UNC-Pembroke spoils Senior Night at VSU

UNC-Pembroke (8-1) quarterback Luke Charles threw for 408 passing yards along with three touchdowns, running back Rontonio Stanle added 103 yards on the ground in a 34-23 win over Valdosta State (5-4) Thursday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

Blazer linebacker Chris Pope became the school's all-time tackles leader on Senior Night surpassing Minnesota Viking Larry Dean and Atlanta Falcons legend Jessie Tuggle.

“It's a great honor because so many great players have been through Valdosta,” Pope said. “Once the game got started I didn't really think about it (breaking the record) until they finally announced that I had broke it, then it hit me.”

Unfortunately for VSU, the Black Swarm didn't make enough tackles to slow the Braves offense down.

UNCP got on the scoreboard on its first drive of the night which was capped off with a 24-yard field goal by Connor Haskins.

Both teams swapped possession twice before the Braves extended their lead in the final minutes of the first quarter.

The 57-yard scoring drive ended when Charles hooked up with receiver Te'vell Williams for a 14-yard touchdown catch.

The Braves had a 10-0 advantage heading into the second quarter.

UNCP made its lead more comfortable on its first possession of quarter when Charles and Williams linked up yet again from 10 yards out.

VSU quarterback Cayden Cochran, who has been bothered by a injured right ankle, struggled to get his offense in a consistent flow.

The first four Blazer drives ended with a punt, failing to keep the chains moving.

UNCP took advantage of their opponent's stale offense once again tacking on to its lead toward the end of the first half.

Haskins knocked down his second of the night on that drive – this one from 25 yards out.

It took the Blazers until four minutes away from intermission to reach the Braves territory, nonetheless, they would capitalize after arriving.

Cochran found his number one receiver, Seantavious Jones, on a 69-yard bomb which cut the deficit to 20-7.

VSU managed to get another shot on offense with two minutes left in the first half.

On a fourth down and long situation, Cochran scrambling to his left and found receiver Willie Downs open yet his pass sailed too high to give him a chance to snag it.

Cochran aggravated his tender ankle on that final offensive play for VSU which very possibly could have been the senior's last.

Backup quarterback Kaleb Nobles started the rest of the second half.

UNCP led 20-7 to start the third quarter.

Blazer linebacker Justin Williams forced a fumble less than a minute in and cornerback Manny Evans recovered.

Nobles and company took advantage.

The offense needed just four plays before running back Cedric O'Neal danced his way into the end-zone on an impressive 37-yard touchdown run.

UNCP now had a slender 20-14 lead.

The ensuing drive Stanle recorded 39 of his total 103 rushing yards. Stanle ended the 75-yard drive following a 19-yard touchdown run.

An ideal punt by VSU's Dom Demasi placed UNCP on its own goal-line to start the next drive, but VSU linebacker Jeremy Grable dragged Stanle down in the end zone to force a safety on the first play.

With less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Braves were up 27-16.

The Braves turned the ball over again on their next drive when Charles made a bad read under-throwing his intended receiver and VSU cornerback Dominique Wheeler was there to return the interception for a touchdown.

VSU got as close to 27-23 before things slowly slipped away.

Charles wouldn't disappoint on his next drive.

The senior quarterback found Stanle for a 87-yard touchdown just two offensive plays later from his ill-advised throw.

UNCP went up 34-23 going into the final quarter.

Both teams traded possession without any score for the majority of the fourth quarter.

The Blazers eventually got themselves back into scoring position yet it was under a minute left in the game when they did so.

After a 5-yard toss to Reggie Lewis in the end zone, Nobles was sacked on the 2-point conversion attempt.

VSU luckily recovered its onside kick to make things interesting in the final seconds.

All hopes of a rally evaporated quickly when Nobles first pass of the potential game-winning drive was intercepted to seal the Braves victory.

VSU will play its final game next week at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

“It's a learning experience for everyone returning next year,” head coach David Dean said. “We have to travel well over to A&M Kingsville and find a way to win that ball game. Send these guys out the right way with a winning season. And go into the offseason with a win and be positive.”