoir-Rhyne on a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt to win a thrilling 38-37 contest at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. Wingate wins its fourth straight, moving to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SAC, while the Bears fall to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in league play. The 'Dogs have now won four straight over the Bears.

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 350 passing yards and 157 rushing yards for 507 yards of offense
- LR had 319 passing yards and 134 rushing yards for 453 total yards
- The Bulldogs had a 25-23 edge in first downs
- The Bears were nine-of-14 on third down; the Bulldogs were seven-for-13
- Wingate scored on four of five red zone trips; Lenoir-Rhyne scored on two of four trips
- The 'Dogs had three of the four turnovers in the contest

KEY BULLDOGS

- Elijah Holmes was 23-for-36 for 350 yards and four touchdowns, adding 50 rushing yards
- Jaylen Himes had eight catches for 134 yards and two TDs
- Xavier Jackson had five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown
- Xavier Pugh added 74 rushing yards and a score to go along with three catches for 42 yards
- Carlos Estronza had six receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown
- Jaquan Edwards had 10 tackles with a tackle for loss and QB hurry
- Anthony Dangerfield and Tory Kelly added nine and eight tackles, respectively
- Chris Harris had five tackles, two TFLs, a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery
- Jonathen Cross added six tackles with a tackle for loss, half a sack and a break-up
- David Squires contributed seven tackles with half a sack
- Caleb Bonesteel made all five PATs and his lone field goal attempt
- Lawson Thorn had four touchbacks on his six kickoffs
- Christian Teeter averaged 38 yards per punt on two punts
- Jake Snapp collected 82 kick return yards

FIRST QUARTER

- LR went 75 yards on eight plays on the opening drive
- Khamoni Robinson hit Songa Yates for a 47-yard TD to give the Bears an early 7-0 lead
- Wingate answered with a 12-play, 65-yard drive to get on the board
- Holmes hit Himes for 23 yards to get it to midfield
- Holmes hit Pugh for 12 yards and Estronza for 10 yards to get inside the red zone
- Bonesteel drilled a 24-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with five minutes left
- The Bears answered with another 75-yard scoring drive
- Robinson connected with Yates for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 at the 2:48 mark

SECOND QUARTER

- LR was looking to add to its lead early in the second, driving inside the five
- The Bears went for it on fourth and goal from the two, but could not convert, turning it over on downs
- An interception on the ensuing drove set Lenoir-Rhyne up on its own 35
- Robinson capped a 65-yard scoring drive with a seven-yard run to give LR a 21-3 lead at the 1:45 mark
- Wingate answered with a 65-yard TD drive to cut into the lead
- Holmes hit Himes for 53 yards on the first play of the drive, getting the 'Dogs inside the 15
- Holmes connected with Himes for a nine-yard touchdown, making it 21-10 with 1:19 to go
- LR was able to drive it 49 yards inside the WU 30
- Brayden Cresimore nailed a 44-yard field goal to give the Bears a 24-10 halftime lead

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate turned it over on downs at midfield to start the second half
- The 'Dogs then stuffed the Bears, forcing a punt that went just five yards
- The Bulldogs took over at their own 40 and went 60 yards in six plays
- Holmes found Jackson on third-and-three from 35 yards out to make it a seven-point game
- Wingate then forced a three-and-out and took over at its own 36
- A six-play, 64-yard drive tied ended with a game-tying touchdown
- Holmes started the drive by hooking up with Jackson for 19 yards
- A Pugh eight-yard run and Holmes 11-yard run got the 'Dogs in the red zone
- Holmes found Himes for an 18-yard touchdown, tying it at 24 with 4:05 left
- A Harris sack, force fumble and fumble recovery set Wingate up on the LR 33

FOURTH QUARTER

- Holmes was intercepted on third and five from the 15
- John Royal had the pick and took it back 52 yards, setting LR up at the WU 28
- Alex Boyd ran it in from five yards out to put Lenoir-Rhyne on top 31-24 with 10:58 to go
- The Bears halted the ensuing WU drive with an interception, taking over at the LR 41
- Wingate forced a punt, taking over at the 15
- The Bulldogs also had to punt, giving it back to the Bears at their own 29 with 3:53 remaining
- The 'Dogs forced a three-and-out, getting it back at their own 26 with 1:53 to go
- Holmes started the drive by finding Pugh for 26 yards, getting into LR territory
- Holmes added a nine-yard run
- Holmes then found Jackson for a 26-yard completion, getting the 'Dogs in the red zone
- Another connection with Jackson got Wingate inside the 10 with 30 seconds left
- Holmes hit Estronza from nine yards out, tying it at 31 with 19 seconds left

OVERTIME

- Wingate got the ball first
- A Pugh five-yard run and Himes 10-yard reception got the 'Dogs to the 10
- Pugh scored from 10 yards out to put the 'Dogs on top 38-31
- LR had the answer, with Robinson scoring from six yards out on first and goal to make it 38-37
- The Bears decided to go for the win
- Robinson dropped back to pass, but Elijah Barnes was there, sacking Robinson and knocking the ball out, which Tyson Brown scooped up, clinching the Wingate victory

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Tusculum for a 2 p.m. start