PVAMU Panthers Dominate UAPB Golden Lions

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  – The Prairie View A&M University football team made its final push for the FCS Playoffs with a dominant 57-7 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday afternoon at Golden Lion Stadium.

The Panthers (7-4 overall, 7-2 SWAC) posted their highest point total, highest passing yards total (400) and highest total yardage output (552) of the season in completing the regular season and will now await their playoff fate as the FCS Playoff Selection show airs Sunday at 10 a.m. on ESPNU.

Defensively, the Panthers pitched a shutout, as the Golden Lions' only score came on a kickoff return for touchdown. The defense forced three turnovers while yielding a season low in passing yards (81) and total 239 yards. CB Arthur Lockett returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown.

"For the first time all year, I thought we played well in all three phases," Prairie View A&M head coach Willie Simmons said. "Offensively, we didn't turn the ball over, threw for 400 yards, were able to run the ball in the second half and able to make some explosive plays on that side of the ball. Defensively, aside from a few quarterback runs, we really shut them down. They played really well, flew around all day, forced turnovers, and made a couple of sacks. On special teams, other than allowing the kick return for score, I thought they did a really good job. For the first time all year, I thought we played a complete game and got a win against a formidable opponent playing on Senior Day. Hopefully, we'll have some good fortune tomorrow."

QB Trey Green had season highs in completions (23) and passing yards (400) and threw a career-high five touchdown passes. A trio of scoring passes went to WR Khadarel Hodge, who set a career in TD receptions in catching five passes for 128 yards.

"Trey made a ton of good decisions today," Simmons said. "He really did a good job of sitting in the pocket and delivering the football. You have to tip your hat to the offensive line for making him comfortable so he could deliver those throws. The running backs did a good job picking up pressures, and the receivers did a great job of getting open and making plays. Trey showed why he's capable of being one of the better quarterbacks in this league."

The Panthers scored touchdowns on their first two drives, four of five full first-half possessions, and seven of the first eight possessions in a turnover-free game by the offense.

A nine-play, 92-yard drive set the tone for the day. Green completed all six pass attempts on the drive, the last a nine-yard scoring pass to Darius Floyd for a 6-0 lead with 8:23 to play in the first quarter.

On the ensuing UAPB possession, Lockett made his pick six for a 13-0 lead with just over five minutes to play in the period.

Following a three-and-out forced by the Panther defense, Hodge caught the first of his three scoring passes on the next drive, a 34-yard scoring play that gave Prairie View A&M a 19-0 lead after one period.

In the second quarter, the Panthers covered 80 yards in only three plays. Hodge's 64-yard catch and run for score increased the lead to 26-0 with just over nine minutes to play until halftime.

A UAPB fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Panthers' Reggie Stubblefileld. Just three plays later, Demarquo Lastrappe caught 27-yard scoring pass which gave PVAMU a 33-0 lead it would take to halftime.

The Panthers put long scoring drives together on their first three second-half possessions. An eight-play, 70-yard drive ended with the third Green-to-Hodge scoring pass, a four-yard TD pass for a 40-0 lead. A 10-play, 83-yard drive ended with Sta'fon McCray's 13-yard run TD run for a 47-0 lead.

Following the Golden Lions' lone score, the Panthers drove 67 yards in seven plays, capped off by McCray's one-yard scoring run. Armaury Martinez' 37-yard field goal completed the scoring.

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