PEMBROKE – Rashon Kennedy rushed for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Matt Evans threw for 126 more, but it was UNCP's defense that dominated the day Saturday in helping the Braves notch their first win since 1950 with a 26-20 triumph over visiting Greensboro Saturday afternoon at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Field.

The UNCP (1-1) defense registered four sacks, 12 tackles for loss and five interceptions to offset a shaky day from the offensive side of the ball and held the Pride (0-1) to just 234 yards of total offense in front of a record 4,209 fans that made their way to Pembroke for the Black and Gold's home opener.

Kennedy turned in his second-straight 100-yard day after a gem of a performance against Davidson last week, with receivers Al Bryant and Tim McCaskill accounting for 74 yards from Evans through the air. Defensively, the Braves got picks from five different players, including J.T. McCoy who matched a team-season best with 11 solo tackles as well. True freshman Ben Kurti turned in five tackles, while also registering a pair of sacks.

“I want our team to play well and I was really happy that we scored more points than them today, even though we had to be creative in doing that,” said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. “I am very happy for our team and I am very happy for UNCP. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into this thing for us to be here and to be at this point.”

After both teams produced a scoreless first quarter, the Braves used a Seth Warren interception and 29-yard return to put the first points of the game on the board. Evans would do the dirty work four plays later, plunging over the pile into the endzone for a 7-0 lead. Greensboro's 9-play, 45-yard effort on the ensuing possession would stall, but the Pride caught a break a short time later when James Gentry blocked Justin Hinson's punt attempt, recovered and ran 13 yards for the tying score.

The visitors would take a 10-7 lead into the break on Chris Palme's 19-yard field goal right before the whistle.

Kennedy's 30-yard touchdown gallop midway through the third period would put the Braves on top again, but Greensboro engineered a 9-play, 39-yard drive on the ensuing possession and knotted the score back up again on Palme's 32-yard chip shot.

The Braves would put things away in the fourth quarter, however, scratching the scoreboard for 13 more points on 102 yards, while getting a pair of interceptions and holding the Pride to just 64 yards. Bryant (6-yard pass) and Kennedy (2-yard run) provided the touchdowns in the game-deciding quarter.

UNCP will close out a short two-game homestand on September 15 when the Braves entertain region rival Wingate (3-0) in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Field. All 2,930 seats have been sold out for the contest, but a limited number of standing room only tickets will be available at the gate.