By Nicholas Kolsin
The UNCP Braves Football team losing streak continues as they fall to 0-4 (0-2 in MEC) in a 14-7 loss against the Glenville State Pioneers.
Defense stood out early for both teams forcing two punts each on the first four drives of the first quarter. With a minute left in the first, Sophomore Ty Woods trotted out for what would be his career long field goal of 51 yards. He missed the kick keeping the score knotted at 0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Pioneers responded with an 11 play 61 yard drive down to the Braves 5 yard line but they wound up missing the 22 yard field goal. The Braves next drive started hot with a Sincere Baines rush for 25 yards to the Braves 46 yard line. Later in the drive, Colin Johnson hit Que Kennedy on a 26 yard pass down to the pioneer two yard line. On the next play, Baines ended the drive that he started with a touchdown to take the first lead of the game 7-0.
After getting a defensive stop, the Braves got the ball back on the Pioneer 37 yard line after a shanked punt from the Pioneers punter. Two plays later, Johnson hit Kennedy again for a deep ball to get to the 15 yard line with 1:30 left in the half. After being able to get down to the 11 yard line, the Braves lined up for another field goal which they missed again ending the half with a 7-0 lead.
Two plays into the third quarter, the Pioneers Zavione Wood took a handoff and scampered 49 yards all the way down to the Braves 25 yard line. After a 10 yard rush for the Pioneers, Jamae Blank was charged with a personal foul call that brought the Pioneers to half the distance from the goal. Two plays later, the Pioneers punched it in and kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7.
On the ensuing drive, the Braves were not able to get anything going but punter Seth Bowen boomed a 60 yard punt which downed Glenville State inside their 3 yard line. The teams then traded punts for the rest of the quarter each forcing two of their own.
On the first drive of the 4th quarter, with the Pioneers driving they decided to go for it on 4th down deep inside the Braves Territory. Quarterback Anthony Garrett took the snap and called his own number picking up the first down but fumbled as soon as he got past the sticks. The Braves recovered the fumble and got the ball back on their own 34 yard line.
With 10:28 left in the 4th, Glenville State got the ball at their own 19 yard line with the game still knotted at 7. The Braves thought they were able to hold the Pioneers to a three and out on the drive, until, a roughing the passer call on Jamae Blank gave the Pioneers an automatic first down and another shot on the drive. The Pioneers were able to take advantage of the Braves mistake by dinking and dunking down the field chewing six minutes off the clock and scoring on an 8 yard rush to take the 14-7 lead.
After getting the ball at the Pioneers 45 yard line, the Braves drove down the field to get to the GSU 25 yard line at the two minute warning. On the next play, Colin Johnson took a shot at the endzone but was picked off by Mark Shephard in the endzone.
In large part to a Pioneer holding on the first play of the drive, the Braves were able to force a three and out to get the ball back at the Glenville State 35 yard line with a minute 20 left in the game. On first and 20 after a holding call, Colin Johnson looked deep again and got picked off once again at the 15 yard line which ended the game.
Colin Johnson went 17-24 for 154 yards and two interceptions. Sincere Banks had 15 carried for 66 yards and a touchdown. Evan Vanmeter lead the team with 8 sacks. Jamae Blank had the only sack of the game for the Braves.
The Braves will travel to Wheeling, West Virginia to play Wheeling University on October 5.