Box Score

GREENSBURG, Pa. - The University of Charleston football team has been steadily improving through the first five games of the season and finally broke loose Saturday to set multiple offensive school records handing head coach Pat Kirkland his first career victory.

Seton Hill (0-6, 0-4) seemed to be destined for their first victory of the season as the Griffins took advantage of an early UC turnover running out to a 14-0 advantage with 1:14 remaining in the opening quarter. The Golden Eagles (1-5, 1-3) looked to be suffering from the same mental mistakes that have handicapped their 2011 season before sophomore Maurice Leak (Waxhaw, NC) jump started the Charleston rushing attack.

Leak closed the first quarter by capping off a quick-strike three-play drive with a 10-yard rushing touchdown as the Golden Eagles covered 79 yards in just 1:03. The Leak scoring scramble was setup by a 65-yard reception by speedster Darrell Byrd (Columbus, OH). The quick comeback would be completed in the second quarter on the next Golden Eagles possession again with Leak putting the finishing touches on a strong drive. The two-headed attack of Jordan Roberts (Madison, WV) and Adrien Jenkins (Bradenton, FL) traded runs four times before Leak dove in for the game tying (14-14) score with 8:38 remaining before the break.

The Griffin defense would do its part in keeping the home team in the contest for the remainder of the second half, but it was the SHU offense that delivered a present to Charleston. Seton Hill was penalized for a personal foul to take possession at their own six yard line. UC benefited on the next play as an arrant snap careened out the back of the end zone for the safety giving Charleston a 16-14 edge going into halftime which they would not relinquish.

Charleston's run game was featured after halftime as they wore down the Seton Hill defense with the Roberts and Jenkins combination. The rushing game moved the ball for UC but it was kicker Puma Nuredini (Naples, FL) who directly benefited as he accounted for six of the 13 points in the third quarter. Nuredini nailed kicks of 22 and 28 yards sandwiched around a three-yard dive into the endzone by Roberts to cap 26-straight points for the Golden Eagles (26-14).

Despite the play of the Charleston offense, Seton Hill got back into the game with a 35-yard strike from Ryan Morris to pull the home team within eight points at 29-21. The Roberts and Jenkins duo made their mark on the game again in the fourth quarter with back-to-back scoring runs to eat seven minutes of the clock. Roberts gave the University of Charleston breathing room with a three yard dive to end a seven-play, 75 yard drive making the score 35-21. Jenkins booked his first career touchdown on the next UC drive as he bounced what looked to be a short-gain to the outside to breakaway for a 52-yard touchdown extending the lead to 42-21.

SHU put seven points on the board with their only rushing score of the afternoon with only 2:36 remaining on the game clock. In what was meant to eat the rest of the clock the Golden Eagles continued to pound the ball with its running game leading to Jenkins breaking out for his second score of the game from 26-yards out after just 36 seconds of possession. The Griffins tacked on a quick score of their own just 26 seconds later, but the damage was done as the 28 yard pass from Morris was the final score in the contest to seal the final score at 49-35.

Records were shattered in the game with the continuous rushing attack by Charleston as the Golden Eagles rumbled for 454 yards to surpass the previous program high of 441. The rushing attack also led to UC breaking the overall total yards in a game record by booking 714 yards as the two teams combined for an exciting day racking up 1,122 yards. Staying par for the course UC also set a new team record for first downs in a contest with 33 on the day.

Nuredini grabbed an honor of his own tying the modern era record for field goals in a game with his two strikes in the third quarter.

The win hands first year head coach Pat Kirkland his first career victory, while recording the football programs 50th win since the revival of the sport in 2003.

Roberts paced the running game on the day netting 192 total yards on 29 runs, while Jenkins trailed just behind with 168 yards to set a career-high at 14.0 yards per attempt. Leak continued to be lethal in both facets of the game as he scrambled for 70 yards, while passing for 260 yards by completing 60 percent of his passes on the afternoon. Byrd had a strong day of his own with 117 yards on just three receptions.

Defensively the Golden Eagles kept the Griffins at bay with four sacks in the game, while Matt Duncan (Jonesborough, TN) led the way with nine total tackles.

Charleston returns home after a three-week road trip to face UNC-Pembroke on Oct. 15 at 1:00 pm. The Braves will enter UC Stadium on Saturday coming off a 58-38 win over Tusculum, today.