Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Carson-Newman University Eagles scored with just under two minutes remaining Saturday afternoon, rallying for a 24-23 victory over visiting Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference football action. The Eagles move to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 278 passing yards and 19 rushing yards for 297 yards of offense
- Carson-Newman ran for 231 yards and threw for 49 yards, good for 280 total yards
- The 'Dogs held a 13-12 edge in first downs
- Each team had one turnover
- The Eagles held the ball for over 34 minutes
- C-N was four-for-14 on third down and three-for-four on fourth down
- Wingate went three-for-11 on third down and 1-for-two on fourth down
- The Eagles had all three sacks in the contest
KEY BULLDOGS
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Brooks Brien went 13-for-23 for 278 yards and two touchdowns
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Kayden Bash had three receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown
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Jason Willis ran for 30 yards, adding a 53-yard TD reception
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Jayshawn Appling added seven rushing yards and a score
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Xavier Jackson had two receptions for 56 yards
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Aaron Griffin added two grabs for 21 yards
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Paul Thompson piled up 13 tackles
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Tyson Brown had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery
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Ephraim Wright and
GW Clemmer added eight tackles apiece
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Tory Kelly and
Jaden White had six tackles each
FIRST QUARTER
- The Eagles started the scoring at the 6:22 mark
- Eli Graf connected with Jacob Dalton for a 44-yard touchdown to give C-N a 7-0 lead
- Wingate forced a three-and-out late in the quarter and took over at midfield
- Brien connected with Bash for 17 yards on the final play of the quarter
SECOND QUARTER
- Brien hit
Jesse Clinesmith for nine yards on fourth-and-six to get the Bulldogs in the red zone
- Brien found
Danny Gilliard on the next play for eight yards
- Appling ran it in from 12 yards out to make it 7-6
- The Eagles fumbled on the first play of the ensuing drive, with Brown recovering at the C-N 21
- Gunnar Hilsinger connected on a 24-yard field goal to put the 'Dogs on top 9-7
- Bennet Smith answered with a 39-yard field goal, giving the Eagles a 10-9 cushion at the 4:24 mark
- Brien hit Bash on third-and-11 for a 76-yard touchdown to give Wingate the 16-10 advantage
THIRD QUARTER
- Wingate forced a three-and-out to start the second half, then took over at its own 10 yard line
- Brien hit Jackson for a 42-yard reception to move it into Carson-Newman territory
- Brien then found Willis, who took it 53 yards to the house, giving the 'Dogs a 23-10 lead
- C-N answered with a 15-play scoring drive, converting three third downs and a fourth down
- Jaden Jones punched it in from three yards out to make it 23-17 with 1:52 to go
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Eagles went on another 15-play scoring drive taking over eight minutes
- Graf punched it in from three yards out, giving C-N a 24-23 edge with 1:45 remaining
- Brien was picked on third-and-19 on the ensuing drive, giving the Eagles the ball at the WU 28 with 57 seconds left
- The Bulldogs got it back with 27 seconds left at their own 19
- Brien connected with
Zymill Patterson for 21 yards, but Wingate could not get another play off
UP NEXT
- Wingate plays its first home game next Saturday
- The Bulldogs host defending SAC champion Newberry at 6 p.m. at Irwin Belk Stadium
