LYNCHBURG, Va. – Visiting UNCP mustered just 105 yards of offense in the opening half to stake claim to a 14-0 halftime lead, but scored three times in the third quarter en route to a 30-7 win over Virginia-Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon at Lynchburg City Stadium.

The victory marked the third-straight win for UNCP (3-1) who also improved to 5-2 all-time against NAIA opponents. The setback marked the third-straight loss for VUL and kept the Blue Dragons winless on the young campaign.

Elliott Powell rushed for a season-best 109 yards and a pair of scored on 13 carries to lead the Braves, while fellow junior Te'vell Williams (2 catches, 42 yards) matched a three-year-old school record with his 13th career touchdown reception to help get UNCP started in the second period. Quarterback Luke Charles threw for 82 yards and one score on 7-of-11 passing before exiting the game in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore linebacker Darcus Elliott matched a school record with 19 tackles, including 12 solo stops, to spearhead a Black & Gold defense that surrendered a season-low seven points. Sean Rush and Blake Hickman each grabbed an interception, with Hickman returning the pick 35 yards for a third quarter score.

"(Virginia-Lynchburg) did a good job of holding on to the ball today, and we weren't as consistent on offense as I would have liked," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "But, out guys took advantage of the some of the situations that we were put in and I am pleased to be 3-1 and to find a way to win a game 30-7."

Mac Shinhoster accounted for 106 yards of total offense (39 rushing, 67 receiving) to pace the hosts who scored their first offensive points of the 2012 campaign on a 3-yard pass in the opening minutes of the fourth period. VUL out-gained their visitors by a 271-247 count and racked up more than 37 minutes of possession time.

After a lackluster first quarter, UNCP used its second drive of the second period to put their first points on the board, capping a 7-play, 36-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge by Powell. The Braves would capitalize on their following possession as well when Charles found Williams down the far sideline on a 34-yard touchdown pass the upped the advantage out to 14-0 heading into the locker rooms.

The Braves came out of the halftime gates on fire and needed just 1:44 to score their third touchdown of the contest when Powell broke loose on a 63-yard scoring gallop that all but put the game out of reach. Hickman's 35-yard pick-6 later in the quarter made the score 27-0, but VUL finally got on the board in the final period when it put the lid on a 9-play, 50-yard scoring drive with Tyler Harris's 3-yard scoring toss to John Robertson.

Connor Haskins's 28-yard field goal on the ensuing drive for the Braves would cap the scoring on the day.

UNCP will be back in action again next Saturday when the Braves return to Pembroke to host South Atlantic Conference rival Catawba (2-1) at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.