Carson-Newman 24, Wingate 23: the long answer to the big play
Carson-Newman’s one-point comeback: long scoring drives, decisive fourth downs and the contrast with Wingate’s explosive passing.
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]
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]
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] 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] Wingate’s next possession ended in an interception; its final opportunity expired after a completion. [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]
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]
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] 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] 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.