BREVARD, N.C. – Brevard running back Nazayah Brown found daylight as he scampered 31 yards for a touchdown, following a pass from O’Shay Carter, to help Brevard earn a 21-14 victory over Virginia Lynchburg on Homecoming Weekend.
The Tornados’ offense, which sputtered for a majority of contest, put together a pair a fourth quarter drives that were instrumental in the second victory this season.
A 92-yard kickoff return by Tomas Newman to open the second half provided Virginia Lynchburg with a 14-7 advantage heading into the final quarter as Brevard’s offense looked to get back on track.
The Tornados managed to do exactly that as they began their opening drive of the fourth quarter at the 33-yard line. Carter opened with a 20-yard completion to Bubba Craven to move into Virginia Lynchburg territory.
Two plays later Carter again hit Craven, this time for a 14-yard gain, as Brevard moved to the 16, following a personal foul by Marvin Grunshie. The rhythm between the junior quarterback and his leading receiver continued on the following play as he hit Craven in stride for the game-tying 16-yard touchdown.
Brevard’s defense stepped up in a clutch moment on Virginia Lynchburg’s first possession of the fourth, allowing one first down as it forced a 34-yard punt to set up the offense on its own 20-yard line with 10:25 remaining.
Carter opened the drive with a 14-yard pass to Craven before finding Tyler Gregory down the middle for a 37-yard gain that moved the Tornados to the Dragon 31-yard line. Two plays later, Nazayah Brown broke free of three Virginia Lynchburg defenders as he gave Brevard a 21-14 lead on the 31-yard touchdown.
Brevard’s defense helped complete the victory, allowing just three first downs in the final 10 plays of the contest.
Carter capped off another solid outing for the Tornados, finishing with three touchdowns and 273 yards passing by virtue of a 25-for-36 performance. He becomes the third Brevard quarterback, since the team moved to the NCAA ranks in 2007, to have at least two multi-TD passing performances in the same season. The others were Kye Hamilton in 2008 and Aaron Reese in 2011.
Craven was also an instrumental cog in the Brevard offense, which tallied 271 total yards on the afternoon, as he hauled in eight catches for 112 yards and a pair of scores. Craven becomes the first receiver since 2007 to have two games in which he caught at least two touchdowns.
Defensively, the combination of Jinsly Jhon and Jason Nieradka caused havoc for the Tornados, who came away with 61 total tackles, including 13 tackles for losses totaling 49 yards. Virginia Lynchburg’s offense was also slowed by 17 penalties for 149 yards.
The Tornado offense got off to a quick start, taking over at their own 40-yard line after a 31-yard return by Xavier Brown. Carter surgically picked apart the Dragon defense, hitting Nazayah Brown, Gregory and Xavier Brown in succession to move to the Virginia Lynchburg 33.
Two plays later, with the Tornados at the Virginia Lynchburg 22, Carter hit an open Craven who scored the first points of the contest.
Brevard crossed over midfield in its second drive of the game, but the Dragon defense kept the Tornados out of the endzone as they forced a Tyler Beam punt. The third Tornado possession of the opening half ended on a Hopkins fumble at the Brevard 39, recovered by Derwin Whitt.
That miscue resulted in the first Virginia Lynchburg score as the Dragons put together an eight-play, 39-yard drive that resulted in a Thomas Jones 14-yard pass to Kevin McBride that pulled the Dragons within one point.
Virginia Lynchburg capped off the opening half with 220 yards on 34 plays, including 150 through the air, while Brevard countered with 117 yards of total offense that was keyed by 88 yards passing.
Brevard’s season continues next Saturday when the Tornados head to Methodist University for a 1 p.m. contest with the Monarchs.