UAPB Golden Lions Hold-Off PV Panthers

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Pine Bluff, AR- It was senior day for the Golden Lion football team, as they hosted the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University. This was also the day head coach Monte Coleman received his first SWAC Western Division trophy as a head coach.

Spirits were high as the Golden Lions struck first when senior Quarterback William Dunn found Ladarius Eckwood on a five yard touchdown pass four minutes into the ballgame. Then the track meet began.

Prairie View would answer right back Courtney Brown found the end zone from five yards out to cap a nine play, 55 yard drive.

The Golden Lions would score two more touchdowns in the first quarter, first on a seven yard jaunt by Justin Billings; then Ben Anderson would find Desmond Beverly on 24 yard pitch and catch to close out the first quarter 21-7.

But the Panthers would not be out done, as they marched 55 yards on 10 plays to find glory one more time, but the extra point was missed by Chris Barrick; that would prove to be costly later on in the ballgame.




Anderson would find Beverly once again, this time on 10 yard touchdown reception to push the score to 28- 13, in favor of the Golden Lions. Prairie View would answer back with two scores to pull within one. But Anderson would strike again, this time he found Alton Taylor on a five yard swing pass to go up 35-27 just before the half.

The Panthers came out of the half on their opening possession and drive 62 yards to make it a 35-34 ballgame. Anderson would score on a 19 yard run late in the third quarter to give UAPB a 42-34 lead.

Prairie View would find the end zone one more time to give the ball game its final score 42-41.

Defensively, the Golden Lions were led by senior linebacker Bill Ross who had 12 tackles, five solo and seven assisted. The Golden Lions had three others players with double-digit tackles as well. Xavier Lofton had 11, Ryan Shaw and Jarvis Webb each had 10, respectively. Buck Buchanan Award nominee, Brandon Thurmond, had another sack on the day brining his NCAA leading total to 16.5.

The Golden Lions will have a small break for the Thanksgiving holiday, then it's back to work as they prepare to face the Tigers of Jackson State in the SWAC championship game on December, 8^th, at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, AL. Kick-off is set for 12:00 pm.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS