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Malik Brown 2026 vs. FSU
Israel Anta
31
Winner UNC Pembroke PEM 2-1 , 1-0
24
Shorter SHO 1-2 , 0-1
Winner
UNC Pembroke PEM
2-1 , 1-0
31
Final
24
Shorter SHO
1-2 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
PEM UNC Pembroke 7 3 14 7 31
SHO Shorter 0 7 14 3 24

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

Special Teams, Defense Help Lead Football Past Shorter

ROME, Ga. - UNC Pembroke used two kickoff return touchdowns, a pick six, and a Jared Navidad field goal before the offense sealed the game with a fourth-quarter touchdown to take a 31-24 win over Shorter in Conference Carolinas action Saturday afternoon at Barron Stadium.

Malik Brown housed kickoff return touchdowns of 88 and 91 yards, while Fredrick Sellars added a 69-yard interception return touchdown. Josh Ehrlich's fourth-quarter, 36-yard touchdown run provided the game's final margin.

The Braves (2-1, 1-0 CC) improved to 2-0 all-time against the Hawks (1-2, 0-1 CC).
 
THE BASICS
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 31, Shorter 24
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 2-1, 1-0 CC; Shorter 1-2, 0-1 CC
LOCATION: Rome, Ga. (Barron Stadium)
HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST QUARTER
Malik Brown got things started with a bang, taking the opening kickoff 88 yards to the house. (UNCP 7-0)
Shorter's first offensive drive spanned nearly 11 minutes and went for 20 plays and 84 yards, but was all for naught as the Hawks missed a 32-yard field goal attempt to end the possession.
2ND QUARTER
Shorter's first drive of the quarter started at the UNCP 41-yard line after a Pembroke fumble. Jeb Walls found Alex Garnett for a 14-yard reception and two plays later connected with Silas Hinson for a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. (7-7)
UNC Pembroke's ensuing possession featured a 39-yard rush from Anthony Greene before the drive stalled. Jared Navidad drilled a 46-yard field goal to regain the lead. (10-7 UNCP)
Shorter's attempt to tie the game failed, as Edgar Bermudez missed his second field goal of the day, this time from 36 yards.
The Hawks' game-tying field goal attempt was no good once again, as Bermudez missed from 44 yards to end the half and send the Braves into the half up 10-7.
3RD QUARTER
Shorter claimed its first lead of the game in a hurry, as Walls found Kyree Jenkins for a 67-yard touchdown on the second play of the quarter. (14-10 Shorter)
After a Shorter interception ended UNCP's ensuing possession, the Hawks once again struck fast as Walls found Jenkins for another touchdown pass, this time from 25 yards out. (21-10 Shorter)
Malik Brown answered right back, taking the kickoff back 91 yards for his second return touchdown of the day. (21-17 Shorter)
The Black & Gold reclaimed the lead as Fredrick Sellars picked off a Walls pass at the 31-yard line and took it home for a very nice 69-yard touchdown. (24-21 UNCP)
4TH QUARTER
Shorter found itself in a first-and-goal situation at the UNCP four-yard line, but the Braves defense stood up and held the Hawks to a 21-yard field goal. (24-24)
Facing a third-and-six at Shorter's 44-yard line, Ehrlich found Aaron Osborne for a crucial eight-yard completion, before Ehrlich took the next play to paydirt from 36 yards out. (31-24 UNCP)
Shorter put together a promising start to its ensuing possession, getting a 36-yard rush from David Hill, before a Dennis Sims catch gave the Hawks a first down at the Pembroke 24-yard line. Facing fourth-and-two, Isi Etute put the game on ice with a sack.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
+ Josh Ehrlich ran 13 times for a team-high 94 yards and a touchdown.
+ Anthony Greene chipped in with 10 carries for a career-high 71 yards.
+ Malik Brown returned four kickoffs for 215 yards, including touchdowns of 88 and 91 yards.
+ Fredrick Sellars added a 69-yard pick six.
+ Britton Pascoe and Myles Hudson each logged a team-high eight tackles.
+ Mitchell Lake punted three times for an average of 52 yards, including a 67-yard boot.
NOTABLES
+ Shorter ran 77 plays for 475 yards, while UNCP ran 48 plays for 234 yards.
+ The Hawks won the time of possession 34:05 to 25:55.
+ UNCP allowed five Shorter redzone chances, but gave up points just twice.
+ Malik Brown became the first Brave in program history to log two kickoff return touchdowns in a game.
UP NEXT
The Braves will be back in action Saturday, September 19 as they host No. 10 Valdosta State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, with the game being presented by CF Smith Property Group.
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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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