Wolves Hold Off Wingate for 25-22 Road Victory

WINGATE, N.C. — Newberry hit the road for the first time this season Saturday, traveling to Wingate for a South Atlantic Conference matchup with the Bulldogs. After rallying from 21 points down to defeat Wingate a season ago, the Wolves once again found themselves in a battle, using a dominant third quarter before holding on late for a 25-22 victory.

Both teams had opportunities to strike first in the opening quarter. After trading punts to begin the game, Wingate moved into Newberry territory before the Wolves’ defense forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 41-yard field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide right, giving Newberry good field position.

The Wolves responded with a promising drive of their own and eventually lined up for a 43-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked to keep the game scoreless. Wingate capitalized on the ensuing possession, needing just three plays to find the end zone and take a 7-0 lead with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Newberry threatened to answer early in the second, driving into the red zone before being stopped on fourth down. The Bulldogs’ possession didn’t last long, however, as Avery McFadden stepped in front of an errant pass on the third play of the drive and hauled in his first interception of the season.

The turnover gave the Wolves life, and Newberry drove to the Wingate 15-yard line before Jake Spadavecchia connected on a field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.

Newberry’s defense continued to apply pressure, forcing a turnover on downs on Wingate’s next possession. The Wolves turned the stop into points once again, with Spadavecchia knocking through his second field goal in as many drives to send Newberry into halftime trailing by just one, 7-6.

The Wolves emerged from the locker room firing on all cylinders.

Newberry received the second-half kickoff and marched into Wingate territory. From the Bulldogs’ 31-yard line, Mason Kidd dropped back and delivered a perfectly placed pass down the left sideline to De’Andre “Boogie” Coleman, who hauled it in for Newberry’s first touchdown of the afternoon and gave the Wolves their first lead.

The defense immediately provided another spark. On Wingate’s ensuing possession, Santory Jones read the quarterback’s eyes and jumped the pass for his second interception of the season, returning it to the Bulldogs’ 28-yard line.

Newberry wasted little time taking advantage. Facing third-and-three, Kidd found Keshon Washington wide open down the left sideline. Washington secured the pass inside the 10-yard line, broke multiple tackles and powered his way into the end zone to extend the Wolves’ advantage to 19-7.

The Kidd-to-Coleman connection struck again on Newberry’s next offensive possession. Coleman broke toward the middle of the field on a post route, and Kidd split the defenders with another perfectly placed pass for the score. The touchdown marked Kidd’s third of the quarter and Coleman’s second receiving touchdown of the game, pushing Newberry’s lead to 25-7.

Wingate answered with a touchdown in the closing minutes of the third quarter, cutting Newberry’s advantage to 25-15 heading into the final period.

Defense took over again in the fourth, with the Wolves and Bulldogs trading punts throughout much of the quarter. Wingate finally broke through with less than three minutes remaining, putting together a touchdown drive to trim Newberry’s lead to 25-22.

The Wolves were unable to convert on third down on their next possession, giving Wingate one final opportunity with 15 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs managed a pair of completions, but Newberry’s defense prevented them from getting into scoring position as time expired, securing the 25-22 road victory.

The win improves Newberry to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in South Atlantic Conference play.

The Wolves remain on the road next weekend, traveling to face Emory & Henry on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.