WINGATE, N.C. – Newberry erased a 21-0 deficit to take a third quarter lead, but No. 18 Wingate scored 11 unanswered points over the final 15:06 to stymie the Wolves’ upset bid by a 35-28 score on a cold Saturday night in North Carolina.
The Wolves (4-6, 3-4 South Atlantic Conference) racked up 437 yards of total offense, its second-highest total of the season and 143 more yards than Wingate’s (9-1, 6-1 SAC) 26th-ranked defense has allowed per game this season.
Sophomore wide receiver Deshun Kitchings had 178 yards on just six catches, placing him in a tie for eighth in the Newberry record book for receiving yards in a single game, while Colton Bailey became the first Newberry quarterback in over three years to throw for 300 yards in a game with a career-best 301.
The Bulldogs struck early and often, racking up a three-touchdown lead by marching 60, 72, and 83 yards on their first three possessions while limiting the Wolves to a missed field goal and a pair of punts.
Things looked grim for the Wolves when they took over at their own 44 with 9:18 to play in the second quarter, but Bailey found Kitchings for a 46-yard gain inside the red zone. Four plays later, Bailey snuck across the goal line from a yard out to put the Wolves on the board.
Jared Hagood’s first career interception two plays later set the Wolves up at their own 46 and sparked a methodical, 12-play drive that covered 54 yards. Bailey found Bobby Irby in the end zone on fourth and goal from the two-yard line to trim the deficit to a touchdown.
Although Wingate managed to tack on a field goal as the half expired, Newberry needed just three plays to find the end zone again, this time on a 64-yard pass to Kitchings that drew the Wolves within three points.
Newberry’s defense allowed Wingate to penetrate as far as the Wolves’ 28, but stiffened and forced a punt that was downed at the three-yard line. Newberry lost yardage to the one, but netted 27 yards on a pass to Irby and a face-mask penalty, then struck for 47 yards to Kitchings on the next play.
Moments later, Tylik Johnson’s 10-yard rush on a reverse put the Wolves in front for the first time in the contest with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter. Wingate’s defense, however, forced four straight punts and a fumble on Newberry’s last five offensive possession prior to the final 30 seconds. The Bulldogs netted a 47-yard field goal near the end of the quarter and struck for the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with 12:20 remaining.
Newberry was able to reach the Wingate 30 in the final three minutes as the Wolves sought the tying score, but two sacks and a pair of incompletions caused the drive to stall.
Nick Yearwood paced the Newberry defense with a career-high 12 tackles and 1.5 stops behind the line. Anthony Blue and Marcus Chestnut added 10 tackles each, while Drew Sprouse provided the Wolves’ only sack of the contest.
Wingate’s comeback kept Newberry from notching its first win over a ranked opponent since a 46-21 undressing of then-No. 24 Carson-Newman in 2014 and its first ranked win on the road since 2011.
Newberry concludes the 2019 season next Saturday at Setzler Field when the Wolves host conference foe Limestone. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. following Senior Day festivities.