By Devin McCullough
The UNC Pembroke Braves football team lost their home opener in a tight defensive battle to the Wingate Bulldogs 17-12 Saturday Afternoon. The Braves fall to 0-1 to start the year.
The biggest story of the night was the Braves inability to get anything going on the ground which was a drastic change from last years team. Last year they averaged 220 yards per game on the ground, as opposed to only 104 on Saturday. After the game, Head Coach Mark Hall blamed himself for the lackluster rushing performance.
“We could not run the football. Our offense is predicated on running the ball and Sincere Baines is one of our best players and he had negative ten yards, and that’s not on him, that’s on me as the play caller” Mark Hall said. “I got to do a better job of getting us going in the run game so we can set up everything we want to do.”
The Braves started the season off on the right start with an interception by Darious Edmonson on the third defensive play of the season setting the Braves up at the 16 yard line. Three plays later, Quarterback Collin Johnson found Tight End Jayden Smith for an eight yard touchdown for the Braves first points of the season. The Bulldogs Mark Burks managed to block the Braves extra point attempt making it a 6-0 game.
The Braves defense was not done however, as Mike Matthews was able to force a fumble recovered by Evan Powell to quickly give the Braves the ball back at the Wingate 46. The Braves were not able to capitalize on the turnover as they turned the ball over on downs after a 4th down conversion fail. The Bulldogs then drove down the field on a 12 play 70 yard drive capped off by a 13 yard touchdown run by Corey Siemer.
After both teams settled in with early scores in the first quarter, the defenses for both units answered the call. Both defenses pitched a shutout in the 2nd quarter with the Braves forcing 2 punts and a missed field goal attempt. The Braves trailed 7-6 at the half.
On a 3rd and 17 on the first drive of the half, Quarterback Colin Johnson was intercepted on a 46-yard pass by Wingate’s Joseph Reddish. Wingate responded with a 9-play 53-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown after a penalty was called on the Braves for targeting a quarterback scramble on 3rd and 17 giving them an automatic first down to extend their drive. Wingate took a 14-6 lead with 7:30 left in the third quarter.
The Braves then answered the bell again, this time with an explosive run by Jaquan Albright for a 31-yard gain to ignite some momentum for the Braves offense. 2 plays later, Colin Johnson ran in an 11-yard touchdown to bring the braves within 2 with 5:19 to go in the third quarter. A failed two point conversion on a run by Johnson kept the Bulldogs lead. The Bulldogs immediately responded with a lengthy 7-minute drive resulting in a 26-yard field goal by kicker Caleb Bonesteel to put the Bulldogs up 17-12 with thirteen minutes on the clock in the 4th quarter.
The Braves looking to respond with a touchdown, advanced the ball into the Bulldogs territory reaching to the Bulldogs’ 6-yard line where the Braves offense stalled out on 4th down with an incomplete pass intended for Josh Jenkins. This gave the Bulldogs the ball back with 6:25 left in the game. The Bulldogs burned 6 minutes off the clock before the Braves defense was able to get off the field forcing a 31-yard punt, giving the ball back to the Braves offense with 54 seconds on the clock at their own 23-yard line.
Johnson then went to work throwing two completions getting the team near midfield. On the next play, the Bulldogs were called for roughing the passer penalty, giving the Braves an extra 15 yards to put them at the Bulldogs 39-yard line with 34 seconds left. Johnson then threw a nice ball hitting Jaquan Albright for 15 yards putting the Braves in striking distance at the 24-yard line. Johnson’s late-game heroics came to an end with an interception by Wingate’s Jaquon Edwards while throwing across the middle to end the Braves hopes of a comeback and ending the game at 17-12.
Johnson finished 15-for-26 on passing attempts throwing for 206 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 78 yards on 13 attempts. Jaquan Albright led the team with 5 receptions for 66 yards receiving. It was a collective group effort defensively for the Braves totaling 2 sacks but players like Malik Mckinzie and Jamae Blank flying around the field. The defense forced 2 turnovers with a fumble recovery and an interception returned for 54 yards.
The Braves (0-1, 0-0 MEC) will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Fayetteville to play in the Two Rivers Classic against their rivals Fayetteville State (0-0, 0-0 CIAA) at 6 p.m. next Saturday.