The Cardinals would receive the game's opening kick-off, but were held up on their opening drive as Trey Brady backed up the Braves with a 40-yard punt that put them at their own 34 yard line. However, the Braves proceeded to drive 74 yards to take the game's first lead with a touchdown. They missed the extra point and at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter it was a 6-0 Braves lead. Wheeling responded with a long drive of their own, going from their 27 yard line to the Pembroke 14 yard line while running four minutes off the clock. Joao Lima would come on to attempt a 31-yard field goal and sailed it through the uprights to put Wheeling on the board and cut the Pembroke lead to 6-3 with 2:14 to go in the first.
 

That 6-3 score would remain heading into the second quarter as defense was strong early. Both teams were forced to punt on their first drives of the second quarter before the Cardinals got the ball back with 10:47 Left on the clock. Running back Elijah Young help lead the team down to the Pembroke 15-yard line, On a pair of runs during the next drive. It's set up quarterback Landon Lutz who completed a 15-yard touchdown to Jermawn Ford that gave wheeling their first lead of the night at 10-6. It was Lutz's second touchdown pass since taking over as a starting quarterback and his third this season to give the Cardinals a lead. However, UNC Pembroke responded two drives later with their second touchdown of the game that gave them a 13-10 lead with just over 3 minutes to play in the half.
 

The Cardinals would get the ball back with a minute to go as J.R. Atkinson intercepted a pass to set the team up on the Pembroke 22 yd line. Wheeling was able to get down to the 4-yard line with just seconds to play before the half, and Lima was once again called on and sailed the 21-yard kick through the uprights to send the teams into halftime with a score tied at 13-13. As the third quarter started, UNC Pembroke would come out hot throwing a 75-yard touchdown pass that broke the tie and gave the Braves a 20-13 lead. It was a shock coming out of the half but Wheeling wasn't ready to lay down if they came back with their first drive of the third quarter and went 72 yards on 12 plays. The drive ended with a 13 yard touchdown strike from Lutz to DaeDae Drummer and the Cardinals would tie the game again at 20-20.
 

As the third quarter ended, UNC Pembroke would tack on two more touchdowns and entered the fourth quarter leading 34-20. The Braves tacked on one more touchdown to start the fourth quarter and moved their lead to 41-20 with 13:52 to play. The Cardinals would put together two more attempts at the end zone, the first coming with 8:50 left and the second to end the game. Both times the Cardinals were intercepted to end the threats and the game would finish with UNC Pembroke picking up the 41-20 win. It drops the Cardinals to 2-2 in MEC play to start the season as they get ready to come home for their homecoming game next Saturday.
 

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Quarterback Landon Lutz, who finished 20-43, throwing for 239 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was the first multi-touchdown game of Lutz's career in his second career start as he continues to lead the Cardinals offense. Jermaine Earl was his top target of the day, pulling in five catches for 57 yards, while DaeDae Drummer and Jermawn Ford each pulled in the touchdown passes. Elijah Young led the running game with 13 carries for 55 yards, while Tre'Ron Fullerton added seven carries for 43 yards. Dalton Hoover once again led the defensive effort with nine tackles, five solo and four assisted, while picking up one sack on the day.
 

The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, October 7th, when they host West Virginia Wesleyan for their Homecoming Game with kick-off at 12 PM.