In a weekend filled with memorable wins for North Carolina college football programs, UNC Pembroke delivered a program-defining moment, blanking No. 20 Valdosta State 31-0 on the road.
The Braves – the latest North Carolina College Football Team of the Week – not only handed last year’s Division II national runner-up a stunning defeat, they snapped the Blazers’ 395-game scoring streak that had stretched back to 1991. According to D2Football.com, no team had shut out Valdosta State in 34 years.
The Braves’ defense was relentless, stuffing a ground game that entered the contest averaging more than 220 rushing yards and limiting it to just 20 yards on 22 carries. Jamiel Davis sealed the statement win with a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown, while Donovan Woods and Britton Pascoe also had picks as UNCP forced four turnovers.
On offense, Que Kennedy provided the knockout blows with three catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yarder late in the third quarter. Quarterbacks Tre Robinson (119 yards, 1 TD) and Marcus Martin (112 yards, 1 TD) combined for 231 passing yards to keep the attack balanced. Add it up, and it’s not only one of the biggest wins in UNC Pembroke history, but also one of the most eye-catching results in all of Division II this weekend.
UNCP’s feat got the attention of national pollsters. The Braves enter the D2Football.com media poll at No. 24 this week. They are ranked No. 25 in the AFCA coaches poll.
Valdosta State, which hosts Lenoir-Rhyne this Saturday, is now 1-2 against North Carolina competition on the season. Johnson C. Smith also beat the Blazers in September, earning NC College Team of the Week honors for their feat as well.
🏆 Honorable Mention Picks
- Duke – Rolled Syracuse 38-3 on the road behind 504 yards of offense and a defense that allowed just a single field goal. Nate Sheppard ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while Darian Mensah threw for 268 yards and two scores.
- East Carolina – Dominated defending American champion Army 28-6 in a Thursday night nationally televised broadcast, led by Katin Houser’s 251 passing yards, 3 total TDs. Best play of the whole weekend: Backup holder Kyler Pearson’s 32-yard TD run on fake field goal in fourth quarter.
- Fayetteville State – Dominated in a 34-14 win over Virginia State, knocking the Trojans out of the Top 25. The Broncos racked up six sacks, 12 tackles for loss and forced three turnovers.
- Johnson C. Smith – Gave homecoming fans a show, dropping 69 points in one of the program’s most lopsided victories, a rout of Bluefield State.
- Chowan – Earned its first-ever Conference Carolinas win, a 30-29 victory at Shorter sealed by Maurice Smith’s late rushing touchdown and two fourth-quarter interceptions from the defense.
- Catawba & Mars Hill – Both closed out nonconference play with quality wins — Catawba over Southern Connecticut State and Mars Hill against Division III power Mary Hardin-Baylor — setting up a big SAC clash in Salisbury this coming weekend.
- Elon – Picked up its first CAA win of the year, handling Hampton 41-20 to improve to 3-2 on the season.
