Wingate, N.C.----The Carson-Newman University Eagles knocked off #19 Wingate University 21-14 in South Atlantic Conference football action Saturday night at Irwin Belk Stadium and Founders Field. The wet, rainy contest lasted over four hours, featuring two lengthy lightning delays. The Eagles move to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Carson-Newman had 215 rushing yards and 33 passing yards for 248 total yards
- Wingate had 148 passing yards and 93 rushing yards, accumulating 241 total yards
- The Eagles held a 14-12 advantage in first downs
- Wingate had the lone turnover on the night
- Carson-Newman fumbled it six times, but recovered all six fumbles
- The Eagles held the ball for over 37 minutes
- C-N was four-for-15 on third down; Wingate went five-for-13
- Carson-Newman was one-for-one on fourth down conversions
- The Eagles scored on all three red zone trips; the 'Dogs scored on their lone trip

KEY BULLDOGS

- Elijah Holmes threw for 148 yards and a touchdown, adding 51 rushing yards and a score
- Jaylen Himes had seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown
- Xavier Pugh had 59 yards on 13 carries
- Ryan Green piled up 15 tackles, with 2.5 tackles for loss
- Mandjou Berte had 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles
- Guy Taylor contributed seven tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble
- Diego Aviles added seven stops and a TFL
- Omar Ba had six tackles with a tackle for loss
- Jaden James and Jasiah Hill each added a tackle for loss on the night
- Christian Teeter averaged 41.3 yards per punt on seven punts with a long of 62 and three inside the 20
- Kayden Bash had 98 yards on four kickoff returns

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate stopped C-N on its opening drive, forcing a punt and taking over at the 11
- The Eagles picked off Holmes on Wingate's first offensive play of the night
- Carson-Newman went 47 yards on 10 plays to start the scoring
- Zane Whitson's two-yard rushing TD made it 7-0 at the 4:10 mark
- That was followed by the first weather delay of the evening
 
SECOND QUARTER

- The second weather delay of the evening started a minute into the second quarter
- It lasted nearly an hour, with the two teams returning to action in a driving rain storm
- Neither team was able to generate much offense throughout the quarter
- Carson-Newman had the best chance, going 28 yards on a 10-play drive to get it to the WU 28
- That drive ended when Bennett Smith missed a 45-yard field goal
- The teams traded punts throughout the rest of the frame

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate went 74 yards on seven plays on the opening drive of the second half
- Holmes hit Himes for a 10-yard reception, then followed with an 11-yard run
- Holmes the scored on a 52-yard rushing TD to make it 7-7 with 12:14 to go
- After more punting, the Eagles took over at the WU 49 with eight minutes left in the quarter
- C-N advanced it 27 yards on seven plays, setting up Smith for a 39-yard field goal
- He converted the kick to give the Eagles a 10-7 lead

FOURTH QUARTER

- The Eagles opened the fourth quarter by adding to their lead
- Their drive stalled at the WU 35, but Smith drilled a 52-yard field goal to make it 13-7
- Wingate punted on its next drive, with Teeter's punt pinning the Eagles inside the 10
- Green started the drive with a big TFL near the goal line, leading to a second and 17 from the one
- C-N was forced to punt from the end zone, with Wingate taking over at the Eagle 39-yard line
- Holmes hit Himes for 15 yards to get it to the Carson-Newman 23
- A penalty and pair of incompletions led to the 'Dogs attempting a long field goal
- Caleb Bonesteel's 45-yarder sailed right, leaving the Eagles on top by six with 4:37 left
- Wingate got Carson-Newman to a fourth down on the ensuing drive
- The Eagles went for it on fourth and one from their own 37 yard line
- Jayden Sullins broke free for a 60-yard run, getting it inside the WU five
- Mario Sanchez punched it in from three yards out to make it 19-7
- Sanchez was able to find the end zone on the two-point conversion, making it 21-7 at the 1:50 mark
- Wingate answered with a nine-play, 80-yard TD drive
- Holmes hit Carlos Estronza for 15 yards, then found Himes for 34 yards down to the C-N 28
- Holmes connected with Xavier Jackson for 16 yards to get it inside the red zone
- Holmes then found Himes in the back corner of the end zone to make it a seven-point game
- The 'Dogs lined up for an onside kick with 20 seconds remaining
- Cade Meeks was able to recover the onside kick, clinching the Carson-Newman victory

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Newberry for a 7 p.m. start