JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities, East Tennessee State held off a late Wofford rally to secure a 14-10 victory on Saturday at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.

The Buccaneers’ defense delivered a game-saving stand in the final minutes, stopping the Terriers four times from the 10-yard line after a Wofford fumble recovery to preserve the win. The victory improved East Tennessee State’s record to 3-4, while Wofford fell to 1-5.

The game’s scoring was confined to a frantic first quarter. East Tennessee State struck first, capping an efficient opening drive with a 28-yard touchdown run by running back Devontae Houston just over four minutes into the game.

Wofford answered immediately. A 36-yard kickoff return by Ivory Aikens set up a quick, methodical drive that culminated in a 17-yard scoring run by wide receiver Colby Alexander, tying the game at 7-7.

The Buccaneers reclaimed the lead before the quarter ended. Another sustained drive, engineered by quarterback Cade McNamara, was finished by Houston for his second touchdown, a 6-yard run that gave East Tennessee State a 14-7 advantage.

The remainder of the game became a battle of field position and defensive stops. Wofford’s only other points came from a 34-yard field goal by Sam Spence in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-10.

Wofford’s offense, led by quarterback J.T. Fayard, moved the ball at times but could not find the end zone again. Fayard finished 22 of 29 for 145 yards but was sacked multiple times in key situations. The Terriers’ ground game was effective, with Gerald Modest rushing for 80 yards and Ihson Jackson-Anderson adding 75.

For East Tennessee State, the quarterback duo of Cade McNamara and Jake McNamara provided steady play. Cade McNamara was a perfect 12 of 12 for 103 yards before exiting, while Jake McNamara went 14 of 18 for 97 yards and added 18 yards on the ground. Houston was the workhorse, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns while also catching five passes for 28 yards. Jeremiah Harrison was the leading receiver with seven catches for 79 yards.

The Buccaneers’ defense and special teams were pivotal in the second half. Punter Nate Brackett averaged over 40 yards on six punts, repeatedly pinning Wofford deep. The defensive unit’s final goal-line stand, which included a key tackle for a loss and two pass breakups, sealed the victory after Wofford had driven into scoring position in the game’s final two minutes.

The final score defied the pregame projections from Interstat, which had given East Tennessee State a 78.7 percent probability to win and projected a final score of 29-25.

East Tennessee State travels to face Samford on Nov. 8. Wofford returns home to host Samford on Nov. 1.