UNC Pembroke waited a year for another shot at North Greenville in the Conference Carolinas Bowl. The Braves made the most of their opportunity Saturday afternoon.
Malik Brown hauled in a 91-yard touchdown pass from Josh Ehrlich with 2:14 remaining, lifting UNC Pembroke to a dramatic 21-14 victory over North Greenville at Younts Stadium. The win secures for the Braves the Conference Carolinas automatic berth into the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
The Braves (9-2) avenged three recent losses to the Trailblazers — last year’s conference championship game and a 42-41 setback earlier this season among them — while punching their ticket to the national postseason for the fourth time in program history.
UNC Pembroke previously reached the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009, 2013 and 2016.
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Josh Ehrlich, named the championship game’s Most Valuable Player, completed 11 of 19 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Brown caught six passes for 139 yards and two scores, including the game-winner.
Braves Rally Twice in Second Half
North Greenville (8-3) controlled much of the afternoon with its rushing attack, finishing with 238 yards on the ground while limiting UNC Pembroke to just 52 rushing yards.
The Trailblazers struck first on Deshawn Tompkins’ 16-yard touchdown run with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter.
UNC Pembroke answered before halftime when Ehrlich connected with Brown on a 19-yard scoring pass with 52 seconds remaining, sending the teams into intermission tied 7-7.
After a scoreless third quarter, North Greenville reclaimed the lead on Brendan Mansinne’s 7-yard touchdown run just 44 seconds into the fourth.
The Braves responded almost immediately.
Ehrlich found Bryson Simpkins for a 51-yard gain, setting up a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jake Davids that tied the game 14-14 with 12:20 remaining.
Neither team scored again until UNC Pembroke took possession at its own 8-yard line with 3:04 to play.
After a 1-yard run, Ehrlich connected with Brown over the middle for a 91-yard touchdown that put the Braves ahead for the first time.
North Greenville’s final possession ended on downs, allowing UNC Pembroke to run out the clock and celebrate the championship.
Defense Makes the Difference
Despite surrendering 238 rushing yards, the Braves held North Greenville to just 36 passing yards on 6-of-14 completions.
TaShawn Jeter and Antoine Doyle Jr. led the defense with eight tackles apiece, while Jadin Baptist recorded seven tackles and a sack. Jackson Dadich added an interception.
North Greenville finished with 274 total yards, compared with 303 for UNC Pembroke.
The Trailblazers’ Maurice Anderson rushed for 70 yards, while Tompkins added 51 yards and a touchdown.
UNC Pembroke offensive lineman Matthew Hynes also earned the Conference Carolinas Elite Scholar Athlete Award.
What’s Next for UNC Pembroke?
The Braves, who narrowly missed the playoffs last year, won’t have to sweat the NCAA’s D2 selection process this time. The Braves will learn their playoff seed and first-round opponent during Sunday’s Division II selection show at 6 p.m.
First-round games are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21.
For UNC Pembroke, the victory represents more than a conference championship. It marks the program’s return to the national playoff stage after a 10-year absence. The Braves are 0-3 all-time in the playoffs.
