Arkansas-Pine Bluff gets a huge road win against Prairie View

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's victory over the Prairie View A&M Panthers can simply be described as amazing. The Golden Lions battling through several first half miscues to steal a victory on the road against a Panthers team looking to keep their title aspirations alive in what looks to be a SWAC race that will go down until the final week of conference play.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell behind 19-7 going into intermission after a first half in which the Golden Lions gave up three safeties triggered by the injury of long snapper Patrick Wray.

Down by twelve to start the first half the Golden Lions cut into the deficit after a 16-yard Desmond Beverly touchdown reception from Ben Anderson at the 11:33 mark of the third quarter.

The Panthers would counter with two consecutive scores of their own scoring on a 26- yard Chris Barrick field goal followed by a three yard touchdown pass by Jerry Lovelocke to Idowu Olatunde giving Prairie View its largest lead of the contest at 29-14 late in the third quarter.

Down by fifteen points with their backs against the wall the Golden Lions dug deep virtually dominating the game on both sides of the ball from that point.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff's defense pitched a shut-out in the second half while the offense under the direction of Anderson kept the Panthers defense on their toes with big conversions and timely plays.

UAPB's amazing comeback quest began at the start of the fourth quarter when Anderson found Beverly for an 18-yard TD pass marking the quarterback-wide receiver combinations' second touchdown strike of the game.

From that point the offensive front of the Golden Lions took over the game imposing their will on a tired and over matched Panthers' front seven while opening up huge holes for Arkansas-Pine Bluff's ground attack. Running back Stephen Jones capped of a 12 play 76 yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 7:27 mark of the fourth quarter.



Still down by two-points the Golden Lions coaching staff opted to go for two in an attempt to tie the game. After a fumbled snap in the shotgun formation Anderson was able to recover the snap and run it in from three yards out bringing the Golden Lions fans at Blackshear Stadium to their feet as UAPB tied the game at 29 all in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing Panthers possession the Golden Lions defense perhaps came up with their biggest play of the game as Jarvis Webb intercepted a Lovelocke pass attempt setting the offense up with good field possession with 3:00 remaining on the game clock.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff methodically drove the ball down into the Panthers red zone highlighted by a running game that would not be denied. Jones punched in the final score of the game with 24 seconds left in to play giving the Golden Lions their first lead of the contest at 36-29 after a successful Chris Ewald extra point. The game clinching touchdown run by Jones' marked his third TD rush of the game.

The defense held the Panthers scoreless on their final possession of the game as a desperation Lovelocke pass into the end zone was batted down by the UAPB secondary.

The win marked head coach Monte Coleman's first victory over Prairie View A&M since taking over UAPB's football program. It was also the first Golden Lions win over the Panthers since 2007.

'Our players never gave up,” said UAPB head coach Monte Coleman. “We fell behind early in the game but we never lost focus. At halftime we told our players to execute and stick with the game plan. In the second half our defense, running game, and the composure of Ben Anderson helped us pull out this victory.”

The Golden Lions will travel to St. Louis this weekend to participate in the Gateway Classic where they will face Clark-Atlanta in non-conference action. Kick-off is set for 3:00 pm at the Edward Jones Dome.

By UAPB Sports Information