Football 10/31/2015 5:53:00 PM

Jackets Drop 45-21 Gridiron Decision

Box Score
     The Yellow Jackets looked rested and ready to go after Friday's long bus ride as they jumped out to a quick 13-7 lead Saturday at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in a non-conference match-up.
    But the Braves eventually took control and closed out the first half with three touchdowns on the way to a 45-21 win in the first ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
    WVSU (5-4) looked sharp early as the Jackets took the opening kickoff and marched 72 yards in nine plays with Kelvit Barrett powering in from the one for a 7-0 lead. Matt Kinnick, who completed his first seven pass atempts, connected with Tyrell Henderson for 21 yards and Dionta Brown had back-to-back carries for 22 and 11 yards to set up the score.
    Pembroke (5-3) answered with a 75 yard scoring drive of its own to tie things up.
    It did not take long for the Yellow Jackets to retake the lead though as Kinnick hit Trevond Reese for 12 yards then found Josh Caiquo down the right sideline for a 54-yard scoring strike to make the score 13-7 after the extra point attempt was blocked.
    After the squads traded three-and-out possessions the momentum began to swing though.
    The Braves, who improved to 4-0 at home, put together back-to-back-to-back plays of 16,15, and 40 yards to take a 14-13 lead with 3:58 to play in the first quarter.
     After stopping the Jackets again Pembroke widened its lead to 21-13 with a 12-play, 72 yard drive.
     WVSU turned the ball over on its ensuing possession and the Braves capitalized to move ahead 28-13 going into halftime.
     The hosts managed to maintain that momentum through the break as they took the second half kickoff and promptly marched 82 yards to go up 35-13 with the final play a 43-yard pass.
    Pembroke struck quickly to score its final touchdown of the day with a 83-yard pass play on first down later in the period.
    In the fourth quarter the Yellow Jackets showed they still had fight left in them by putting together a nine-play, 82 yard, scoring drive that ended with Kinnick finding Akil Washington from 5 yards out with 5:53 to play.
    The Braves wrapped up the scoring with a 45-yard field goal on their next possession while running over three minutes off the clock.
    The Pembroke defense hounded Kinnick all day as he was sacked a season high five times. He was still able to complete 27-of-40 pass attempts for 312 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
    Brown carried the ball 13 times for 61 yards and Barrett 12 times for 53.
    Reese finished with seven catches for 45 yards while Washington picked up 73 yards on five grabs.
    The Yellow Jackets return to Mountain East Conference action next Saturday when they travel to Concord for a 1 p.m. meeting with the Mountain Lions.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Kelvit Barrett: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#20 Dionta Brown: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#4 Josh Caiquo: WR; 6' 0"; Senior

#3 Matt Kinnick: QB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#16 Akil Washington: WR; 6' 1"; Junior

#81 Tyrell Henderson: WR; 6' 0"; Freshman

#13 Trevond Reese: WR; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#25 Kelvit Barrett
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#20 Dionta Brown
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#4 Josh Caiquo
: 6' 0"; Senior
: WR

#3 Matt Kinnick
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: QB

#16 Akil Washington
: 6' 1"; Junior
: WR

#81 Tyrell Henderson
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: WR

#13 Trevond Reese
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: WR