LAKE WALES, Fla. – Visiting UNCP whittled a 19-0 halftime deficit down to just six with 6:40 remaining in the game, but Beau Barnes returned a Cory Smith interception 40 yards for a score four minutes later to key the Warriors a 26-13 upset victory over the 17th-ranked Braves on Saturday afternoon at Legion Field.

Webber International (4-2), ranked No. 21 in the latest poll by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), held the visiting Braves (4-2) to just 138 yards of total offense on the day, including negative yardage in the opening half (-8 yards). The Black and Gold also amassed 121 penalty yards on the day, including a menacing six penalties for 67 yards in the first two periods.

Quarterback Cory Smith threw for 104 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-28 passing with an interception, while Keith Gore paced the UNCP ground game with 18 yards on 16 carries. Dom Whittington registered his first career touchdown reception in the second half for the Braves, who also got a punt return score from all-American Caylon Hann in the frame.

Torrance Moise accounted for 128 yards and a touchdown through the air for the Warriors, while also rushing 17 times for 96 yards and an additional score for Webber International who has now won seven-straight home games dating back to last season. Ricky Delancey caught five passes for 42 yards and a touchdown as well.

After stalling Webber International's initial possession in the game at the 45-yard line, the Warriors would earn the game's first break when Adam Riley's 30-yard punt was mishandled and the hosts jumped on the miscue at the UNCP 15-yard line. Two plays later, Moise found Delancey over the middle on a 25-yard touchdown to give the hosts an early 7-0 lead. Webber would score twice more in the first half to take a 19-0 lead into the intermission.

An uneventful third quarter was offset by Hann's 55-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the fourth that gave the Braves new life. Three possessions later, UNCP would cut its deficit back to six points, 19-13, when Smith found Whittington on a 21-yard scoring strike with 6:40 left to play. The Black and Gold would get a huge break on the ensuing possession when James Alexander forced and recovered a fumble at the UNCP 35-yard line, but Smith's pass on the following play was intercepted by Barnes who returned the pick untouched to cap the scoring.

UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when the Braves return home to battle Fairmont State (2-4) in a 2 p.m. contest at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.