Beck Cross, Arkansas Democrat-GazetteUAPB Moore to start Junior quarterback Johnathan Moore, who came on in relief of senior starter Chris Wallace and threw two touchdown passes in last week’s 21-3 victory at Alcorn State, will start Saturday against Alabama State at Golden Lion Stadium. Wallace, the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, has not practiced this week and likely will not play Saturday because of a bout with the flu. “He [Wallace ] has been sick all week and I didn’t let him practice this week and he’s not going to play this week,” UAPB Coach Mo Forte said. “He’s had the flu and has been coughing... It’s exhaustion and his body is just run down.”
Saturday will mark Moore’s third career start. He started last year’s SWAC championship game against Alabama A&M and led the Golden Lions to a 7-6 halftime advantage before Wallace entered the game in the second half. UAPB lost 22-13.
“I feel good with Johnathan,” Forte said. “He’s been waiting for his opportunity and he has talent and skills. I’m looking forward to seeing him manage this football team.” Defense shines
UAPB’s offense has struggled in its first two games, but there’s no complaining about the defense’s play under coordinator Monte Coleman.
UAPB’s defense leads the SWAC, yielding only 190. 5 yards per game and also boasts the top run defense, which is giving up 23 yards per game.
Junior end Ledarious Anthony, who was named the SWAC’s defensive player of the week, has 19 total tackles and leads the conference with 1 3 / 2 sacks. Mental block ?
Alabama State remains the only team in the SWAC that UAPB has yet to beat in three seasons under Coach Mo Forte.
In fact, the Hornets have beaten the Golden Lions in four consecutive matchups and six out of the past seven, capped by last year’s 31-13 victory in Montgomery, Ala. It marked the most lopsided loss of the season for UAPB, which went on to win the West Division title.
Alabama State, which was picked in preseason to finish third in the East Division, could be the surprise team of the conference. The Hornets are 2-0 with victories against perennial power Jacksonville State (24-19 ) and at Texas Southern (21-10 ). UAPB to honor 10
UAPB will add 10 members to its sports hall of fame at its annual banquet tonight at the Junior League Building in Little Rock.
Those being inducted former football and basketball Coach Charles “Pop” Spearman, football standout Allie Freeman, former Little Rock Hall Coach Oliver Elders, former NFL player Caesar Belser, track standout Aaron Harris, All-SWAC basketball player Jesse Mason, Jr., former Little Rock Hall football Coach Roy Wade, women’s basketball players Helen Hughes-Smith and Susan Weaver-Vasser and 1996 Olympic trials participant Demetrica Hayes-Thomas.
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