> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mayberrysports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Carson-Newman 24, Wingate 23: the long answer to the big play
- URL: https://www.mayberrysports.com/carson-newman-24-wingate-23-the-long-answer-to-the-big-play/
- Published: 2026-09-17T21:55:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-17T21:55:18.000Z
- Description: Carson-Newman’s one-point comeback: long scoring drives, decisive fourth downs and the contrast with Wingate’s explosive passing.
- Author: Rick Mayberry
- Tags: Football, #report, South Atlantic Conference, Wingate, Carson-Newman

[![Mayberry Sports Intelligence](https://www.mayberrysports.com/assets/brand/msi-horizontal-reversed.png)](https://www.mayberrysports.com/)

FOOTBALL · SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 · RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

## Executive brief

Wingate’s explosive passing built a 23–10 lead. Carson-Newman answered with two touchdown possessions and held the Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth quarter, winning 24–23 in Jefferson City. [\[2\]](#source-2)

Mayberry’s assessment: Wingate’s big plays created a lead, but Carson-Newman’s sustained possessions erased it. The comeback depended on extending drives when a single stop would have returned the ball to the Bulldogs.

## Official data — game profile

| Metric            | Wingate        | Carson-Newman |
| ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- |
| Final score       | 23             | 24            |
| Quarter scoring   | 0 / 16 / 7 / 0 | 7 / 3 / 7 / 7 |
| Total yards       | 297            | 280           |
| Offensive plays   | 49             | 59            |
| Yards per play    | 6.1            | 4.7           |
| Net rushing yards | 19             | 231           |
| Passing yards     | 278            | 49            |
| Third downs       | 3/11           | 4/14          |
| Fourth downs      | 1/2            | 3/4           |
| Turnovers lost    | 1              | 1             |

Full-game official totals. [\[1\]](#source-1)

## Decisive possessions

Brooks Brien found Kayden Bash for a 76-yard touchdown before halftime, then Jason Willis for a 53-yard score in the third quarter. Wingate led 23–10\. [\[2\]](#source-2) Jaden Jones’ three-yard touchdown at 1:50 in the third cut the deficit to six after the extra point. Eli Graf scored from three yards with 1:45 left in the fourth; Bennett Smith’s kick made it 24–23\. [\[1\]](#source-1) Wingate’s next possession ended in an interception; its final opportunity expired after a completion. [\[2\]](#source-2)

The winning drive survived fourth-and-one through Graf and fourth-and-three through Joshua Adams. Its official line: 15 plays, 66 yards, 7:49\. Those conversions mattered because each prevented Wingate from regaining possession with its lead intact. [\[1\]](#source-1)

## Player impact

Brien produced 278 passing yards and two touchdowns. Bash caught three passes for 104 yards. Paul Thompson made 13 tackles; Tyson Brown added 12 and recovered a fumble. These contributions kept Wingate competitive, even as the result turned against it. [\[2\]](#source-2)

Don Bradley led Carson-Newman with 65 rushing yards; Graf added 60\. Caleb Benton supplied the late interception, while Jaxson Hickson recorded three tackles for loss, including a sack. [\[1\]](#source-1) The Eagles’ comeback therefore required contributions on both sides: extending their own possessions and disrupting Wingate’s response.

## Mayberry’s take

Wingate’s next review should connect its explosive-play plan to an answer for difficult down-and-distance situations. A spectacular gain creates an advantage; a repeatable method of extending possessions helps preserve it. Carson-Newman should study how to sustain that persistence without repeatedly needing a fourth-down rescue. Neither question can be answered from the score alone.

## Conference context and outlook

Carson-Newman emerged 3–0 overall and 1–0 in the SAC; Wingate stood 1–2 and 0–1, with Newberry next. [\[2\]](#source-2) This result creates an early conference advantage, not a reliable championship forecast. Broader comparisons require more games and opponent context.

## Source note

Recap timing and drive counts differ from the official chart. Possession totals also exceed 60 minutes by five seconds; they are omitted. Drive details above follow the official chart. This is a retrospective, not a live halftime report.

## Sources

[\[1\] Wingate Athletics: official statistics and play-by-play](https://wingatebulldogs.com/sports/football/stats/2026/carson-newman/boxscore/11943?ref=mayberrysports.com)

[\[2\] Wingate Athletics: game recap](https://wingatebulldogs.com/news/2026/9/12/football-late-touchdown-gives-carson-newman-24-23-victory-over-bulldogs.aspx?ref=mayberrysports.com)