Tough first night: Wingate, Davidson, G-W come up short
The college football season got off to a rocky start Thursday for a trio of Charlotte-area teams, as Davidson, Gardner-Webb and nationally-ranked Wingate each dropped their season openers.
There were plenty of bright spots, and both Davidson and Wingate came up a touchdown short.
Davidson led early but faltered in the second half and lost 41-35 to visiting Concord (WV).
Wingate, ranked 23rd in the preseason Division 2 poll, was hurt by mistakes and dropped a 21-13 road decision to UNC Pembroke.
And Gardner-Webb stayed with host Austin Peay early but fell behind and dropped a 35-17 decision to the Governors, ranked 18th in the FCS poll.
Here are game summaries:
CONCORD 41, DAVIDSON 35
The Wildcats’ offense was roaring, but the defense allowed some big plays in this loss.
Concord scored on a 68-yard run by Dorn Collins and on a 53-yard pass from Collins to Devin Kargman.
Davidson, which outgained Concord 467-343 in total yardage, had battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit and tied the game 28-28 late in the first half. That score came on an 11-yard pass from Casey Bullock to Alani Ajigbotosho.
But on the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half, a Bullock pass was picked off by Concord’s Stanley Horn Jr. and returned 33 yards for a touchdown. The Mountain Lions then added a pair of field goals and led 41-28 early in the final period.
A 17-yard run by Bullock pulled Davidson to within 41-35 with seven minutes left, and the Wildcats threatened in the final minute. They drove to the Concord 22, but a fourth-and-4 pass fell incomplete.
Bullock completed 29-of-54 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 14 times for 99 yards.
UNC PEMBROKE 21, WINGATE 13
The Bulldogs’ offense, a big part of their push to the South Atlantic Conference title and NCAA playoffs a year ago, fell short Thursday night at Pembroke.
Wingate totaled only 145 yards on the ground, and quarterback Brooks Brien completed only 7-of-22 passes for 68 yards.
One of Brien’s passes was picked off by UNC Pembroke’s Myles Hudson and returned 22 yards for a touchdown in the game’s closing minutes. That gave the Braves their final points of the contest.
Wingate bolted to a 13-0 lead with a pair of second-quarter scores – a 13-yard pass from Brien to Aaron Griffin and a 1-yard run by Ethan Wallace.
Pembroke cut the deficit to 13-7 in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Josh Ehrlich and went ahead 14-13 with 7:53 left in the game on a 6-yard pass from Ehrlich to Jake Davids.
Wingate had a final drive after Hudson’s interception, taking over at its 28 with 1:30 left. But the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at their 43.
AUSTIN PEAY 35, GARDNER-WEBB 17
The Runnin’ Bulldogs were more like the Throwin’ Bulldogs on Thursday night, as they compiled 312 of their 344 yards in the air. Quarterback Cole Pennington completed 27-of-49 passes, including a touchdown.
That scoring toss, in the second quarter, put Gardner-Webb ahead 10-7 over the favored Governors. But Austin Peay scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and led 21-10 at halftime.
The Governors added two more scores in the third quarter, pulling away.
Pennington completed nine passes to Kory Jones, who had 102 receiving yards. But the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ defense was unable to slow Austin Peay, which totaled 475 offensive yards.
