In one of the most dramatic finishes of the NCAA Division II postseason, Benedict College erased a 24-0 deficit and defeated Wingate 25–24 on a stunning 86-yard trick play touchdown as time expired, winning the first-ever playoff game in school history on Saturday. Benedict was one of five HBCU programs in this year’s NCAA D-II field, the most in history.
The Tigers, stagnant for nearly three quarters, exploded late behind backup quarterback Jackson Jensen, who engineered one of the greatest comebacks in Benedict history—and one of the season’s most shocking finishes anywhere in college football.
Wingate Controls the First Half
Wingate dominated the opening 30 minutes. Quarterback Elijah Holmes struck early and often, connecting twice with receiver Jaylen Himes, who turned short completions into touchdowns of 25 and 34 yards. Kicker Caleb Bonesteel added a late field goal, sending the Bulldogs into halftime with a commanding 17–0 lead.
They pushed the margin even further seconds into the third quarter when Omar Ba jumped a route and returned an interception 17 yards for a defensive touchdown. At 24–0, Wingate appeared firmly in control.
Benedict Begins the Climb Back
Benedict finally found life late in the third. Quarterback Darius Ocean, an HBCU transfer from Johnson C. Smith, connected with Malaqhi Jones on a five-yard catch-and-run to get the Tigers on the board with 1:03 remaining…