ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State limited the UNC Pembroke football team to just 34 rushing yards and sacked quarterback Josh Jones five times to key a 35-16 victory over the Braves on Saturday evening at Rogers Stadium.
 
The result marked the 10^th-straight road loss dating back to the 2017 season for the Braves (1-1) who will open up a two-game home stand against Catawba next weekend. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak dating back to last season for the Trojans (1-1) who lost at NCAA Division I foe Norfolk State last week.
 
Saturday's contest marked the first football meeting between the two schools.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Virginia State 35, UNC Pembroke 16 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 1-1; Virginia State 1-1 LOCATION: Petersburg, Va. (Rogers Stadium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

The Braves got the scoring started in a hurry when Devin Jones hauled in the opening kickoff and raced 95 yards for the early lead. Hunter Braswell's extra point attempt sailed wide, however. UNCP 6, VSU 0   Virginia State responded on the ensuing possession when they put together a time-consuming 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive that was capped on Corderial Cook's 6-yard plunge over the goal line. VSU 7, UNCP 6   The Trojans extended their lead out to two scores midway through the opening period when Darius Hagans found Cordeiral Cook on a 68-yard scoring strike. VSU 14, UNCP 6

2ND QUARTER

UNCP's most impressive drive of the opening half resulted in points as the Braves drove 58 yards in six plays before settling for a 34-yard field goal from Hunter Braswell. VSU 14, UNCP 9

3RD QUARTER

Virginia State got to work in a hurry in the third quarter, driving 62 yards on six plays – all rushing attempts – and extending their advantage out to 21-9 on Demetrius Strickland's 22-yard scamper up the middle. VSU 21, UNCP 9

4TH QUARTER

The Braves made it a one-score game again with an 11-play, 53-yard scoring drive that was capped on Faheem Diaab's circus-like grab on a 6-yard pass to the back of the end zone. VSU 21, UNCP 16   The Trojans needed just two plays on the ensuing drive to pad their lead again. A 55-yard gallop by Darius Hagans on 2nd-and-8 would climax the drive. VSU 28, UNCP 16   Virginia State milked more than eight minutes off of the fourth-quarter clock and scored the final points of the night on a 1-yard dive by Toure Wallace. VSU 35, UNCP 16

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Josh Jones threw for 163 yards and one touchdown on 16-of-33 passing with one interception. + Shammond Hicks caught four passes for 52 yards to lead the UNCP receiving corps, while Faheem Diaab caught two passes for 39 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. + McKinley Nelson was the only UNCP back to rush for more than three yards on the night. Nelson carried the ball seven times for 24 yards. Ten players tallied at least one rushing attempt for UNCP. + Devin Jones returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and led UNCP with six tackles on the night as well.

NOTABLES

+ Saturday's contest marked the first meeting between the two schools on the football field. + Virginia State is the sixth different opponent from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) for the Braves in the history of the program. UNCP is now 18-7 against current or former CIAA teams. + Saturday evening's result marked the 10th-straight road loss for the Black & Gold dating back to the 2017 season. The last road win for the Braves was a 66-14 rout at Elizabeth City State on Sept. 9, 2017.

UP NEXT

The Braves will open up a two-game home stand next Saturday when they suit up to battle Catawba (1-1) at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. The Indians registered a 21-14 victory at Winston-Salem State on Saturday.

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