Two of the top Division II football teams in the state will collide Saturday night when Wingate visits UNC Pembroke in the season opener for each school. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. at Grace Johnson Stadium.
Both Wingate and UNCP finished last season on a four-game winning streak, playing with the fervor of playoff teams though neither made the field. Both were picked second in their respective D2 conferences heading into this season.
Wingate has posted seven consecutive seasons with at least eight wins, including a program-record 11-win season in 2022. However, this year brings a new era with Rashaan Jordan stepping in as head coach after 18 years as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator. Jordan, who replaces Joe Reich, says the transition has been smooth, focusing on long-term planning while maintaining the structure that has brought Wingate so much success in recent years.
“The biggest difference is the planning, the administration duties, some of that off-the-field stuff,” Jordan said in a Wingate release. “As far as when it comes to going out and coaching the team, we’re keeping the structure and the same feel as the last two decades.”
On the other side, UNC Pembroke finished last season with a 7-3 record and returns a strong core of players.
Head coach Mark Hall is optimistic but cautious, emphasizing the need for the 2024 team to carve out its own identity despite last year’s strong finish.
“We have a lot of really good players coming back, a lot of upperclassmen,” Hall said. “This year’s team has to find its own identity. We’re going to have to gel fast. But I think the foundation is set. We’re looking forward to competing.”
One of the most anticipated match-ups will be Wingate’s defensive unit, one of the stingiest in D2 last season, against UNCP’s explosive offense, which scored 223 points over the last four contests a year ago.
Key Players to Watch:
Wingate Bulldogs:
- Brooks Bentley (QB): The reigning SAC Freshman of the Year, Bentley threw for 1,834 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, completing 66 percent of his passes.
- Marquise Fleming (DL): A consensus first-team All-American, Fleming led the nation in sacks last year and was named SAC and Region Defensive Player of the Year.
- Porfirio Acosta (C): A leader on the offensive line, Acosta is a preseason All-SAC honoree. He will be crucial in protecting Bentley and opening up running lanes.
- Dontorian Best (LB): A 2023 all-conference player, who was second on the team a year ago with 61 tackles and four tackles-for-loss.
UNC Pembroke Braves:
- Colin Johnson (QB): Johnson was a second-team all-conference selection last year, throwing for 1,885 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 760 yards. His dual-threat ability makes him a difficult matchup for defenses.
- Sincere Baines (RB): The Mountain East Offensive Freshman MVP, Baines rushed for 797 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He set a school record with five rushing touchdowns in the season finale.
- Jamae Blank (DL): Blank was the Mountain East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, recording 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. He’s a disruptive force on the defensive line.
- Chris Russell (OL): A first-team all-conference player in 2023, Russell is a key part of an offensive line that helped UNC Pembroke average more than 40 points per game last season. His performance will be pivotal in keeping the Braves’ offense rolling.
