Box Score

PEMBROKE, N.C. - Jordan Roberts (Madison, WV) exploded for 327 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns on the ground, one by air and another on a kickoff return to lead the University of Charleston football team as they upset No. 24 ranked UNC-Pembroke 42-30, Saturday afternoon on the road.

UNC-Pembroke (5-2) came into the contest as strong hopeful for a Super Region 1 playoff bid and looked the part in their opening drive behind the passing of Luke Charles. The Golden Eagle defense bent early but never broke as they finally found their strength in pressuring the mobile quarterback to force a 39-yard field goal attempt, which would fall short for the Braves and begin the turn of the momentum for UC.

The ground game took control for Charleston on the ensuing drive as Maurice Leak (Waxhax, NC) got the drive started with a 16 yard scamper. After a pass inteference penalty handed the visitors 15 more yards Roberts took the ball into the endzone on the next snap from 22 yards out for the early 7-0 lead.

UNCP duplicated their effort from the drive before after the UC touchdown to get within striking distance in Golden Eagle territory, but for the second straight drive the Charleston defense responded by holding their ground to force a field goal. This time the Braves converted for three points with the 28 yard effort.

In another momentum swing after a sustained Pembroke drive UC again leaned on Roberts who responded by taking the kickoff to the house to book 100 return yards and place his team ahead 14-3 to shock the crowd of over 3,000 at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Charleston silenced the crowd after the Braves received the ball on the next drive with the defense sticking the high-octane Pembroke offense to a three-and-out. On the punt Isaiah Gibson (Hampton, VA) was able to slip the contain unit to block the effort at the 38 yard line, which Ahmed Shakoor (Stone Montain, GA) scooped up and ran into the endzone for a 21-3 advantage.

The second quarter was highlighted by an early comeback effort by UNCP who scored 13-straight points after the Roberts kick return touchdown. Pembroke used sustained drives to eat nearly 11 minutes off the clock as they pulled within 21-16. Special teams proved to still be going strong as Charleston blocked the extra point on the second UNCP score.

A short kickoff gave UC the ball on their next possession at the 35 yard line, which saw the upset minded visitors go back to their strength on the ground. The next drive featured seven running plays with Roberts seeing the ball five times capped by his blast into the endzone from two yards away to put more cushion on the scoreboard at 28-16.

Pembroke did little to help themselves with the next possession as three-straight incomplete passes led to just a 26 second drive allowing the University of Charleston another look at the endzone before halftime. UC used the final two minutes of the half to march down the field with Leak connecting through the middle with Roberts for a big first down. The first down play setup a gadget play where Roberts took a toss right before firing a strike down field to Shaq Williams (Charleston,WV) for a 31 yard touchdown and send the teams to the locker room with Charleston ahead 35-16.

In the second half both teams made major adjustments which led to more defense and less offense for both sides.

UNC-Pembroke pulled within 35-23 with the only points in the third quarter coming from a 19 yard touchdown pass from gunslinger Luke Charles. UC didn't sit on its two possession lead as they opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown run by Leak who had put himself in position for the three yard drive by connecting with Roberts the play before with a 19 yard completion.

42 points would be plenty for the University of Charleston to secure the victory as they used the rest of the fourth quarter pounding the ball on the ground to eat clock. The Braves tacked on seven points going away to set the final score at 42-30.

School career rushing leader Roberts continued his hot-streak with 144 yards on 26 attempts, while battery-mate CJ Stallworth provided a great change of pace with four rushes for 38 yards (9.5 yards per attempt). Leak had his best passing game of the season by completing 16-of-20 attempts for 150 yards with Williams benefiting with 96 yards receiving on the day.

Charleston's defense allowed Luke Charles to put up 273 passing yards, but kept him outside of the red zone for much of the afternoon with Nathaniel Berry (Miami, FL) coming up with a threat ending interception. UC completely shutdown the Braves' run game allowing just 88 yards on 23 attempts.

For the day UC outgained Pembroke 409-361 in the game, but special teams played proved to be the difference maker. Roberts' 100-yard kickoff return touchdown sets the University of Charleston school-record for longest return in program history, while the Gibson punt block returned by Shakoor was the first punt block touchdown for the Golden Eagles since resuming football in 2003.

The win also gives Charleston its second win over a top-25 opponent in as many years. Last season, UC upset then undefeated and No. 11 ranked WV Wesleyan.

Roberts and company continue their late-season four-game road trip next weekend with a trip to West Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 20 for a 1:00 pm contest. The Hilltoppers today upset WVIAC frontrunner and No. 25 ranked Shepherd 17-16.