Wingate gets defensive, wins 12th straight season opener

PEMBROKE – The Rashaan Jordan coaching era began for Wingate much the same way the Joe Reich era ended, with the Bulldogs flexing their defensive chops in a hard-fought victory.

Wingate twice turned away UNC Pembroke drives deep in its territory in the fourth quarter Saturday and held off the Braves 17-12 in a battle of two of the top D2 teams in our state.

Wingate won its season opener for an amazing 12th time in a row and gave their new head man a game ball in his debut. Jordan had been the Bulldogs defensive coordinator for several seasons but stepped into the head coaching role when Reich moved to an administrative post.

Jordan’s first game as head coach didn’t exactly get off to a great start. Wingate turned the ball over on its first two possessions, and UNC Pembroke turned the first miscue into points. Colin Johnson completed a 8-yard TD pass to Jaylen Smith for a 6-0 advantage with less than three minutes gone.

Wingate blocked the extra point and stiffened after the Braves’ second takeaway, foreshadowing its late-game stinginess. The Bulldogs responded with a 12-play, 70-yard drive to take the lead, 7-6. Corey Siemer finished the march with a 13-yard, dive-into-the-end zone bullish run.

The ‘Dogs never trailed again, blocking a field goal attempt in the second quarter. The teams traded touchdowns in the third period — Wingate’s Evan McCray caught a 2-yard scoring strike from Brooks Bentley, while Johnson found the end zone for the Braves on an 11-yard run.

A Caleb Bonesteel 29-yard field goal provided the final points for WIngate. The defense did the rest, with some help from a ball-control running game which took five minutes off the fourth-quarter clock.

Other notables from the game:

• UNC Pembroke misfired on all three fourth-down attempts.
• Brooks Bentley finished 21-for-29 passing for 208 yards. He also rushed for 23 yards. He left the game briefly in the second half after taking a hit on a scramble but returned.
• Noah Bell took over for Bentley after the injury with a drive in progress. He ran twice to the Braves’ 2, then completed the short TD pass to McCray. It was his only pass attempt of the game.
• Joseph Reddish also intercepted a pass for Wingate and earned five tackles.
• Dontorian Best made six tackles for the Bulldogs, with a pass break-up
• Wingate had eight different players catch passes, with Carlos Estronza making five grabs.
• Johnson completed 15-of-26 passes for 206 yards. He also rushed for 70 yards and a score, leading the Braves on the ground.
• Josh Jenkins and Jaquan Albright each had finished with 66 yards in receptions for UNCP. One of Jenkins’ catches covered 43 yards.
• Malik McKinzie and Mike Matthews led the Braves with eight tackles each. Matthews also forced a fumble. Jamae Blank, Evan Powell and Justin Foreman each had seven stops.
• Darius Edmundson returned an interception 54 yards for UNC Pembroke.