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FAYETTEVILLE – Jemeryn Jenkins' 11-yard scoring scamper with 33 seconds left before halftime gave Fayetteville State a 24-14 lead heading into the break, but 22nd-ranked UNC Pembroke rattled off 24 unanswered points in a dominant second half to turn back the upset-minded Broncos, 38-24, in the fifth annual Two Rivers Classic on Saturday evening.

The Braves (2-0) scored touchdowns on three of four possessions in the third quarter, and then added a 25-yard field goal from Lumberton native Connor Haskins to provide the final. The Black & Gold ran 81 plays on the night, including 63 passing plays, but saw its defense limit Fayetteville State to just 74 total yards in the second half.

"Fayetteville State had a fantastic game plan ready for us tonight," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "We were very fortunate to still be in the game at halftime because they really put together a great first half. Our special teams played a huge part in what we were trying to do tonight, and then our offense started to click a little bit in the second half."

Senior quarterback Luke Charles threw for a school record 401 yards and three touchdowns, while also shattering his own marks for passing attempts (63) and completions (44). Redshirt sophomore John Rich reaped most of the offensive rewards with a career-best six catches for 27 yards, while also matching a school record by hauling in three touchdown passes. Ben DeCelle (10-110) and newcomer B.J. Bunn (7-105) topped the century mark in reception yards on the night, with 10 different Braves finishing the contest with at least one reception.

After racking up 297 total yards and 24 points in the opening half, the Broncos (0-2) were limited to 46 yards in the third quarter and just 28 in the fourth. "Code Black" finished the night with nine tackles for loss (-44 yards), including a trio of sacks (-23 yards), while also forcing a turnover. Defensive back L.J. Stroman finished his outing with a game-high eight tackles and a key 48-yard interception return that set up the second touchdown of the third period for the Braves.

Stroman also scored UNCP's first touchdown of the game on a 52-yard punt return in the first quarter.

The Broncos scored on their last four possessions of the opening half, using a handful of big-gain plays to register scoring drives of 64, 69 and 77 yards. Charles was 10-of-12 for 80 yards on a key scoring drive in the second period that cut FSU's lead back to 17-14, but Jenkins engineered an 8-play, 78-yard drive on the ensuing possession that was capped on his 11-yard touchdown run up the middle that pushed the lead back to 10 points.

Rich hauled in his second touchdown catch of the night with 6:39 left in the third quarter, but Stroman's clutch interception of Jenkins on the following possession would set UNCP up for the go-ahead score – a 1-yard run by Demetrius Fairley – just more than two minutes later. 

UNCP will head to Wilmington on Sept. 14 to take on Shaw (2-0) in the inaugural Cape Fear Classic at Legion Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.