Pembroke, N.C. – North Greenville overcame a three-score deficit on Saturday to down UNC Pembroke 42 – 41 in the final road game of three game stint. The Trailblazers have now come back from at least two scores down in four of their five games this season including erasing three score deficits in two of the five. This is the first time in recorded history that North Greenville has started a season 5 – 0.
An early start time Saturday might have played a factor in the early woes as the Braves scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to put NGU in a 21 – hole. One of those drives was an 18 – play 92 – yard drive that took up almost 10 – minutes of game time. The Braves other two touchdowns a 12 – yard rushing score and a 68 – yard touchdown pass.
The Trailblazers began to show some life in the second quarter.
Kam Montgomery scored one of his six touchdowns on the day with a one-yard rushing score that topped off an 8 – play 75 – yard scoring drive to cut the lead to 21 – 7. Montgomery's touchdown run was the first of 28 – unanswered scores by NGU. North Greenville's defense came up big forcing consecutive punts by the Braves as the momentum began to shift in NGU's favor.
The Trailblazers capitalized on the opportunities with touchdown passes of four yards and 12 – yards to
Everett Joyner and
Sam Washam to even the score just before halftime. The Braves had one more opportunity to score before half but a Hail Mary attempt was picked off by NGU as the clock ran out. The momentum carried over into the second half as NGU scored on its opening drive to make it 28 – 21. It would go back and forth from there.
Jaiden McDowell would be credited with a 16 – yard touchdown catch.
The top – two Conference Carolinas teams would trade blows for the final 27 – minutes of the game. North Greenville's second half scores would come on a 75 – yard touchdown reception from
Sam Washam and a go – ahead touchdown rushing touchdown by Montgomery which put NGU ahead 42 – 35 with just over a minute left in the game.
The Braves offense had one more answer for North Greenville as they marched down the field in one minute, punching in their final score with an opportunity to send the game to overtime. Pembroke elected instead to go for the win by trying the two point conversion. The Trailblazer defense sniffed out the option / pitch to the left however to keep the score at 42 – 41. North Greenville would recover the onside kick to secure the win.
Kam Montgomery proved why he was one of the best players in the region on Saturday accounting for 372 – yards of total offense and six total touchdowns. He ran for 133 – yards and two scores while throwing for 259 – yards and four touchdowns to power NGU.
Sam Washam had 100 – yards receiving and two scores while
Jonathan Manley had 80 – yards on two receptions. Montgomery's 372 – yards ranks him second in NGU history in total yards in a game while his six scores is tied for first in program history with two other players (
Dylan Ramirez & Matt Moore).
Defensively North Greenville was led by
Jamie Downing Jr. who nine total tackles.
Jaden James finished the game with seven stops and a team high two tackles for a loss.
Gavin Calhoun had six tackles while
Jeremiah Lomax picked off a pass to account for the lone turnover in the game.
Next Up
A much deserved travel break for the road-weary Trailblazers as they play the first of back – to – back home games next week against Chowan at 12 PM.
