Southern beats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 47-40 behind record-tying day from Austin Howard

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- On a day the Southern defense allowed too many points for comfort against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, senior quarterback Austin Howard turned in a performance as crisp as the autumn weather Saturday.

Howard matched his career high with five touchdown passes, tying Dray Joseph’s school record with 73, and leading Southern to a wild 47-40 win Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.

“We needed him to play well tonight,” Jaguars coach Dawson Odums said.

It was the best performance of the season for the senior, who missed two games with a knee injury in September and dealt with rust and limited mobility for several weeks after that.

Howard finished the game 22 of 32 with 245 yards and his five touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns came in the first half, when he was especially sharp.

“He had full command of what we were trying to do, and I was pleased with that,” Odums said.

And Southern (5-3, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) needed that performance Saturday, as the struggling Golden Lions (2-6, 1-3) were determined not to be pushovers.



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