SALISBURY – Junior B.J. Bunn broke school records for both receptions and receiving yards, but Catawba racked up nearly 460 yards of offense and scored 22 unanswered points in the first half to key a 39-21 victory over the UNC Pembroke football team on Saturday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.
The setback marked the second-straight loss for UNCP (4-3) who fell to 1-2 away from Pembroke this season with their second-straight road loss as well. It was the third-straight victory for the Indians (5-2) who also improved to 3-2 in the all-time series with the Black & Gold as well.
Bunn hauled in 12 catches for 219 yards and a pair of scores to provide most of the offensive highlights on the day, but Patrick O'Brien threw for a career-best 396 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-44 passing with a pair of interceptions as well. JoJo Spann registered 92 receiving yards on six catches for the Braves as well.
Quarterback Mike Sheehan threw for 133 yards and one score, while also carrying the ball 18 times for 101 yards and two additional touchdowns to lead Catawba. David Burgess rushed for 149 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries for the hosts as well. The Indians finished the Homecoming contest with 318 rushing yards.
O'Brien connected with Bunn on a 40-yard touchdown pass just five minutes into the contest to give UNCP an early 7-0 lead, but Catawba scored touchdowns on its next three possessions and lugged a 22-7 lead into the halftime break after a Cary Littlejohn capped off a 7-play, 73-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper.
The Indians were methodical on the opening possession of the second half and drove 53 yards in just seven plays before a 22-yard run by Sheehan gave the hosts a 29-7 lead. UNCP answered back on the ensuing possession when Spann capped off an 8-play, 75 yard scoring drive on a 25-yard touchdown reception from O'Brien, but Catawba put the game out of reach with a time-consuming 12-play, 62-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth period.
A 38-yard touchdown strike from O'Brien to Bunn midway through the final quarter brought the Braves to within two scores with just less than five minutes left, but the Indians jumped on the ensuing onside kick to all but seal the outcome.
UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when it returns home to battle West Virginia State (5-3) on Robeson County Schools Day at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
