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Josh Ehrich 08.27.26
Israel Anta
13
Wingate WIN 0-1 , 0-0
21
Winner UNC Pembroke PEM 1-0 , 0-0
Wingate WIN
0-1 , 0-0
13
Final
21
UNC Pembroke PEM
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIN Wingate 0 13 0 0 13
PEM UNC Pembroke 0 0 7 14 21

Game Recap: Football | | Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

Defense Shines As Football Takes Down No. 19 Wingate

PEMBROKE - No. 19 Wingate took a 13-0 lead into halftime, but UNC Pembroke flipped the script in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 21-0 to take a 21-13 non-conference win in each team's season opener Thursday night at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

After a nearly two-hour delay to start the first half, the Braves held Wingate to just 63 yards on 23 offensive plays in the second half, and turned 36 plays into 131 yards of offense to complete the comeback and secure the win.

The Braves (1-0) halted a six-game losing streak to the Bulldogs (0-1), winning for the first time in the series since September 28, 2013. 

The victory also marked UNCP's third season-opening win in three tries against ranked opponents, joining the 2013 team (25-21 vs. No. 5 Winston-Salem State) and 2009 squad (41-34 at No. 24 Fayetteville State).

 
THE BASICS
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 21, No. 19 Wingate 13
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 1-0; Wingate 0-1
LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Grace P. Johnson Stadium)
HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST QUARTER
The two teams combined for five drives in the first quarter, but could only amass a combined four first downs. Wingate had its second possession thwarted after TaShawn Jeter jumped on a Jayshawn Appling fumble to give the Braves the ball back. UNCP's final first quarter possession spanned into the second quarter, but a promising drive ended with Wingate stopping the Braves on a 4th-and-3 from the Bulldogs 17-yard line.
2ND QUARTER
Wingate got on the scoreboard first as Ethan Wallace ran for 26 yards to start the drive. Kayden Bash hauled in a 19-yard reception, while Wallace got the Bulldogs inside the red zone. Brooks Brien found Aaron Griffin for a 15-yard touchdown, but Mason Suber's extra-point attempt was no good. (6-0 Wingate)
A Noah Collins 22-yard punt return would give the Bulldogs the ball in plus territory, who saw its drive extended via penalty. Wallace's ten-yard run got them on the doorstep, and his one-yard touchdown run a play later extended the Wingate lead. (13-0 Wingate)
The Braves ensuing possession stalled before Mitchell Lake's punt was muffed and recovered by Justin Foreman at the Wingate 31-yard line to give UNCP the ball back with 26 seconds left in the first half, but Jared Navidad's 49-yard field goal attempt to end the half was no good.
3RD QUARTER
Mason Suber's 29-yard field goal attempt was no good to end Wingate's first drive of the second half, while the Braves responded with a 15 play, 80-yard drive spearheaded by quarterback Josh Ehrlich's 41 rushing yards. A Wingate penalty would put the ball at their own four-yard line, and Ehrlich would eventually convert a 4th-and-1 quarterback sneak to put the Braves on the board (13-7 Wingate)
4TH QUARTER
Tyler Cross started the fourth quarter with his first reception as a Brave, going for 14 yards to enter Wingate territory. The drive was extended on a Wingate roughing the passer penalty on fourth down to put the ball at the 11-yard line. Jake Davids ran for five yards on first down, and then added a six-yard touchdown catch to cap off a 16 play, 71-yard drive to give the Braves the lead. (14-13 UNCP)
Wingate got the ball back with 1:50 remaining, but Myles Hudson picked off Brien's pass on the first play of the drive and scampered home for a 22-yard pick six. (21-13 UNCP)
The Bulldogs final drive started with a defensive pass interference to move the ball to its own 43-yard line, but the Braves pass defense forced four straight incompletions, including Darrell Scott's pass breakup on Wingate's fourth-down attempt to seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
+ Josh Ehrlich completed 20 of 31 passing attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. Ehrlich also added 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
+ Avery Curtis hauled in a game-high 11 passes for 49 yards in his collegiate debut.
+ Jadin Baptist racked up a game-high 10 tackles and two pass break ups, while Fred Giles tallied six tackles, three quarterback hurries, two TFLs, and a sack in his first game as a Brave.
+ Mitchell Lake punted five times for an average of 50.4 yards, including a long of 56 yards.
NOTABLES
+ UNC Pembroke out-gained Wingate 216-204.
+ Each team converted 2-of-3 red zone chances.
+ The Black & Gold won the time of possession 37:59 to 22:01 and forced three Wingate turnovers while not giving up any.
+ The Braves allowed just 68 yards passing, marking the fewest in a game since also allowing 68 on November 16, 2019 against UVA Wise.
UP NEXT
The Braves will be back in action Saturday, September 5 as they make the short trip to take on Fayetteville State in the Two Rivers Classic. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium.
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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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