Charleston, W. Va – The University of Charleston would host the UNC Pembroke Braves on Saturday for their Homecoming Weekend matchup in front of a Golden Eagle-faithful crowd. Although the turf was already heated up with the high temperature in the middle of September, Charleston managed to raise the heat on the field with 569 yards of total offense, with nearly a third of the yards coming from the man himself, Chavon Wright.

The Basics
Location: University of Charleston Stadium
Score: UC 58, UNCP 36
Records: UC 3-0 (1-0 MEC), UNCP 0-3 (0-1 MEC)

How it Happened
Charleston, who was voted first in the Mountain East Conference preseason rankings, went toe-to-toe with the Braves who finished second in the preseason rankings, making this a highly anticipated battle that many had their eyes on. The Braves started the game off with a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown on the opening kickoff to take an incredibly quick 7-0 lead. After a three-and-out start for Charleston's offense, Pembroke drove down the field and cashed in for another touchdown taking a stunning 14-0 lead over the 19th ranked team in the country. The Golden Eagles, down two scores early on, found the endzone for their first touchdown on a short eight-yard connection from Javonte Howard to Yves Bosmans to cut the lead in half. On Charleston's next drive, they once again found the endzone after Chavon Wright punched it in from three yards out to even the ballgame at 14-14. The Braves would retake the lead at 21-14 after Colin Johnson's seven-yard pass to Josiah Hayes, putting them back in the driver's seat with the advantage.

The shootout would continue in the second quarter as Chavon Wright made an incredible play on a short throw that ended in big yards after breaking tackles through multiple defenders, finishing through the play in the endzone to match Pembroke's touchdown leveling the game once again at 21-21. With 8:23 on the clock in the second, Charleston found their first lead of the day after a chip-shot three-pointer from Levi Paxton to take the 24-21 advantage. Shortly after, Pembroke would take the lead back after a 30-yard reception from Josiah Hayes in the endzone for the 28-24 lead. Yves Bosmans would find his second score of the day on a highlight-reel catch in the endzone, moving Charleston ahead at 31-28. The Braves fumbled the ball on an errant pitch that was collected by Nate Caldwell to secure the lead heading into the halftime break.

Charleston received the opening second half kickoff and used their first possession to march downfield and score on yet another Chavon Wright rushing touchdown – this time from 32 yards out to extend the lead to 38-28. Aden Miller grabbed an extra possession for the Golden Eagles as he would intercept Johnson's pass over the middle, putting Charleston's offense back on the field for another drive that ended in six. Wright would punch it in once again from a yard out to extend the lead to 45-28. After forcing a three-and-out on defense, the Golden Eagles took the game over on a deep pass over the middle from Ean Hamric to Bosmans into the endzone for the 51-28 lead. Louikenzy Jules would spread

the game's turnover margin to three after picking off Johnson on a deep throw to put Charleston's rolling offense on the field once more. Hamric and Bosmans would connect for another score from 28-yards out to create a 30-point lead in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Braves would be stuffed at the goal line by the Charleston defense four times as the Golden Eagles would prevail deep in their own territory and keep the second half shutout alive. On Pembroke's next drive after a Charleston punt, they would find their only touchdown of the half on a connection from Johnson to Keshawn Jefferson to put the game's score at 58-36. The Braves' final drive ended with Marquise Herron's second interception of the year, securing Charleston's first Mountain East Conference victory of the year.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles will be on the road this week to Athens, WV, taking on the Mountain Lions of Concord University on September 28th with kickoff set for 1:00 PM.