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EJ Gatling 090723
35
UNC Pembroke NCP 1-1 , 0-1
37
Winner West Virginia St. WVS 1-1 , 1-0
UNC Pembroke NCP
1-1 , 0-1
35
Final
37
West Virginia St. WVS
1-1 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NCP UNC Pembroke 14 7 7 7 35
WVS West Virginia St. 3 14 10 10 37

Game Recap: Football | | Morgan Sheehan, Assistant AD/Communications & Strategic Initiatives

West Virginia State Holds Off Football In Conference Opener

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State tallied 495 offensive yards and had possession for nearly 37 minutes on the way to fending off the UNC Pembroke football team 37-35 on Thursday evening at Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium for the Mountain East Conference opener. 
 
The Braves (1-1, 0-1 MEC) were called for 12 penalties for 110-yards during Thursdays setback. The Yellow Jackets (1-1, 1-0 MEC) picked up their first win at home on Thursday, as well as their first win against the Black & Gold in the six-game series. 
 
THE BASICS
SCORE: West Virginia State 37, UNC Pembroke 35
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 1-1, 0-1 MEC; West Virginia State 1-1, 1-0 MEC
LOCATION: Institute, W.Va. (Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium) 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST QUARTER
West Virginia State's defense forced UNC Pembroke to a three-and-out, but on just the second offensive play for the Yellow Jackets, LaTrell Jewsome intercepted a pass and ran it into the end zone for a UNCP touchdown. UNCP 7, WVSU 0
 
The Yellow Jackets used a 21-yard run from Donovan Riddick to move up the field followed by a pass up the middle to Javion Monroe for 18 more yard. The Braves defense rejected the hosts on the goal line and settled for a 20-yard field goal from Brennen Schmitt.  UNCP 7, WVSU 3
 
UNCP started the drive with a Caleb Pierce 12-yard completion to EJ Gatling. A trio of rush plays continued the offensive surge for the Braves. Pierce found an open Trey Dixon for a 24-yard completion as the drive ended with an Antonio Crim Jr. touchdown run.  UNCP 14, WVSU 3
2ND QUARTER
Donovan Riddick connected with Devin Washington for a 19-yard gain followed by a completion to Nolan Johnson for a 19-yard gain to get to the three yard line. Riddick saw Jones in the end zone to a WVSU touchdown. UNCP 14, WVSU 10
 
West Virginia State made quick work on offense using just 1:55 and needing only five plays to score. Donovan Riddick's pass up the middle to Joe Jones was complete as Jones ran in for a 36-yard touchdown. WVSU 17, UNCP 14
 
Colin Johnson's rush to the left on fourth-and-one kept the offense alive for UNCP. Antonio Crim Jr. rushed the next three plays for 32 yards to set up Caleb Pierce for a nine-yard pass completion to Trey Dixon for a touchdown. UNCP 21, WVSU 17
3RD QUARTER
WVSU once against wasted no time on offense that started with a 25-yard kickoff return. Joel Fedler rushed up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown to put the hosts back on top. WVSU 24, UNCP 21
 
West Virginia State drove 63 yards down the field, but the UNC Pembroke defense forced an incomplete pass. Brennen Schmitt's 26-yard field goal attempt was good to extend the lead. WVSU 27, UNCP 21
 
EJ Gatling sparked the offense for the Braves with a 37-yard rush for a first down. Antonio Crim Jr. followed it up with an eight-yard rush before Caleb Pierce ran it up the middle for a touchdown. UNCP 28, WVSU 27
4TH QUARTER
Raydarius Freeman and Sean Hill sacked Donovan Riddick for a six-yard loss which forced the Yellow Jackets to settle for a field goal. Brennen Schmitt's attempt from the 30-yard line was good. WVSU 30, UNCP 28
 
Joel Felder found an opening up the middle and rushed for 54 yards to put West Virginia State in great field position. The Yellow Jackets continued to drive down the field and got to the UNCP eight-yard line, which allowed Donovan Riddick to find Nate Baker for a one-yard touchdown pass. WVSU 37, UNCP 28

Caleb Pierce hit Jovany Doe for a 20-yard completion followed by a 33-yard completion for Trey Dixon as UNCP was threatening at the goal line. Pierce found Malik Tobias in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown reception.  WVSU 37, UNCP 35 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
+ Caleb Pierce finished the night 12-for-23 on pass completions for 165 yards. The newcomer also rushed for 22 yards. 
+ Antonio Crim Jr. rushed the ball 16 times for 94 yards and one touchdown. 
+Trey Dixon caught four passes, one of which was a touchdown, for 82 receiving yards. 
+ Sean Hill and Saige Ley each tallied 11 tackles. Jamae Blank finished the night with 11 loss of yards on tackles. 
NOTABLES
+ Thursday's result marked the first time in four seasons that UNCP has lost the conference opener. 
+ The result also marked the first time that West Virginia State has been victorious against UNCP. 
+ It is the second time in the six-game series between the two teams that the outcome was decided by less than three points. 
UP NEXT
The Braves (1-1, 0-1 MEC) will be back in action at home on Saturday, September 16 against Charleston (2-0, 1-0 MEC) for Parents & Families Weekend presented by The View. Kickoff is set for noon at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. 
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.
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