By Devin McCullough
The UNCP Braves Football Team dominated Senior Day with a 41-point victory against Frostburg Bobcats Saturday afternoon.
Collin Johnson finished the game 21-for-33 on passing attempts throwing for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns. Josiah Hayes led the team with 7 catches for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hayes shattered a record recording 16 touchdowns receptions this season. The Braves also had 3 players finish with over 50 yards rushing, making it a complete day offensively. The Braves defense only allowed 125 yards of total offense, recording 3 team sacks and 4 turnovers.
It was pure dominance from the opening drive with coach calling plays and the offense executing to near perfection. This resulted in a 6-play 79-yard touchdown drive with Josiah Hayes making a 33-yard grab to get the Braves on the board first.
The Braves made a huge mistake on their first kickoff of the game resulting in a touchdown for the Bobcats and tying the game at 7.
The Braves offense only gained 2-yards on their next drive forcing them to punt, we finally got a look at the Braves defense for the first time in the game. Bobcats gained a first down moving the ball past midfield, and faced with a 4th and 2, Jakori Hood would set the tone for the day with a huge sack to deny the Bobcats a first down.
The Braves answer with a long sustaining drive that was hurt by penalties once entering the Bobcats territory. The Braves would end up settling for a 25-yard field goal to make the score, 10-7, Braves lead.
The Braves special teams woes would continue on the next kickoff allowing a 41-yard return, putting the Bobcats near midfield. The drive stalled out due to the Braves defense line which seem unmovable at times. The Braves defense would force an immediate punt after giving up only one first down.
The Braves offense started deep in their own territory at 13-yard line. Josiah Hayes and Collin Johnson would connect on an electrifying 58-yard pass, setting up another laser from Johnson to Jayden Smith from 15 yards out to finish out a 5 play drive covering 87 yards to begin the second quarter.
The Braves defense would stand strong once again to get off the field quickly, forcing a 3 and out allowing the next possession to keep the Braves offense in rhythm.
The Braves offense did exactly that. The ground attack remained efficient, and the Bobcats couldn’t tell a run from the pass. Sincere Baines had an explosive run for 23-yards to put the Braves inside the 5-yard line, where Josiah Hayes would score his second touchdown of the game on a touchdown reception, making the score 23-7 due to a missed extra point.
Midway through the second quarter, the Braves defense didn’t break a sweat and went another possession without allowing a first down, giving the ball quickly back to the offense once again.
The Braves didn’t generate much offense on their next drive with a quick 3 and out and being forced to punt. The Bobcats would take over inside their own 20-yard line where they would move the chains this time. The Bobcats air attack would stall out nearing the red zone with a turnover on downs blown up by J’Vin Farmer nearing the 2-minute mark.
The Braves 2-minute offense did move the ball past midfield, but eventually would stall out with a turnover on downs. The Bobcats would manage to get 3 points before halftime with a 40-yard field goal, edging them closer with a 10-23 deficit for the Bobcats.
The Braves defense picked up right where they left off from the first half, forcing an immediate 3 and out on the opening drive. The Braves defense is locked in and the Bobcats offense is looking lost. The Braves would continue working in sync , with help from another explosive run by Sincere Baines for 18 yards, and Que Kennedy making an appearance for a 16-yard reception. Johnson would connect for another touchdown to Jayden Smith for his second of the day, extending the lead to 30-10.
The special team woes also continued from the first half, with a kick return going for 86-yards setting the Bobcats up inside the 5 and eventually scoring a touchdown making the score 30-17.
The Braves offense continued their rhythm with huge chunk plays on the ground, and in the air. Johnson would keep the defense guessing, using his legs to gain 12-yards to open the drive, and connecting with Hayes twice, both for a gain of 16-yards. Johnson would later on finish the drive off with a 9-yard touchdown run to extend the Braves lead again, 37-17.
The Braves special teams would handle their duties this time, allowing only a 15-yard return. The Braves defense would continue their dominance with Marquis Raspberry intercepting the Bobcats, heading into the fourth quarter.
The Braves would turn the ball over on downs on their next drive,but a momentum swinging play is made once again by the Braves defense, a pick sice bye edge, Jamae Blank returning it all the way from 50-yards. The score would increase 44-17.
The Braves get stingy when they go right back onto the field. They forced another interception, this time by Fredrick Sellars, giving the Braves a short field.
Sincere Baines would get in the endzone 6-plays later, stretching the lead 51-17. The Bobcats fumble on their first play of their next drive with Landen Ford stripping the ball, and Evan Powell recovering it with another short-field opportunity for the Braves offense. Johnson would connect with Jaquan Albright 7-plays later, making the score a lopsided 58-17, which would end up being the final score.
The Braves (5-5, 5-3 MEC) will travel to University of Concord (1-9, 1-7 MEC) on November 16th at 1pm.