No. 17 UNCP Moves To 3-0 With 41-20 Win Over Shaw in Cape Fear Classic

WILMINGTON, North Carolina  -- Senior Luke Charles turned in his ninth career 300-yard passing game and matched a 5-year old school record with five touchdown passes to help lead No. 17 UNC Pembroke to a 41-20 victory over Shaw in the inaugural Cape Fear Classic on Saturday afternoon at Wilmington's Legion Stadium.

Charles threw for 361 yards on 28-of-41 passing to lead the Braves (3-0), while sophomore wide receiver John Rich matched a school record with three touchdown receptions for the second-straight week. Senior Te'Vell Williams hauled in eight catches for 148 yards, including a game-sealing 42-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, as well.

The Black & Gold racked up 533 yards of total offense on the day – its most since accumulating 539 yards in a win at Charleston (W.Va.) on Oct. 15, 2011. Williams's 148 receiving yards were the second-most of his career and ranks fourth all-time (tie) in school history.



L.J. Stroman was UNCP's defensive leader for the second-straight outing, tallying a career-best 11 tackles (11 solo), while also grabbing an interception that set up UNCP's first quarter touchdown. Senior all-American Fred Williams added nine tackles (seven solo), as well as a fumble recovery, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.

"I am just really proud of our guys," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "Except for a few plays here and there, we played a great first half. Luke has played fantastic these first three games. He works his butt off and spends a lot of time watching film and it is paying off for him."
T
he Braves took a 24-7 lead on Charles's 7-yard touchdown pass to Rich with 3:50 to play in the second quarter, but the Bears climbed back into the contest on Marquise Grizzle's (21-97, 2 TD) 46-yard scoring gallop 99 seconds later, and then cut their deficit to just four points, 24-20, with Grizzle's 4-yard run on the first possession of the second half.

UNC Pembroke would put the game away in the fourth quarter, however, as Rich scored his third touchdown of the game on a 7-yard reception with 12:53 to play, and the Braves capitalized on a costly fumble by Shaw on the ensuing possession when Charles found Williams on a 42-yard touchdown strike down the near sideline on the following play.

Michael Doss's first career field goal – a 21-yarder with 4:59 left on the clock – would provide the final.

The Braves will be in action again on Saturday when they return home to tangle with region and U.S. 74 nemesis Wingate (1-0) in a 2 p.m. contest at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

Shaw opens CIAA play next week when they travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. for a 6:00 p.m. contest against Chowan.

 

"We've got to step it up and play some big time defense," said Massey.  "This was not a conference loss, and next week becomes more important because it is conference play."

Box Score

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PEMBROKE AND SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION