Benedict stuns Wingate on last second play, 25-24

WINGATE, N.C. – In one of the wildest finishes in all of college football action on Saturday, the Benedict College Tigers stunned the Wingate Bulldogs on a last-second touchdown to take a 25-24 victory in the first round of the NCAA Division II championship, scoring 25 unanswered points for the first post-season victory in school history.

Statistically, the final play goes down as an 86-yard pass from Jackson Jensen to Malik Mullins. In reality, it was the type of play you draw up in the dirt in the backyard, and one of those desperation plays that rarely succeeds.

With fourth down and just three seconds left in the game, Jensen, the backup quarterback who engineered Benedict’s second-half comeback, threw a short pass to the left side to Charles “Tre” Simmons, last season’s quarterback turned wide receiver. Simmons advanced the ball until the Wingate defenders closed in, then threw a backwards lateral pass to Malik Mullins on the opposite side of the field. Mullins then had a clear path to the end zone, knocking a Bulldog player to the ground about 10 yards shy of the goal, and scoring the game-winning touchdown, sending the Benedict sideline into celebration, while the home Wingate sideline was left in complete shock.

Benedict, now 10-2 on the season, advances to face nemesis Albany State, the top seed in Super Region Two, next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Albany, Ga. Both of Benedict’s losses this season have been to Albany State, including a narrow 22-16 setback last week in the SIAC championship game.

Wingate, which ends its season at 9-3, jumped out to an early 17-0 lead in the first quarter, then scored on an interception return for a touchdown just 14 seconds into the second half for a 24-0 lead.

The Tigers began their comeback after Isaiah Isidore intercepted a Wingate pass and returned it 28 yards to the Wingate 27-yard line. From there, the Tigers drove to the 5-yard line, where Darius Ocean tossed a 5-yard pass to Malaqhi Jones for a touchdown, putting Benedict on the scoreboard and cutting the lead to 24-7 with 1:03 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs drove to the Benedict 5-yard line, but the Tigers came up with a pair of big defensive stops, and Wingate attempted a short 21-yard field goal. The kick was blocked, and Isidore scooped up the free ball and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. Benedict missed the PAT, making the score 24-13 with 10:05 left in the game.

Benedict started a drive with six minutes left in the game at midfield, and Triston Morgan put the Tigers in good position after a 27-yard run. An unsportsmanlike penalty on fourth down gave Benedict new life and a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line. Jensen then threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Simmons. Benedict attempted a two-point conversion, and the pass attempt failed, making it 24-19 with 3:36 left on the clock.

Wingate attempted to run out the clock, but the Benedict defense came up with another big stop on third-and-five with 25 seconds left in the game.

Benedict took over at its own 14-yard line after the punt and 19 seconds left in the game. After three incomplete passes, it was down to the final play on fourth down with three seconds left.

Jensen completed 11-of-29 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 33 yards. Morgan ran for 50 yards, while David Smith gained 44 yards. Mullins finished with four catches for 126 yards.

Defensively, Ty’Metrius Patterson recorded 10 tackles, while Isaiah Stephens had nine tackles and a forced fumble.