LAURINBURG – Visiting Kentucky Wesleyan used a 42-yard touchdown reception by Keenan Cole midway through the third quarter to grab a 20-19 advantage, but the 21st-ranked UNC Pembroke football team scored 24 unanswered points over the game's final 22 minutes to post a 43-20 victory over the Panthers on Saturday at Scotland High School's Pate Stadium.

It was the eighth-straight home victory for the Braves (6-1) who relocated the game 30 miles to the northeast on Thursday due to the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. It was the second-straight loss for the Panthers (1-6) who rolled into the weekend fresh off of a loss at NCAA Division I foe Northwestern (La.) State last week.

All-American B.J. Bunn hauled in seven passes for 205 yards and a pair of scores to key a 488-yard offensive day for the Black & Gold who also posted a trio of unconventional scores, including two special teams touchdowns. Tra Chandler accounted for 220 all-purpose yards, including 134 yards on a trio of kickoff returns. Quarterback Patrick O'Brien threw for 358 yards (fifth career 300-yard passing game) and two touchdowns on 19-of-32 passing as well.

Code Black sacked Kentucky Wesleyan quarter DaMarcus Smith eight times – the second-most quarterback drops for a UNCP squad in program history – and picked off a pair of passes, including a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown by Khalil Vance late in the third period. Tyler Hinton turned in a pair of sacks to highlight a dominant performance for the unit as well.

Chandler returned the game's opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to get the party started, and the Braves led 16-0 after a 45-yard field goal from Matt Davis with 8:12 left to play in the opening half. The Panthers got on the board on the game's next possession to cut into their deficit, and then tacked up touchdowns on each of their first two possessions in the second half to put the Braves on their heels.

Davis, however, would spark a serious rally with a 51-yard field goal late in the third quarter that gave the Braves the lead for good. Vance's pick-six closed out the scoring in the third, but the Braves added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including an 88-yard touchdown reception by Bunn early in the period. Brian Staton got his hands on a punt attempt on the ensuing possession by KWC, and Rick Mack scooped up the blocked kick and rumbled 13 yards into the end zone to cap the scoring on the day.

The Braves will close out a two-game home stand on October 22 when they suit up to host Catawba (3-4) as part of Homecoming week on campus. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.