WINGATE, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (2-2, 1-1 SAC) made history for a second week in a row Saturday, earning its first South Atlantic Conference win, 17-10, over Wingate University (3-1, 1-1 SAC). It was the second-straight week that the Wasps have taken a game past 60 minutes and marks the team's first overtime win since 1997 when they won over Ferrum College, 13-10, in a four-overtime thriller.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 17, Wingate 10 - OT
LOCATION – Wingate, North Carolina
VENUE – Irwin Belk Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-2, 1-1 SAC); Wingate (3-1, 1-1 SAC)
How It Happened
The Bulldogs opened up a 3-0 lead at the 4:36 mark of the opening quarter as their drive stalled inside the five yardline and Ethan Evans converted a 21-yard field goal.
Emory & Henry tied things up on the second play of the second quarter when freshman kicker Trace Butcher (Dacula, Ga.) converted a 44-yard field goal. After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, the Wasps special teams came through big as fifth-year defensive back Jaylyn Kreimes (Sharps, Va.) blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown and a 10-3 advantage.
Both defenses locked in for the remainder of the half as the squads traded punts. WU drove into the red zone with time ticking down but Evan's 34-yard attempt caromed off the right upright and the score held 10-3 in E&H's favor at the intermission.
Wingate's second possession of the third quarter saw them go down the field 75 yards in seven plays highlighted by a pair of Shaw Crocker passes to Myles Dillon for 25 yards and Ra'Quan Simmons for 21 yards. Crocker tied things up with a one-yard plunge with 8:47 on the clock.
After trading punts, E&H threw an interception deep in its own territory but was bailed out by an illegal block penalty on the Bulldogs. WU was unable to get its offense going and Evans missed a second field goal on the evening, this time wide left from 44 yards out.
The fourth quarter was much like the majority of the third with the teams trading possessions as the regulation clock elapsed and overtime was in order for the Wasps for a second week in a row.
Emory & Henry struck immediately in the extra period as junior quarterback Kyle Short (Lebanon, Ohio) hit junior wide receiver Tmahdae Penn (Martinsville, Va.) with a 25-yard pass for a touchdown. Butcher's extra point was good to make it a 17-10 contest.
On Wingate's possession, a pair of rushes for no gain set up third-and-10. Crocker found Kalen Clark for just two yards leaving a fourth-and-eight with the game on the line. Kreimes came up big again for E&H, this time on defense, breaking up Crocker's pass to end the game, 17-10.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Short was 13-for-28 through the air for 146 yards and one touchdown despite a pair of interceptions. He hit five different receivers on the day with Penn leading the way with three catches for 65 yards and a score. Junior Jermawn Ford (District Heights, Md.) caught four balls for 45 yards while fifth-year Kashawn Cosey (Chattanooga, Tenn.) had four receptions for 26 yards.
Freshman running back Justin Hill (Dallas, N.C.) paced the Wasps' ground game with 57 yards on 23 carries.
Sophomore linebacker A.J. Burgess (Roxboro, N.C.) posted game-high 12 tackles and added a quarterback hurry while fifth-year linebacker Ivan Phillips (Kingsport, Tenn.) went for 10 stops and a hurry. Junior defensive back Addison Knicely (Mount Crawford, Va.) notched nine tackles while junior defensive lineman Logan Tomlinson (Duffield, Va.) had four stops and three quarterback hurries.
Senior punter Ethan Muncy (Bluff City, Tenn.) helped E&H with the field position battle as his 10 punts averaged 45.2 yards each.
Wingate Individual Leaders
Crocker was just 10-for-33 for 146 yards with no touchdowns and one interception but posted 18 rushing yards and the Bulldogs' lone touchdown of the game. O'Brien Barnett and Clark each ran the ball nine times with Barnett gaining 28 yards and Clark 24.
Kamal Desor led the Wingate receivers with four catches for 75 yards while Simmons hauled in three passes for 42 yards.
A Deeper Look
Emory & Henry gained just 194 yards of offense with 11 first downs on the evening compared to 228 yards of offense and 13 first downs for Wingate. The Wasps again commanded time of possession, holding the ball for 32:47.
The turnover battle went the way of the Bulldogs, 2-1, as the Wasps threw a pair of interceptions to WU's one.
E&H was just 2-for-16 (13%) on third down, but Wingate didn't fare much better, converting just 17 percent (3-of-18) on third down and fell short on both of their fourth-down attempts.
The squads combined for 21 punts on the evening with both special teams coming away with a block.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will return home next Saturday for a Homecoming matchup against Catawba College.
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