Brad Crawford

Staff writer

PEMBROKE — The University of North Carolina at Pembroke will open its home football schedule Saturday at 6 p.m. against St. Paul’s College.

The Braves will battle an opponent from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association for the second consecutive week, facing a Tigers squad coached by Willard Bailey.

“These first four games are very important for us,” UNCP coach Pete Shinnick said. “We have tape on them from last year and they are a big and physical team. Fayetteville State had a lot of speed guys and athletes.. St. Paul's is just big.”

St. Paul’s College, a Division-II institution located in Lawrenceville, Va., cancelled its first game against West Virginia Wesleyan last Saturday because helmets and shoulder pads had not arrived in time for the season opener. West Virginia Wesleyan athletic director Ken Tyler said Tigers’ athletic director Leroy Bacote called him two days before kickoff to announce the cancellation. Tyler then called Bacote’s choice not to play very unprofessional.

Shinnick says his team is preparing for this game like any other week.

“The game is on,” Shinnick said. “As far as we know, St. Paul’s is coming this way Saturday. Our guys are ready to play.”

UNCP is coming off a 41-34 double overtime win over Fayetteville State, a game in which the Braves rolled up 353 yards rushing. When the Braves did throw it, Cory Smith didn’t miss. The junior quarterback completed 18-of-24 passes and help his team convert on 9-of-18 third down attempts.

“We put a lot of responsibility on Cory,” Shinnick said. “We have tremendous faith in him as our quarterback.”

Newcomer Thomas Dove made quite an impression on Shinnick in his first college game last weekend against Fayetteville State. Dove played as the team’s third receiver in motion sets behind L.J. Johnson and Jamal Williams.

“Thomas had an outstanding game and a great start to his career,” Shinnick said.

The 6-foot-1 freshman from Kinston notched 50 rushing yards and 23 yards receiving against the Broncos.

Jermaine Williams is St. Paul’s key returnee on offense after gaining 365 yards on 70 carries last season. Williams, who also stars on the track team, will share the rushing load with Craig Mangrum. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Christopher Spears and second team All-CIAA defensive end Cordero Cooper headline a talented group of upperclassmen that yielded just 19.5 points-per-game a season ago. Cooper notched 47 tackles in 2008, ranking fifth best on the team.

“We feel good about our defense, a lot of good players are returning,” Bailey said. “We really hope that Spears can have a good season. We have a good group of guys. Small, but good.”

Bailey is 23-24 in five seasons and says a season-opening matchup with the Braves provides a good measuring stick for his team the rest of the season.

“We want to test our skill level and try and be competitive Saturday,” Bailey said. “The only reason we scheduled this game was to play a good opponent, a CIAA-caliber team.”

Crawford’s take

UNCP is coming off a wild victory over Fayetteville State in the Two Rivers Classic and will continue to ride its momentum into Saturday’s game with St.. Paul’s. I expect the Braves to play much better on defense against the Tigers, possibly posting their third shutout in the last 12 games.

UNCP 45, St. Paul ’s 7