PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke football team went toe-to-toe with fifth-ranked North Alabama for three quarters, but the Lions used a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to pull away and key a 27-6 victory over the Braves on Saturday evening at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

The Braves (1-4) held the nation's 12th-ranked scoring offense nearly 17 points below its per game average (43.8), while also limiting the Lions' (5-0) 13th-ranked rushing offense nearly 60 yards below its average (263.8). The game was a rematch of last season's NCAA Division II Playoff game which North Alabama won by a 37-13 margin.

Lumberton native Connor Haskins converted on a pair of second quarter field goals, including a career-long 50-yarder right before the half, to register UNCP's only points of the game. John Rich caught six passes for 55 yards to pace the UNCP offense, which also got a season-high 73 rushing yards (16 carries) from Rontonio Stanley.

Delvon Carpenter caught two passes for 133 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown reception in the final period, to pace North Alabama. Quarterback Jacob Thomas threw for 223 yards and a touchdown on 8-for-16 passing for the visitors as well.

Kendall Jacobs recorded a game-best 10 tackles (8 solo) for UNCP's Code Black defense which also tallied three sacks and forced a pair of turnovers.

"It was a very close game through three quarters," said UNCP head coach Shane Richardson. "I really felt like our guys were in a great state of mind coming into this game. We didn't have any pressure on us, but we have to play all four quarters. Our guys didn't back down from the No. 5 team in the country and we kept fighting. That is a big positive for us."

North Alabama used an ill-timed interception, as well as a costly personal foul on a field goal attempt a short time later, to set the table for an early 7-0 lead after Lamonte Thompson rumbled into the end zone from six yards out just three minutes into the game. A trio of field goals, including two by Haskins, would represent the rest of the scoring in the opening half as the Lions drug a 10-6 advantage into the locker room.

Taylor Pontius's 27-yard field goal late in the third quarter gave the visitors a 13-6 advantage and North Alabama, after being limited to just 288 yards (127 rushing) through the first three periods, totaled 135 offensive yards (73 rushing) and a pair of scores in the final stanza.

UNCP will continue a three-game home stand next Saturday when it suits up to host Catawba (3-3) in a 1 p.m. contest at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.