Haffy leads Wingate to victory over Brevard

Steven Grandy
Sports Editor

Facing one of the top defenses in the South Atlantic Conference, the Wingate football team relied on the right arm of sophomore quarterback Cody Haffly to lead them to a 28-12 victory over the previously unbeaten Brevard Tornados.

After forcing a Brevard three and out, Haffly found wide receiver Philip Thomas on the first play from scrimmage for a 69 yard touchdown pass. Thomas was wide open, as there was not a single Brevard player within five yards of him. RP Lopez converted on the first of four extra points to give Wingate a 7-0 lead with 11:27 to play in the first quarter. “The touchdown pass to (Thomas) was a designed play we had been working on all week” said Haffly. “We felt like they were very aggressive on defense and that we could use that against them.”

The Bulldogs would score another touchdown on their second drive. Following another Brevard three and out, Wingate would begin the drive on their own 42. The Bulldogs would gain three first downs on Haffly passes and would finish off the drive with a two yard rushing touchdown by Vince Jordan with 6:55 left in the quarter. Wingate would take a 14-0 lead into halftime, as neither team scored in the second quarter.

On the opening drive of the second half Haffly and the Bulldog offense marched 57 yards to give Wingate its largest lead of the game, 21-0. This time, wide receiver Delric Ellington was the recipient of the Haffly pass, concluding an 11 play drive.
Brevard would answer the Bulldogs on their next drive. The Tornados went on a 15 play drive, capped off by a Shaton Pratt four yard touchdown, to on the scoreboard with 3:20 to play in the third quarter. Tornado placekicker Chase Henry would miss the extra point. All 15 plays on the Brevard drive were running plays, helping the Tornados accumulate 238 net rushing yards on the afternoon.

With less than a minute to play in the third quarter, Wingate defensive lineman Mico Drew would recover a fumble by Brevard quarterback Michael Crumbaker on the Brevard 20 yard line. The Bulldogs would score two plays later as Haffly found wide receiver Chris Bowden to give Wingate a 28-6 lead with 15 seconds to play in the quarter. Bowden led the Bulldog offense with four receptions.

After four three and outs by both teams, Brevard would find paydirt once again as Crumbaker completed an eight yard touchdown pass to Eric Watts with 4:10 remaining. The Tornados were unable to make the two point conversion and would not see the ball again until 54 seconds remained to be played. Wingate outgained Brevard in total yards by a 364-268 margin but also committed 12 penalties for 103 yards.

Wingate will play at Lenior-Rhyne Saturday Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. and will return home to face Newberry for the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 17.