TIGERVILLE, S.C. – North Greenville racked up more than 350 yards of total offense in the opening half to stake claim to a 34-0 advantage at the break and the Crusaders handed the UNC Pembroke football team its first loss of the season, 40-17, on Saturday evening at Younts Stadium.
The setback snapped a four-game win streak for UNCP (3-1) that dated back to the 2014 regular season finale. North Greenville (2-2), which upended then-No. 8 Lenoir Rhyne at home two weeks ago, has now won consecutive meetings in the series with the Braves.
Patrick O'Brien threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-51 passing with a pair of interceptions for the Braves. John Rich, one of 13 different receivers with catches on the night for the visitors, finished the game with five receptions for 51 yards. Junior B.J. Bunn (2 catches, 46 yards) caught a touchdown pass for the fourth-straight game as well.
Nelson Hughes threw for 291 yards and four touchdowns on 15-of-19 passing to lead North Greenville, which also got 201 yards of total offense (141 rush, 60 receiving) and a first quarter touchdown from Ashton Heard. Robbie Brown hauled in six catches for 117 yards and two scores for the hosts as well.
A turnover ended the game's opening drive for North Greenville, but the Crusaders scored touchdowns on five of their next six possessions to tote a 34-0 advantage into the break. UNCP went 3-and-out on four of its first five drives of the opening stanza, but got something going late in the second quarter before O'Brien was picked off on a 4th-and-2 situation at the hosts' 36-yard line.
The Crusaders would turn that miscue into points on the ensuing drive as Hughes delivered on a 25-yard scoring scamper on a 4th-and-2 situation on the other end to cap a 6-play, 74-yard scoring drive right before the break. The Crusaders would trot into the locker rooms with 355 yards of total offense on 34 plays (10.44 yards/play).
North Greenville fumbled the ball away on its opening possession of the second half and the Braves converted the turnover into points when O'Brien put the finishing touches on a short 8-play, 32-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard pass to Dylan Davis. A key 32-yard punt return into NGU territory by B.J. Bunn minutes later would set the Braves up in good field position again, but a promising drive by the visitors would come to an end via an interception at the 10-yard line.
The Crusaders stretched their advantage out to 40-7 a 26-yard pass from Hughes to Tyrell Hillary in the early moments of the fourth quarter, but the Braves strung together an 11-play, 49-yard drive on their ensuing possession before settling for a 36-yard field goal by Matt Davis. The Black & Gold would cap the scoring on the night on its next possession when O'Brien connected with Bunn on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 5:32 left to play that finished off a 7-play, 59-yard scoring drive.
UNCP will return to action on Saturday when the Black & Gold hosts 18th-ranked Tuskegee (4-0) to highlight Homecoming week in Pembroke. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
