Hood’s TD grab gives Wingate a thrilling 31-28 victory over UNC Pembroke

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jay Hood scored the winning touchdown with 1:34 remaining on the clock, lifting the Bulldogs to a foggy 31-28 NCAA Division II football victory over UNC Pembroke at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field Saturday. Bulldog senior running back Lawrence Pittman rushed 26 times for 165 yards and one TD for Wingate.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Wingate 31, UNC Pembroke 28

Records: Wingate (5-0 overall), UNC Pembroke (1-5 overall)

Location: Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field, Wingate, N.C.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

-Wingate sophomore quarterback James Whitaker completed 15-of-24 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. He utilized eight different receivers Saturday night.

-Redshirt sophomore BJ Muckelvene caught three passes, while Hood and redshirt senior tight end and team captain Jake Jensen caught two passes each for three scores (Hood 2, Jensen 1).

-Wingate redshirt sophomore linebacker Robbie Wallace had a game-high 15 tackles (six solo) with two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry, while redshirt freshman cornerback Matthew Ellis-White had an interception and a huge pass break-up in the fourth quarter.

-Bulldog redshirt junior punter Christopher Birozes had one punt downed at the one-yard line and a 50-yard boot downed at the five-yard line Saturday.

-UNC Pembroke redshirt freshman quarterback Dominick Samson had a huge night, completing 19-of-30 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns.

-UNCP redshirt senior wide receiver JoJo Spann matched Hood with two touchdown grabs. Spann caught eight passes for 144 yards. Classmate E.J. Williams also had two TD receptions for the Braves.

-Both teams had a bad snap on a punt attempt. The Bulldogs had 10 tackles for loss. Three UNCP players had one QB sack each. Wingate had 10 penalties for 104 yards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter

Wingate started the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown catch by Jay Hood delivered by James Whitaker. UNC Pembroke closed out the quarter with a 25-yard run by Josh Sheridan, but the Braves could not capitalize. 

Second Quarter

Jake Jensen caught a dart from James Whitaker and ran 48 yards, setting up Lawrence Pittman to tumble into the end zone from two yards out, making the score 14-0 Wingate. UNCP returned the favor when Dominick Samson threw complete to JoJo Spann for a 50-yard TD. Samson threw a jump ball to E.J. Williams for a 12-yard TD which tied the game at 14. Freddy McCollum tacked on a 39-yard field goal to give the hosts a 17-14 lead at intermission.  

Third Quarter

Dominick Samson started out the second half scoring with a pass to E.J. Williams for 25 yards and a TD, as the Braves took advantage of a Bulldog fumble. Jake Jensen was on the receiving end of James Whitaker's 26-yard TD strike. The quarter ended with Wingate up 24-21.

Fourth Quarter

Matthew Ellis-White notched an interception early in the fourth frame, but Wingate could not take advantage. Dominick Samson hit JoJo Spann with a 42-yard TD pass, allowing the visitors to regain the lead 28-24. James Whitaker led Wingate on a methodical seven-play, 65-yard drive. Jay Hood capped the march with his 14-yard TD reception from Whitaker. Samson and the Braves moved the ball to the Wingate 40-yard line, but Ellis-White broke up a pass intended for Spann with three seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Bulldogs.

TURNING POINTS

Jay Hood's second touchdown reception ignited the Wingate crowd and gave the Bulldogs the come-from-behind victory. Matthew Ellis-White batted away a pass intended for Spann on fourth-and-10 from the Wingate 40-yard line.

NOTABLES

-The entire second half was played in a dense fog. Hood's game-winning touchdown pass came in the darkest corner of the field.

-Wingate leads the young series between the two teams 6-3. The Bulldogs and the Braves were playing for the first time since 2014.

QUOTABLES

Wingate head coach Joe Reich: "Tonight was a good test for us. We had some self-imposed adversity and overcame it. This will be a great learning experience for us."

UP NEXT

Wingate will hit the road for its next two SAC contests, starting with a trip to Catawba Saturday at 1:30 p.m. UNC Pembroke has a bye week, followed by a trip to Concord (W.Va.) for a 12 noon contest on Saturday, Oct. 21.