- DIVISION III -

UNC Pembroke rolls past Wheeling with big second half

Receiver Trey Dixon caught four touchdown passes from Colin Johnson

Published

September 30, 2023

Trey Dixon caught a school-record four touchdown passes in Saturday's win. (Photo courtesy UNC Pembroke).

Colin Johnson threw six touchdown passes, Trey Dixon caught four of them, and UNC Pembroke dominated Wheeling 40-21 on Saturday afternoon.

Johnson matched the school record for TD throws set by Luke Charles. Dixon now has two school records all to himself with his four touchdown receptions and 240 receiving yards.

UNC Pembroke won for the second week in a row, improving to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain East Conference. The Braves piled up 503 yards of total offense in the victory. Wheeling dropped to 3-2, 2-2 MEC.

The game was tied 20-20 in the third quarter after a Wheeling passing touchdown. An 18-yard Johnson-to-Dixon pass put the Braves ahead for good. Malik Tobias hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass. Dixon’s final TD came on a 73-yard play early in the fourth quarter.

UNC Pembroke’s defense rose up when needed. The Braves stopped Wheeling on four fourth-down plays. Jordan Gregg picked off a pass and had 10 tackles. Justin Foreman also had an interception to go with eight tackles. Sean Hill made seven tackles, recovered a fumble and recorded a sack.

Jayden Smith had the other UNCP touchdown, starting the scoring in the first quarter by catching a 4-yard pass from Johnson.