A week after facing a balanced attack from Tusculum, the UNCP football team faced a more one-dimensional offensive approach from Newberry on the road. The Wolves racked up three rushing touchdowns in their first four drives to kick off a 28-6 triumph over the Braves on Sept. 30.
UNCP held Newberry to 126 passing yards, but the Wolves amassed 184 yards on the ground. Austin Barnes led the way for the hosts with 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 attempts. Greg Ruff and Nick Jones both notched rushing touchdowns as well.
Meanwhile, UNCP’s running back corps proved to be ineffective. Josh Sheridan took on the heaviest workload of the group, rushing for just 29 yards on 10 carries. It was the second consecutive game in which Sheridan finished under the 30-yard benchmark.
The Braves’ lone touchdown resulted from a 40 yard-pass from redshirt freshman Dominick Samson to redshirt senior JoJo Spann midway through the first quarter. Alex Alvarado failed to connect in the ensuing extra point attempt.
Although Newberry jumped to a 21-6 lead at halftime, the Braves nearly shut them out in the second half until a 4-yard score by Ruff late in the fourth quarter put UNCP away for good.
Senior receiver E.J. Williams notched a team-high four receptions to go along with 43 yards for the Braves.
Samson finished 12 for 23 with 127 yards and two interceptions. It was the third consecutive game in which he was picked off more than one time.
Ruff got the most playing time out of three quarterbacks used by the Wolves. He was 6 for 7 with 106 yards.
Defensive lineman Tyler Hinton was an issue in the backfield, tallying three sacks for the Braves as part of an otherwise lackluster defensive effort.
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