Two of the hottest teams in Division II football square off Saturday afternoon when No. 19 UNC Pembroke travels to face North Greenville in a first-place showdown that could preview the inaugural Conference Carolinas Championship Game in November.
The Braves have been North Carolina’s top D2 story this fall, riding a six-game winning streak and ranking No. 1 in NC Football News’ Fabulous 15 for the past three weeks. At 6-1 overall, UNCP owns the best record among all 33 college football programs in the state. Coach Mark Hall’s team moved up to No. 19 in D2Football.com national poll this week and No. 20 in the AFCA coaches poll.
North Greenville enters with the same spotless 3-0 conference mark but boasts three non-conference losses against Gulf South powers Delta State, West Florida and West Alabama. The Trailblazers are surging after two straight league wins, outscoring Erskine and Chowan by a combined 61-16 margin.
🏈 Game Vitals
Matchup: No. 19 UNC Pembroke (6-1, 3-0) at North Greenville (3-3, 3-0)
Where: Younts Stadium | Tigerville, S.C.
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 | 2 p.m. ET
TV: Conference Carolinas Digital Network
Last Meeting: UNC Pembroke 49, North Greenville 35 (2016)
Massey Prediction: UNCP 31, North Greenville 27
⚔️ 5 Things to Know About the Matchup
1. Top Two Offenses and Defenses Go Head-to-Head
UNC Pembroke leads Conference Carolinas in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense and total defense. North Greenville is second in all four categories. The Braves and Trailblazers have certainly solidified themselves as the class of the league in its first season of football in roughly five decades. UNCP averaged 35.0 points per game, while North Greenville averages 28.7.
2. Quarterback Duel Could Decide It
UNCP’s Tre Robinson and NGU’s Dylan Ramirez also have separated themselves as the league’s premier passers. Robinson leads the conference with 1,582 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, while Ramirez is close behind at 1,554 yards and 13 scores. Robinson is more of a dual-threat, logging 336 yards and 5 more TDs on the ground.
3. Weapons Abound for UNCP’s Air Attack
Few D2 teams can match the Braves’ depth at receiver:
- Que Kennedy: 31 catches, 586 yards, 9 TDs (league leader in both yards and TDs)
- Jaquan Albright: 42 receptions, 554 yards, 4 TDs
- Malik Brown: 16 receptions, 422 yards, 6 TDs, a conference-best 26.4 yards per catch
- Joel Felder: 17 receptions, 139 yards, 1 TD
4. North Greenville’s Ground Game Brings Balance
Running back Reggion Bennett ranks third in the league with 437 rushing yards, giving the Trailblazers a physical counterpunch to Ramirez’s passing.
5. History and Stakes
The programs haven’t met since 2016 — a 49-35 UNC Pembroke victory behind six total touchdowns from Patrick O’Brien. Saturday’s winner will control the inside track to hosting the Conference Carolinas title game on Nov. 15.
⭐ Key Players
UNC Pembroke: QB Tre Robinson, WR Que Kennedy, WR Malik Brown, LB Jadin Baptist, DB Donovan Woods (4 INTs, 5 PBUs).
North Greenville: QB Dylan Ramirez, RB Reggion Bennett, WRs TJ Holmes & Zay Hill, DL Chris Davis.
🔮 What to Expect / Prediction
Both teams can light up the scoreboard, and both have proven they can defend. Expect a back-and-forth contest shaped by which teams can turn the other over and convert their own red-zone chances. North Greenville’s home field edge and physicality could make this tight, but UNC Pembroke’s passing depth and defensive balance give the Braves a slight edge.
Prediction: UNC Pembroke 38, North Greenville 30
