PEMBROKE – UNCP accumulated more than 665 yards of total offense and built a 20-0 lead by the end of the first quarter to key a record-setting 58-38 victory over visiting Tusculum to highlight Homecoming festivities on Saturday afternoon at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

The Braves (4-2) shattered school records for both points and total offensive yards (668) – the second time this season they accomplished the latter – to improve to 4-1 all-time in Homecoming games and pick up its first win of the season over a team from the South Atlantic Conference. Tusculum (1-5) suffered its fifth-straight loss with the setback.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Charles eclipsed the program's single game passing record for the second-straight week, this time throwing for 367 yards and a career-best four touchdowns on 20-of-32 passing with no interceptions. Senior running back Travis Daniels matched his own school record and season-best with 33 carries, while also topping the program's single-season rushing attempts mark through six games. He finished Saturday's outing with 177 yards to up his season total to 951.

Sophomore backfield mate Elliott Powell carried the ball nine times for 105 yards to turn in the first 100-yard rushing game of his career, while sophomore Damonte Terry scored a career-best two rushing touchdowns. Donald Britt (4 catches, 89 yards, TD) and Joe Burnett (4-88, TD) each did their part to pace the receiving corps, who also got a pair of touchdown receptions from Te'vell Williams.

Quarterback Torrey Slaven came off the bench to throw for 448 yards and three touchdowns on 33-of-45 passing for Tusculum, who also got 13 catches and 185 receiving yards from Deonte Gist. Michael Rodriguez caught five passes for 101 yards for the Pioneers as well.

"It's exciting to see guys make some of the plays they have been making," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "I am just really happy for our guys and all of the hard work that they have put in. I give Tusculum a lot of credit because, when you lose your starting quarterback (in week three), and you still come out and find a way to score a bunch of points, that's a tribute to (Tusculum coach) Frankie (Debusk) and his staff. They find a way to fight and scratch and keep themselves in games."

Three rushing touchdowns, including two by Terry, gave the Braves a 20-0 lead at the end of the first period. Despite a pair of second-quarter strikes by the Pioneers, UNCP managed to keep the visitors at arm's length and took a 37-17 lead into the intermission.

Tusculum got to within a pair of touchdowns on B.J. Spradlin's two-yard touchdown run with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Braves put the game away on their next two possessions, due in large part to a 49-yard touchdown reception by Williams midway through the period, as well as a Burnett's 54-yard touchdown catch with just more than four minutes remaining.

UNCP will open up a three-game road trip next Saturday when the Braves make the long trek north to battle Charleston (W.Va.). The Golden Eagles (1-5) racked up more than 700 yards in a road victory at conference foe Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff for next Saturday's contest at UC Stadium has been set for 1 p.m.

 

FULL VIDEO REPLAY OF SATURDAY'S GAME - PART 1 l PART 2