PEMBROKE – Junior Patrick O'Brien threw for four touchdowns and ran for two others as the UNC Pembroke football team racked up nearly 450 yards of total offense on the way to a 49-35 victory over North Greenville on Saturday evening at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

The victory marked the seventh-straight home win for the Braves (4-0) who avenged a 40-17 loss against the Crusaders last season in Tigerville, S.C. It was the second-straight loss for North Greenville (2-2) who dropped a 29-28 heartbreaker at Newberry last weekend.

O'Brien matched his career highs for both passing and rushing touchdowns, and finished the night with 330 yards through the air on 34-of-39 passing. Rontonio Stanley ran for 77 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown on 12 carries, while all-American B.J. Bunn hauled in nine catches for 95 yards and a pair of scores.

Senior Elijah Williams turned in a game-best 11 tackles to pace Code Black who finished the night with six tackles for loss (two sacks) and an interception (Tyler Threatt).

O'Brien completed 20 of his first 21 pass attempts against the Crusaders and had thrown for 240 yards by the halftime break to help the Braves stake claim to a comfortable 28-7 advantage heading into the lockerrooms. The Crusaders got within a pair of scores twice in the second half, but could get no closer.

The Crusaders registered more than 300 yards of offense in the second half, but never seriously threatened to change the outcome of the contest. 

Stanley threw the final dagger of the night for the Black & Gold midway through the final period when he scampered into the end zone from 44 yards out to push UNCP's advantage out to 49-28.

The Braves will open up a two-game road trip on October 1 when they make the long trek to central Alabama to take on 12th-ranked Tuskegee (4-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at TU's Abbott Memorial Stadium.