Texas Southern Holds Off UAPB for 24-20 Win

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  In their Southwestern Athletic Conference home opener, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Football fell to Texas Southern, 24-20 here Saturday night at Golden Lion Stadium.

UAPB scored on their very first possession of the game with a big run by Bryan Handley for 21 yards, a 19 yard pass reception from Marcus Terrell to Kyle Coleman and a 17 yard reception to John Hawkins from Terrell.  Then just three plays later, Nicholas Woodfork punched it from two yards giving the Golden Lions, a 7-0, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive, taking 6:41 off of the clock, with 4:57 left to go in the first quarter.

The Golden Lions increased their lead to 10-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Jamie Gillan with 9:58 left in the second quarter.

TSU cut UAPB's lead to 10-7, when Johnathan Bowen connected with Derrick Griffin from 48 yards out with 8:07 left in the second, capping a five-play, 72-yard, drive by the Tigers.

Clyde Lee set up TSU's second TD of the game  as he block  an UAPB punt, setting up a Darrell Robinson two-yard TD run with 12:41 left in the third, giving the Tigers, a 14-13 lead.

A Jaimon Peterson 89-yard kickoff return setup UAPB's next score as Woodfork scored his second TD of the game, giving the Golden Lions a 20-14 lead with 11:50 left in the third.

TSU reclaimed the lead on a Robinson two-yard run with 7:37 left in the third, giving the Tigers a 21-20 lead.

The Tigers added to their lead on a 22-yard field goal by Eric Medina, giving TSU a 24-20 lead.

On their final possession of the game, UAPB marched the length of the field to the TSU 19 yard line.    But could not convert a fourth and five as TSU intercepted the ball in the end zone, securing the Tigers the 24-20 victory.

Handley led the Golden Lions ground attack as he finished with 53 yards on 12 carries, followed by Terrell with 50 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Terrell finished the contest with 189 yards passing by completing 18 passes in 32 attempts with two interceptions.

Willie Young led the Golden Lion receivers with 76 yards receiving on seven receptions with his longest catch being for 23 yards.

Both Kyle Walker and Willie Duncan as they both finished with eight tackles apiece, while Walker tallied one sack and Duncan finished with one quarterback hurry.

TSU was led by Robinson with 57 yards on 16 carries with two TDs.

Johnathan Bowen led the Tigers' aerial attack as he passed for 178 yards by completing 12 passes in 24 attempts with one TD and one interceptions, while Larry Clark led the TSU receivers with 48 yards on three receptions.

UAPB will return to action on Saturday, September 26 as they will travel to Normal, Ala., to take on Alabama A&M in the Louis Crews Classic in a 2 p.m. start.

Box Score

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION