Box Score
Kentucky Wesleyan fell in North Carolina on Saturday 43-20 to nationally rated UNC Pembroke 43-20. The Panthers fall to 1-6 on the season with the loss. KWC gave a great effort, and led the game late in the third quarter, before being shutout in the fourth.
UNC Pembroke got on the board first with a 93-yard kickoff return to open the game. The extra point was blocked giving the Braves a 6-0 advantage. Pembroke would extend their lead early in the second quarter off of a 30-yard touchdown pass. The Braves also added a field goal to take a 16-0 lead.
Kentucky Wesleyan responded with a six-play 75-yard drive to cut the deficit down to 16-7. Josiah Israel punched it in from one-yard away. Israel scored a touchdown in last week's contest at Northwestern State.
Pembroke added three more points off of a short field goal as time expired in the quarter, to take a 19-7 lead at the break.
The Panthers produced a solid drive to open up the second half. Damarcus Smith connected with Travion Tucker from 37 yards out for a touchdown, and cut into the Braves' lead at 19-14.
Nick Hines forced a fumble on the ensuing UNCP possession to give the Panthers the football back after UNCP was driving deep into KWC territory.
Kentucky Wesleyan's offense found its way down the field again, and Smith hit Keelan Cole on a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers the 20-19 edge midway through the third quarter of play.
The Braves would re-take the lead after a 51-yard field goal gave Pembroke a 22-20 advantage late in the third quarter.
After a promising drive by the Panthers, Smith was hit and picked off for a 41-yard interception touchdown return, and the Braves went up 29-20, with 40 seconds left in the quarter.
The game began to slip away from KWC in the fourth quarter. UNCP scored on an 88-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 36-20.
Later on in the fourth, Eman Westmoreland's punt was blocked and returned for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 43-20 Braves.
Kentucky Wesleyan was held scoreless for the entire fourth quarter. The Panthers finished the contest with 353 total yards of offense. Damarcus Smith finished the day going 16-34 for 285 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Keelan Cole collected seven catches for 149 yards receiving and also one touchdown score. Travion Tucker brought in 63 receiving yards and a touchdown as well.
Josiah Israel led the Panthers on the ground with 57 rushing yards and a touchdown. Trey Waltermire posted three catches for 45 yards receiving.
Ty Martin-Miles led the Panthers defense with a team-high 10 total tackles. He also registered a team-high six solo tackles. Jamir Johnson recorded seven total tackles in the game. James Todd and Michael Malone each notched six tackles.
Kentucky Wesleyan will return to Owensboro next Saturday for a home game against nationally rated Ashland at Steele Stadium. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start.
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