INSTITUTE, W.Va. –
Patrick O'Brien threw for more than 300 yards for the third-straight week and
Matt Davis broke a pair of school records with a big day on special teams as the 18
th-ranked UNC Pembroke football team racked up more than 400 yards of total offense to roll past West Virginia State, 44-14, on Saturday afternoon at Dickerson Stadium.
It was the fourth-straight win for the Braves (8-1) who wrapped up the road portion of their 2016 regular season slate with a 4-1 clip away from Grace P. Johnson Stadium. It was the seventh-straight setback for the Yellowjackets (1-8) who fell to 0-5 in home games this season.
O'Brien threw for 330 yards and a pair of scores on 26-of-37 passing to pace the Black & Gold offense which also got a 5-catch, 105-yard receiving day from redshirt freshman
Quay Threatt. Davis connected on two field goals on the day, including a school record 58-yarder right before the half, while also punting five times for 237 yards (47.4 yards/punt), including a school record 78-yard boot in the fourth quarter.
Elijah Williams paced Code Black with a team-best eight tackles on the day, but
Yavel Morris picked off a pair of passes for the defense, including one he returned eight yards for a touchdown late in the third period.
The Braves set the tone on their opening possession of the contest, driving 30 yards on just six plays before O'Brien connected with
Tra Chandler on a 45-yard scoring strike that gave the visitors the early lead. West Virginia State would even things up on the ensuing possession thanks to a 65-yard touchdown jaunt by Dionta Brown, but the Braves countered with 34-straight points to build a commanding 41-7 lead after Morris's pick-6 with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Matt Kinnick engineered a 9-play, 77-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter to trim the Yellowjackets' deficit back to 41-14, but the hosts could get no closer.
Nate Williams put the final points of the game on the board with 96 seconds left to play – a 24-yard field goal that put the finishing touches on a 12-play, 68-yard scoring drive for UNCP.
The Braves will enjoy a much-needed bye week next Saturday before closing out regular season play on November 12 against Concord (2-7) at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. and will be preceded by a Senior Day ceremony that will recognize UNCP's 14-member senior class.
