| THE BASICS |
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 36, Glenville State 22
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 2-1, 2-0 MEC; Glenville State 1-1, 1-1 MEC
LOCATION: Pembroke N.C. (Grace P. Johnson Stadium) |
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| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST QUARTER |
Glenville State drained just 59 seconds off of the game clock on the way to putting up the first points of the contest. Backup quarterback Tim Heltzel found Javon Butler on a 77-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field to give the Pioneers the early edge. GSC 7, UNCP 0
Jimmie Simmons gave the visitors good field position just three plays later when he sacked Josh Jones and stripped the ball out of the junior quarterback's hands on the way down to the turf to set Glenville State up at the 14-yard line. The Pioneers used consecutive short jaunts by Bernard Dankyi to add to the lead, including a 3-yard dive up the middle. GSC 14, UNCP 0
A muffed punt attempt by the Pioneers midway through the period set the Braves up at the 30-yard line, and UNCP needed just two plays to scratch its way back into the contest. Joseph Early punched his way through the defense for 21 yards on the first play of the drive, and Josh Jones found Faheem Diaab on a 9-yard scoring strike on the ensuing play from scrimmage. GSC 14, UNCP 7
The Braves tied the game with its next possession, capping a 9-play, 53-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Josh Jones to Jai'Veon Smalls. Jones carried the ball twice for 30 yards on the drive, while Joseph Early contributed 18 rushing yards. GSC 14, UNCP 14 |
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| 2ND QUARTER |
UNCP contributed its surge of points early in the second quarter, but this time did it more unconventionally. After stuffing the Pioneers on a 3rd-and-18 situation near midfield, Devin Jones hauled in a punt from Avery Book and raced 80 yards untouched for the go-ahead score. UNCP 21, GSC 14
A muffed punt attempt late in the period gave the Braves a short field to work with again. A tough illegal block penalty nullified a first-down play, however, and the Braves were forced to settle with a 40-yard field goal from Gerardo Guerra Rivera that gave the hosts a 10-point lead at the intermission. UNCP 24, GSC 14
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| 3RD QUARTER |
| The Braves were methodical on their opening possession of the second half, driving 74 yards in 11 plays before having their progress stopped at the 11-yard line. Gerardo Guerra Rivera struck again, however, this time on a 28-yard no-doubter through the south endzone uprights. UNCP 27, GSC 14 |
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| 4TH QUARTER |
The Black & Gold bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 10-play, 40-yard drive that would eventually fizzle out at the 26-yard line. Enter Gerardo Guerra Rivera who padded the lead for the hosts out to 16 points with a game-long 43-yard boot. UNCP 30, GSC 14
Glenville State finally ended its scoring drought with a little help from its special teams early in the final period. Brandon Penn stepped in front of a UNCP punt to set the Pioneers up deep in UNCP territory, and Tim Heltzel found Orion Bonner on a 23-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play from scrimmage. A successful 2-point conversion attempt made it a one-score affair. UNCP 30, GSC 22
The Black & Gold drove 34 yards in 11 plays, mostly on the back of Josh Jones and Joseph Early, before getting a 38-yard field goal from Gerardo Guerra Rivera. UNCP 33, GSC 22
The UNCP defense registered a pair of sacks and drove Glenville State backwards on a drive late in the fourth quarter, which eventually led the hosts to taking over the ball one more time on the Pioneers' 17-yard line. Four plays later, Gerardo Guerra Rivera added the final points of the night on a 34-yard field goal. UNCP 36, GSC 22 |
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| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Freshman Gerardo Guerra Rivera matched a 5-year old school record with five field goals against Glenville State. Former all-American Matt Davis also notched a quintet of 3-pointers in UNCP's 50-28 home win over Fayetteville State on Sept. 10, 2016.
+ Senior Joseph Early registered career bests for both rushing yards (152) and attempts (22) on Saturday evening. It is the most rushing yards for a UNCP running back since Josh Sheridan turned in 154 rushing yards against Catawba during the 2019 campaign.
+ Junior signal caller Josh Jones threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-38 passing with no interceptions. It is the 10th time over the last 2+ years that Jones has thrown two or more touchdown passes.
+ Redshirt senior Devin Jones's 80-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter marked the fifth kick he has returned for a touchdown over his storied collegiate career. It was his first punt return touchdown, however. |
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| NOTABLES |
+ UNCP improved to 45-22 (.672) all-time at Grace P. Johnson Stadium with Saturday's victory. The result also marked the 13th-time in the 15-year history of the program that the Braves have captured their home opener.
+ The Braves held the Pioneers to just 73 rushing yards on the evening, including just 39 yards on the ground in the opening half. Glenville State managed just 216 yards of total offense on Saturday. Nine of their 14 possessions on the night went for 15 yards or less.
+ Glenville State fell to 0-4 all-time against the Braves in a series that dates all the way back to the 2010 campaign. The Pioneers have averaged 28.0 points per game in two games at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, while mustering just 10.5 points per contest in two games with UNCP at home. |
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| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will close out a short two-game home stand on September 25 when they welcome Fairmont State (0-3, 0-2 MEC) for Robeson County Schools Day at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. |
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| STAY CONNECTED |
| Follow UNCP Football on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Football on Facebook. |
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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. |
