WINGATE – Visiting UNCP forced nine turnovers, including a school record seven interceptions, and negated a third quarter deficit with the game's final 21 points to rally past Wingate, 49-35, on Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The victory gave UNCP (2-1) its second win in the six-game-old series with Wingate (1-2), and snapped a two-game losing streak to the Bulldogs in the process as well. The seven interceptions recorded by the Black & Gold bested a five-year-old school record previously held by the 2007 squad that recorded five pickoffs in UNCP's inaugural home contest against Greensboro.

Damonte Terry carried the ball nine times for a game-high 99 yards and two touchdowns to pace UNCP, while quarterback Luke Charles threw for 207 yards on 22-of-34 passing with one interception and three touchdowns as well. Te'vell Williams hauled in seven passes for 72 yards and a pair of scores to pace the receiving corps for the Braves.

Denver (N.C.) native Preston Perry registered a pair of interceptions to become just the fourth player in UNCP football history to accomplish that task. Safety Sean Rush scooped and scored on a 59-yard fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, while Quentin Pate tallied a 'pick-6' in the first quarter, for UNCP as well.

Reigning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Robbie Nallenweg threw for 449 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-49 passing for the Bulldogs, but marred his performance with seven interceptions, including five in the first half alone. Chris Bowden caught eight passes for 137 yards and a third quarter touchdown, while Andrew Nallenweg scored two rushing touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as well.

"That was the strangest game that I have ever been a part of," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "I am very proud of our team for finishing the game the way that we did. My hat's off to our defense for forcing nine turnovers and scoring 14 points. What a great way to get a win at Wingate!"

UNCP needed just six plays to drive 52 yards and take a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game, but used Pate's pick-6 moments later to up that advantage to 14-0. The Bulldogs cut their deficit in half on Nallenweg's 52-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Nallenweg on the ensuing drive, but the Braves would score twice more in the opening period, including an 89-yard scoring jaunt by Terry, to take a 28-7 lead into the second period.

Wingate would not go away that easily, however, as the hosts scored a pair of touchdowns in both the second and third quarters to grab a 35-28 lead following Robbie Nallenweg's 18-yard pass to Bowden with 2:42 remaining in the third period.

The Braves used a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive to tie things back up on Charles's 3-yard touchdown pass to Williams with less than a minute gone in the fourth quarter and took the lead for good on Terry's 1-yard scoring run 10 minutes later. Rush's 59-yard fumble return for a score on the ensuing possession would cap the scoring on the day.

UNCP will close out a short two-game road trip on Saturday when it heads to Lynchburg, Va., to battle NAIA member Virginia-Lynchburg (0-2). Kickoff has been set for 1 p.m. at Lynchburg City Stadium.