| THE BASICS |
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 34, Wheeling 28
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 3-3, 3-2 MEC; Wheeling 3-3, 3-2 MEC
LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Grace P. Johnson Stadium) |
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| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST QUARTER |
| Wheeling coughed up the ball on the game's first play from scrimmage, and UNCP took advantage to grab a lead it would not relinquish. The hosts pushed the ball inside the 10-yard line, but were forced to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Gerardo Guerra Rivera. UNCP 3, WU 0 |
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| 2ND QUARTER |
The Braves bridged the first and second quarters with a 14-play, 80-yard possession that milked more than seven minutes off of the game clock. Josh Jones threw for 40 yards on 4-for-6 passing on the drive, while also running for 30 yards, including a two-yard dive into the end zone. UNCP 10, WU 0
Wheeling used the next possession of the period to get off the mark, driving 66 yards on 10 plays before getting a 30-yard field goal from Matt Greenwood. The Cardinals moved the ball inside UNCP's 10-yard line, but a costly false start penalty, as well as an ensuing incompletion on third down, forced the field goal try. UNCP 10, WU 3
An interception midway through the period set the Black & Gold up near midfield and the hosts eventually cashed in. Josh Jones completed five of his six pass attempts on the drive for 31 yards, and Joseph Early punched the ball in from two yards out to cap the possession. UNCP 17, WU 3
UNCP took the ball back again on the very next play from scrimmage when Dante Bowlding made an acrobatic pick of a Brennen Norris pass attempt. C.J. Davis hauled in a 15-yard reception on the first play of the offensive possession, and Joseph Early galloped for 35-yards on the very next play to put more points on the board. UNCP 24, WU 3
Wheeling used a pair of untimely pass interference penalties by the Black & Gold to fuel a touchdown right before the half. The Cardinals drove 76 yards in 13 plays, and cut into their deficit on Brennon Norris's 2-yard touchdown pass to Ryan LaFollette as the game clock hit all zeroes. Matt Greenwood's extra point try, however, was blocked by Virgil Lemons. UNCP 24, WU 9
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| 3RD QUARTER |
A missed field goal by the Braves on the opening possession of the second half swung the momentum meter just a tick. Brennon Norris threw for 59 yards on 4-of-6 passing on the drive, including a 15-yard touchdown strike, but the visitors got a big break on a 2nd-and-long situation from the UNCP 37-yard line when the Braves were again called for pass interference. UNCP 24, WU 16
UNCP saw each of its next two possessions go for negative yards, but the latter drive resulted in points for the Cardinals as well. Josh Jones hit Joseph Early out in the flat on the opening play of that possession, but Early was tackled into the end zone in an attempt to stretch the play into more yards. UNCP 24, WU 18
Wheeling used a 52-yard pass from Brennon Norris to Ryan LaFollette on the opening play of the ensuing drive to set up shop inside the UNCP 15-yard line, but the Cardinals were unable to muster very much more real estate after that. Wheeling punched the ball inside the 10-yard line, but an incomplete pass on third down forced a 25-yard field goal attempt from Matt Greenwood. UNCP 24, WU 21
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| 4TH QUARTER |
The Black & Gold bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 7-play, 45-yard drive that ultimately was capped with a 19-yard field goal from Gerardo Guerra Rivera. Josh Jones found Tyshawn Carter on a 37-yard strike to push the Braves inside the 10-yard line, but the Braves were unable to capitalize on a 2nd-and-Goal situation from the 1-yard line. UNCP 27, WU 21
The Braves put the eventual game-winning points on the board midway through the final period, capping an 8-play, 31-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Josh Jones to Faheem Diaab. Joseph Early carried the ball five times for 12 yards on the possession, while Rodney Smith hauled in a 16-yard catch on a key 3rd-and-long situation from the Wheeling 36-yard line. UNCP 34, WU 21
Wheeling put the final points on the board with just less than three minutes to play. The Cardinals took over possession near midfield and Brennon Norris engineered a 7-play, 57-yard touchdown drive to make it a one-score game. Norris found Jaquan Davidson on a 21-yard touchdown pass, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Braves. UNCP 34, WU 28
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| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Junior Josh Jones threw for 191 yards and one touchdown on 21-of-35 passing with one interception. He also logged 33 yards and an additional score on 11 carries.
+ Senior Joseph Early accounted for 85 all-purpose yards on Saturday, including 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He also caught two passes for 13 yards.
+ Senior Devin Jones tallied a team-best nine tackles (7 solo), while also registering an interception and a pass break-up against the Cardinals. His interception would have resulted in a 71-yard touchdown return as well, but the score was negated due to a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
+ Reigning MEC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Dante Bowlding finished his Saturday with four tackles, two interceptions and a pass break-up. He is the first UNCP player to tally two interceptions in a game since former standout Michael Clark picked off two passes against UVa.-Wise on Nov. 16, 2019. |
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| NOTABLES |
+ The Braves forced a season-best five turnovers on Saturday, including four interceptions. It is the most turnovers logged by the UNCP defense since tallying five takeaways at Carson-Newman on Oct. 5, 2019. It is the most interceptions by Code Black since picking off four passes against UVa.-Wise on Nov. 16, 2019.
+ Saturday's result snapped a two-game losing streak for the Braves, while also helping UNCP improved to 1-2 in games decided by one score or less this season. The Black & Gold dropped a 34-28 overtime contest at Findlay in its season opener, while also falling 30-27 to Fairmont State on September 25.
+ UNCP is now 18-for-23 (.783) in the red zone this season, including a 5-for-6 success rate on Saturday. |
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| UP NEXT |
| UNCP will hit the road again on October 16 when it makes the 370-mile trip to Institute, W.Va., to take on Mountain East Conference foe West Virginia State (3-3, 3-2 MEC). Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. under the lights of Dickerson Stadium. |
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| STAY CONNECTED |
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| BACK THE BRAVES |
| Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Football program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. |
