HobbsDailyReport.com
PEMBROKE – Sophomore Miles Grant had one touchdown and 100 yards on 18 carries on Saturday, leading UNC Pembroke to a 14-10 win over Lenoir-Rhyne University in a non-conference football game at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
Grant, who was listed on the pre-game depth chart as a backup, scored the decisive points when he capped a five-play, 68-yard drive with a 40-yard run.
The successful conversion by kicker Alex Alvarado gave UNC Pembroke (2-6) a 14-10 lead with 11 minutes to play.
From that point on, it was all UNC Pembroke as the Braves’ defense stifled LRU’s (3-5) offense.
In the fourth quarter, the Bears had an interception, fumble, punt and minus-3 yards of total offense. That included minus 25 yards rushing. The Bears also converted on one of only five third downs and had three penalties for 35 yards.
UNC Pembroke gained 97 yards in the final quarter, converted three of five third downs and averaged nearly five yards per play.
The Bears scored 10 or fewer points for the second time in three games and third time this season.
Coming off a bye week and win, LRU was seeking its first back-to-back wins since a three-game win streak in 2015 under then-head coach Ian Shields.
LRU scored on its first possession with a 54-yard field goal by Chase Allbaugh to cap a six-play, 50-yard drive with 10 minutes left.
The Braves took a 7-3 lead at halftime on the heels of a 35-yard pass from E.J. Williams to JoJo Spann with 21 seconds left in the first half.
LRU regained the lead on its second possession of the second half when Nelson Brown capped a seven-play, 45-yard drive with a 2-yard run with 6:48 left in the third quarter.
Led by Grant, UNC Pembroke outgained the Bears 355-209.
The Braves held Brown– second in the South Atlantic Conference in rushing with an average of 112.3 yards per game coming in — to 59 yards on 16 carries.
LRU closes out the season with Carson-Newman at Mortez Stadium on Saturday in the final regular-season home game and travels to Catawba on Nov. 11.
The Bears must win the final two games to avoid a second straight losing season.
LRU has not had a losing record in back-to-back seasons since going 3-8, 5-6 in 2008 and 2009 when Fred Goldsmith was the head coach.