PEMBROKE – Visiting Tusculum forced five turnover and held the UNC Pembroke football team to just 104 yards of offense in the opening half as the Pioneers picked up their second-straight series victory with a 31-10 win over the Black & Gold on Saturday evening at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
 
The setback marked the third-straight home loss for UNCP (1-3) who toted a 10-game home win streak into the 2017 campaign. It was the first victory in Pembroke for the Pioneers (2-2) who will open up a two-game home stand next week against South Atlantic Conference rival Mars Hill.
 
E.J. Williams totaled 95 yards on 10 catches to pace the offensive attack for the hosts, while quarterback Dominick Samson racked up 232 all-purpose yards, including 41 on the ground (nine carries). Freshman placekicker Alex Alvarado kicked a 46-yard field goal right before halftime for the Braves as well.
 
Josh Manns totaled a game-best 11 tackles (3 solo) for Code Black who held the visitors to just 43 rushing yards in the opening half, including a paltry 13 in the second quarter alone.
 
UNCP fumbled the opening kickoff near midfield and Tusculum took advantage quickly, driving 28 yards in six plays before Alex Ogle connected with Evan Gates on a 33-yard scoring pass. UNCP made it a one-point game, 8-7, when Josh Sheridan capped a 3-play, 76-yard scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown run, but the Pioneers scored twice in the second quarter and eventually lugged a 22-10 advantage into the intermission.
 
Tusculum scored on its opening possession of the second half to pad its lead out to 28-10, and three of UNCP's seven second half possessions ended in a turnovers, while three others resulted in 3-and-outs. The Pioneers capped the scoring on a 27-yard field goal by Jose Esparza with 13:40 left in the final period.
 
The Braves will open up a four-game road trip on Saturday when they head to central South Carolina to take on Newberry (2-2) in a 4 p.m. contest at Setzler Field.