Braves’ running back Travis Daniels ran for 78 yards in the Black and Gold’s 41-12 loss to Arkansas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Football playoffs.
The Black and Gold football team saw their 2009 season come to a close Nov. 14, as the Braves fell 41-13 to Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Ark., in the first round of the NCAA Division II Football playoffs.
The No. 5 seeded Braves mustered up just 295 yards of total offense against the No. 4 seeded Wonder Boys, while the Arkansas Tech offense threw for over 500 yards against the Black and Gold defense.
“They always found away to keep going, when we put them in 3-12, ATU seemed to always get a first down,” UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick said. “We as a team need to play perfect in order to win and I felt we played close, but ATU played nearly perfect football and I congratulate them on that.”
ATU scores
Arkansas Tech took control of the matchup early as the home team engineered a four play, 60-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Arkansas Tech quarterback Nick Graziano completed two passes for 53 yards on the drive, including a 43 yard pass to wide receiver Landon Turner for the Wonder Boy’s first touchdown.
Six minutes later, Arkansas Tech round the end zone again, this time on a four yard rush by running back Cody Burns to give ATU a commanding 14-0 lead with 5:59 left in the first quarter. Graziano again carved through the Braves’ defense, picking up 35 yards on the six play drive for the score.
Braves' Sports Blog 