GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Glenville State racked up more than 560 yards of total offense, including 330 in a high-scoring first half, to key a 45-17 victory over the visiting UNC Pembroke football team on Saturday afternoon at Morris Stadium.

Senior quarterback Josh Jones climbed atop the program’s all-time list for career completions with a 12-yard pass to Rodney Smith early in the second quarter, but was unable to lead the Braves (1-2, 1-1 MEC) back from a 21-point halftime deficit. It was the first win in the series for the Pioneers (2-1, 1-1 MEC) who had dropped both previous matchups to the Braves in Glenville as well.

Jones threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-44 passing for the Black & Gold who got a 7-catch, 75-yard showing from Trey Dixon who was on the end of both scoring tosses by Jones. Reigning Mountain East Conference Offensive Player of the Week JaQuan Kelly ran eight times for 44 yards.

Freshman Malik McKinzie registered a season-best seven tackles (3 solo) to pace Code Black, while also logging an assist on a tackle for loss. Red Springs native Austin Chavis turned in a pair of tackles for loss as well.

Josh Jones wasted no time in sparking the UNCP offense, completing 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards on the game’s opening possession before the drive stalled at Glenville State 19-yard line. Regardless, Alex Alvarado gave the visitors a 3-0 lead with a 29-yard field goal.

The Pioneers answered on the ensuing possession, driving 55 yards in just three plays before Jeff Miller plunged in from one yard out for a 7-3 lead. The drive was keyed by a 44-yard pass on the opening play of the possession. GSU 7, UNCP 3

The Black & Gold went to work again on the following possession, driving 76 yards on 12 plays, while also milking more than five minutes off of the game clock. Josh Jones threw for 46 yards on 5-of-8 passing on the possession, including a 7-yard scoring strike to Trey Dixon, which gave the Braves a 10-7 lead.

The hosts kept the back-and-forth going on the ensuing drive. Saeed Galloway rumbled for 27 yards on the opening play of the possession, but the drive eventually stalled and GSU kicker Josh Jones knotted the score up at 10-10 on a 29-yard field goal.

The Pioneers drove 80 yards on just five plays with their initial possession of the second quarter to take a 17-10 lead. Jeff Miller registered a pair of 30+-yard pass completions on the drive, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Javian Bellamy.

The Pioneers got their best opening field position of the day after stuffing the Braves on fourth down near midfield, and then kept their scoring prowess going. The Pioneers used four rushing plays to push themselves across the 50-yard line before Jeff Miller hooked up with Tariq Miller on a 44-yard scoring strike, making it 24-10.

Alfred Menjor busted out a 45-yard run on the opening play of Glenville State’s final possession of the first half to spark a 4-play, 64-yard touchdown drive. Zakee Swann punched it in from two yards out to culminate the scoring possession, and the Pioneers led 31-10 at intermssion.

Glenville State picked up right where it left off on the opening possession for either team in the second half. A holding penalty on first down pushed the Pioneers back 10 yards, but Zakee Swann rattled off an 83-yard scoring scamper three plays later for a 38-10 lead.

The Pioneers tacked up their final points of the afternoon on their next possession, driving 87 yards in 13 plays before DeVante Roberson cashed in on a 5-yard touchdown run to go up 45-10.

A 48-yard punt return by Dante Bowlding early in the fourth quarter gave the Braves their best field position of the afternoon, and the visitors capitalized on the only play of the possession. Josh Jones found Trey Dixon on a short pass to the left side to cap the scoring in the contest at 45-17.

Senior Josh Jones climbed atop the program’s all-time list for passing completions with a 12-yard toss to Rodney Smith on UNCP’s opening possession in the second quarter. Jones finished the afternoon by throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-44 passing.

Redshirt junior Trey Dixon caught seven passes for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He gave UNCP a 10-7 lead on a 7-yard touchdown reception in the opening period.

Freshman Malik McKinzie finished his afternoon with a season-best seven tackles, including three solo stops. He also logged an assist on a tackle for loss.

Saturday’s result marked the first win for Glenville State in the 5-game-old series with the Braves. It was also the most points scored by the Pioneers in the series as well.

The Braves fell to 0-2 away from Pembroke with Saturday’s setback, and are now 5-6 on the road since the close of the 2019 season.

UNCP will snap the lid on a two-game road trip on September 24 when it makes the long trek to northern West Virginia to take on Fairmont State (0-3, 0-2 MEC) at Duvall-Rosier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.