Alabama State's Hayles surpasses 1,000 career points in win

Photo: Andrew Hayles, 6-5/195 junior guard from Mobile, Alabama, LeFlore H.S. surpass 1,000 points in his ASU career scoring 18 points in victory over UAPB Golden Lions.

Pine Bluff, Ark. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot a dismal 28 percent in the second half as Alabama State cruised to a 69-51 win Monday. The Golden Lions (10-12, 6-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) scored just 19 points in the second half.

Brandon Brooks scored 19 points and Andrew Hayles had 18 to lead Alabama State (13-8, 9-2). Roland Pitch added a dozen points for the Hornets. Hayles surpassed 1,000 career points in the second half. Larry Williams led Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 17 points; no other Golden Lion scored more than 5 points.

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UAPB holds off Alabama A&M Bulldogs

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff made 10 straight free throws over the final 34seconds to hold off Alabama A&M in a 70-65 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory Saturday night. The Golden Lions, who entered the game shooting 60 percent from the charity stripe, made 20-of-25 free throws, all in the second half, to turn back the Bulldogs.

The loss, which snapped A&M's three-game winning streak, dropped the Bulldogs to 7-13overall and 4-6 in league play. UAPB, which snapped its two-game losing streak, improved to 10-11 and 6-4. Trant Simpson led A&M with 27 points. Allen Smith led UAPB with 25 points.

UAPB Coach Coleman targets offensive linemen

Monte Coleman is a former Washington Redskin with three Super Bowl rings and plenty of name recognition. That combination certainly helped as he worked to secure his first recruiting class in his first season as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s head coach.

The Golden Lions signed 22 players Wednesday on the first day of the national signing period, including six from Arkansas. Coleman said he expects to sign 30 players before the signing period ends. “ I am extremely pleased with this class, ’’ said Coleman, who served as UAPB’s defensive coordinator for two seasons before taking over head coaching duties for Mo Forte in November.

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UAPB Golden Lions blow lead, fall to Jackson State

While there is still one half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference season left, Monday’s 55-51 loss to Jackson State may prove to be damaging to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff men’s basketball team’s hopes of winning the regular season conference title. The loss puts UAPB (9-11, 5-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) in a tie for third place in the SWAC with Mississippi Valley State and Monday’s victor, Jackson State.

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UAPB's Football Schedule Includes Cotton Bowl Visit

PINE BLUFF, AK -- New coach Monte Coleman's first Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team will take on three familiar opponents from the old Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and will make a trip to Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas next fall, as UAPB's athletic department released its 2008 slate on Monday.

Old AIC members Arkansas-Monticello (Aug. 30 in Pine Bluff), Henderson State (Sept. 6 in Arkadelphia) and Central Arkansas (Sept. 13 in Little Rock) are all three on the Golden Lions' schedule for the first time since the 1994 season.

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2008 UA-Pine Bluff Football Schedule

AUG. 30 ARK.-MONTICELLO PINE BLUFF 6 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Henderson State Arkadelphia 6 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs CENTRAL ARKANSAS LITTLE ROCK 6 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Alcorn State Lorman, MS 6 p.m.
Sept. 27 ALABAMA A&M PINE BLUFF 6 p.m.
Oct. 4 BYE
Oct. 11 JACKSON STATE PINE BLUFF 4 p.m.
Oct. 18 PRAIRIE VIEW* PINE BLUFF 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 LINCOLN (HC) PINE BLUFF 2:30 p.m.
Nov, 1 at Southern* Baton Rouge 6 p.m.
Nov. 8 vs Grambling State* Little Rock 4 p.m.
Nov. 15 MISS VALLEY STATE PINE BLUFF 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 vs Texas Southern** Dallas 2:30 p.m.
*-West Division SWAC Games
**-at Cotton Bowl

GSU Tigers wins on road over UAPB Golden Lions

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Grambling State Tigers put together their first winning streak of the season via a strong second half en route to a 63-51 road win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday night. Each team controlled a part of the first half as Grambling State (3-12, 3-5 SWAC) led for the first four-and-a-half minutes until UAPB (9-10, 5-3 SWAC) tied the game at 9-9 via a Jarvis Gunter jumper at the 15:30 mark.

Andrew Prestley led GSU with a double-double of 17 points and 11 boards while Duran Diaz also added 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Anthony Williams came off the bench to score 17 points along with three steals. Larry Williams led UAPB with 17 points and was followed by Marcelle Goins’ 12 points.

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Texas Southern falls to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-58

The Texas Southern Tigers' frigid shooting continued in a 73-58 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at HOPE Arena on Monday night. They dropped their fourth straight game and fell to 4-16 and 3-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. TSU hit just 36 percent of its shots, including a chilly 3-for-14 from 3-point range.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-9, 5-2) put the game away with a 12-2 run, as Marcelle Goins and William Byrd combined for eight points to give the Golden Lions a 68-54 cushion. Matthew Miller led the Tigers with 16 points; Sollie Norwood added 13 for TSU. George Davis had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Byrd contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Lions, who out rebounded TSU 42-29.

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DSU Coach Al Lavan leads Northeast All-stars to Heritage Bowl Win

Photo: Delaware State University head football coach Al Lavan has won both the Black College National Championship and the American Heritage Bowl in the same season.

Fullerton, CA – Delaware State head football coach Al Lavan guided the Northeast All Star squad to a 24-7 win over the Southwest in the American Heritage Bowl last night. The Southwest squad was coached by Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy.

Chris Wallace (UAPB) threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Arkansas-Pine Bluff teammate Jason Jones for one score. Jones also had a 24-yard reception and was honored as the offensive player of the game, which featured seniors from historically black colleges and raised funds for severely injured military personnel.

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Byrd propel UAPB over Alcorn State

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- William Byrd and Marcelle Goins each had 17 points to lead Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 74-68 win over Alcorn State on Monday. Byrd added 13 rebounds and six blocks for the Golden Lions (7-9, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference).

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Southern University blows past UAPB Golden Lions

Jags moves into first place tie with Alabama State at 4-1 in SWAC conference play.

Southern's Jazz Williams hit 6 of 9 three pointers on the night as his career high 20points led SU to a 70-60 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday night at H.O. Clemmons Arena on the UAPB campus. The win puts Southern in a tie for the SWAC lead with Alabama State, who is also 4-1 in SWAC play.

Few fouls were called on the Jaguars, so UAPB only had 5 chances at the foul line and sank 3 of those shots. Southern went to the line 23 times and made 16. Chris Davis was 4-for-5 from the foul line and finished with 10 points.

Southern (6-10,4-1 SWAC) led 42-30 at the half.

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ASU runs away from UAPB in 69-40 win

Montgomery, Ala. - When Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson looked down his roster before the season, he had high hopes for his squad.

But despite the talent and versatility he envisioned, he knew it would take time for all of the new players to mesh with the returnees. How long, he wasn't sure. But after a 69-40 dismantling of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday night, the answer may be sooner, rather than later.

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For UAPB Monte Coleman, it's a matter of perspective

Photo: UAPB Head Football Coach Monte Coleman

Coleman, one of the two great rags-to-riches stories from the University of Central Arkansas, was recently named head football coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff after serving several years as an assistant coach for the Golden Lions and a minister in the area.

It's interesting that probably the two greatest athletes in UCA history, both from a national and international perspective, began as walk-ons. Basketball star Scottie Pippen began as a manager. Coleman, who played one quarter of high school football, was recruited by UCA coach Ken Stephens on his projected athletic ability and upon he recommendation of Coleman's brother, Sam, whom Monte still says was the best athlete in the family.

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Coleman closes year for Sports Club
Monte Coleman wasn't pleased in 1978 when University of Central Arkansas coach Ken Stephens moved his all-conference senior safety to linebacker, but nearly 30 years later, he acknowledged that move as part of God's plan for his life.

Coleman, 50, a former University of Central Arkansas great who was recently named head coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, was the year-end speaker for the Arkansas Sports Club's 2007 season. He addressed the crowd at Ryan's on Monday....

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FAMU, UAPB and Alcorn State clean athletic house

Compiled by beepbeep

Florida A&M University president Dr. James Ammons did what was expected this afternoon to move the Rattlers athletic program to the championship level. Head football Coach Rubin Carter was fired! His boss, athletic director Nelson Townsend was fired! Both were hired under the administration of former interim president Castell Bryant.

Carter leaves Florida A&M with a 16-17 record, including 3-8, 2-7 MEAC in 2007. In his final game for the Rattlers, FAMU was blasted by Bethune Cookman University (5-6, 3-6 MEAC) 34-7 before a Florida Classic crowd of 65,367.

More details will follow as they are released by the University.

Alcorn State University head football coach Dr. Johnny Thomas was fired this afternoon, and the university announced in a press release that a search for a replacement will begin immediately. Thomas had a 48-61 record in 10 years as the Braves coach and ended 2007 with a 2-8 season. Dr. Thomas has been offered other non-coaching options at the university. He served as an assistant professor of health and physical education at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, prior to returning to his alma mater in 1998 to head the football program.

The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff fired head football coach Maurice "Mo" Forte today and named current defensive coordinator Monte Coleman as the permanent head coach. In four seasons, Forte held a 21-22 record with the Golden Lions and 69-89-1 overall in a 14 year career. The Golden Lions finished 4-7 this season, but were the SWAC-West Division Champions in 2006, with an 8-4 record.

The 50 year old Coleman is a Pine Bluff native who played professional football for the Washington Redskins for 16 seasons (1979-94). As an All-Pro linebacker, Coleman played in four Super Bowls, winning three; and 216 games which is second most in Washington Redskin history. Athletic director Skip Perkins indicated that UAPB and Coleman were working out the details of a five year contract.

Coleman has been on the Golden Lions staff for four seasons, serving the last two as defensive coordinator. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas.

UAPB will open next season at home on August 30, 2008, against the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

FAMU's Carter and Townsend, UAPB's Mo Forte, and Alcorn State's Dr. Johnny Thomas officially joins Texas Southern Steven Wilson, 4-38 as coaches/administrators released from the MEAC/SWAC in 2007.

Head Coach Lee Fobbs is 0-22 in his second season at North Carolina A&T State University and the school has a 27 game losing streak dating back to 2005. Mississippi Valley State University Willie Totten is 25-41 and just completed a 3-8, 2-7 SWAC season. We expect some action to be taken on their futures in the coming weeks.

Prairie View A&M University announced this afternoon that Henry Frazier III has received a four year contract extension for leading the Panthers to their best record in 41 years. PVAMU finished 7-3, 6-3 SWAC, with signature victories over Jackson State University and Alabama A&M University with both battling for an East Division position in the SWAC championship game. The Panthers finished their season in second place in the West Division of the SWAC behind Grambling State University.

Alabama A&M notebook

Photo: UAPB Head Football Coach Mo Forte

Huntsville Times

Golden Lions have no controversy at QB

Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Mo Forte said the Golden Lions are not entrenched in a quarterback controversy.

Starter Chris Wallace, the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, started the first two games before Jonathan Moore moved into the starting lineup. According to UAPB officials, Wallace didn't play against Alabama State and New Mexico State because of exhaustion, but saw action against Southern Illinois and Grambling.

In fact, Wallace threw what could have been a potential game-winning 63-yard touchdown pass to Jason Jones Saturday night against Grambling, but the play was nullified by a penalty.

Wallace replaced Moore, who bruised his throwing hand on a helmet, in the fourth quarter.

Moore was 16-of-32 for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception before leaving the game. Wallace was 9-of-13 for 93 yards and a touchdown.

"It's never a controversy," Forte said when asked about the quarterbacks. "We don't deal with that up here. We go with the person that will give us the best opportunity to win."

Forte said Moore's status remains uncertain for Thursday's game at Alabama A&M.

"I'm not sure," he said. "It's up in the air right now. It depends on how he progresses over the next couple of days. Hopefully, he's going to be ready to play."

If Moore is unable to go, Forte says Wallace will be ready.

"Chris is as fine a person as you'll ever find and he's always ready to take the reigns," Forte said.

Richardson's career is over at A&M: Inside linebacker Jimmy Richardson has elected not to rejoin the team, A&M coach Anthony Jones confirmed Tuesday.

Richardson, a 6-foot-1, 232-pound senior from Orrville, left the team on Sept. 30 and never returned. He didn't practice the following week and didn't accompany the team to Baton Rouge, La., for an important game against Southern on Oct. 5.

Richardson met with Jones and his staff on Oct. 8 and hasn't been heard from since.

He was slated to start at inside linebacker before losing his job during training camp to Mississippi State transfer Carlton Rice. Richardson left the team for that reason, sources say.

"Jimmy Richardson has decided to pursue other endeavors," Jones said. "We wish him well."

Affordable tickets: Tickets for Thursday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff are available at a reduced rate.

Any school in the Huntsville area is eligible to sell tickets to their students for $1. School officials have to pick up the tickets and distribute them on consignment at their respective schools.

Local church groups of 25 adults or more can purchase tickets in group quantity for $10 apiece. All student tickets (ages 6-18) are half price for the game at $3. These tickets are available at any time. General admission tickets that do not fall under one of these specials are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the game. For more information, contact the A&M ticket office at 372-4059. The offer ends today at 5 p.m.

Reggie Benson

Season is not golden for UAPB Lions

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

UAPB is 1-5 going into Thursday night's A&M game

This time last year, Arkansas-Pine Bluff was in the midst of one of the biggest turnarounds in school history.

The Golden Lions opened the season losing three of their first four games, but beat Tuskegee in the Gateway Classic that started a string of seven straight victories that carried them to the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title and a berth in the championship game.

Alabama A&M downed UAPB 22-13 in the title game. With a number of their top players returning, the Golden Lions were picked to repeat as West Division champions during the league's annual media day.

But UAPB hasn't lived up to the hype.

The Golden Lions are 1-5 overall and 1-3 in league play heading in Thursday night's game at Alabama A&M. Kickoff is 6:30 and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.

"This is one of the strangest seasons I've ever been in," UAPB coach Mo Forte said earlier this week. "We're 1-5 and five of those games have been on the road. This is the second Thursday night game we've had and both of them have been on the road and you only have two days to prepare.

"But, we're not going to complain. It's football and we're going to play the hand that we've been dealt."

Few expected the Golden Lions to be out of the West Division race this early.

Quarterback Chris Wallace, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, was benched after two games. Running back Martel Mallett, who had almost 1,300 yards rushing and led the league with 15 touchdowns a year ago, has just 240 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Jason Jones has been productive with 28 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns, but even his numbers are down compared to last season.

The biggest problem, Forte said, has been UAPB's disappointing play along the offensive line. The Golden Lions have allowed 28 sacks through six games.

"We've struggled there," he said. "We've had a tough time with them. They've gotten better every week, but it hasn't been good enough to put a 'W' on the board."

UAPB suffered yet another tough loss Saturday as Grambling outlasted the Golden Lions 30-24 in Little Rock. It was UAPB's fourth loss by seven points or less this season.

"We've lost games by 2, 3, 6 and 7 points and all have been with under a minute left in the game," Forte said.

UAPB hurt itself with five turnovers and had more than 100 yards in penalties.

"You can't do that against a quality football team like Grambling and expect to beat them," Forte said.

About the visit to A&M, Forte said: "Our kids don't quit. We're going to play hard."

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Despite record, Golden Lions concern Jones

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones admits Arkansas-Pine Bluff scares him. The Golden Lions should.

UAPB (1-5 overall, 1-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) has been in virtually every game aside from being blown out at nationally ranked Southern Illinois.

That includes a 20-17 loss at New Mexico State in a game where the Aggies kicked a field goal as time expired to escape with the victory.

"I know the potential that UAPB has," Jones said. "They have a good coaching staff. They were picked to win the West. They're putting their stuff together. They've been in all of their games except one. This is a team you can't overlook. They're going to be very, very tough."

The Golden Lions came within an eyelash of knocking off West Division-leading Grambling on Saturday in Little Rock before falling 30-24.

"Anytime you play Grambling down to the wire, it says something about your program and about your team," Jones said. They're playing everybody tough. I know this team is capable of beating us.

They proved that last year. They're a team that concerns me."

Contract still unsigned:Jones had hoped to sign his contract last week, but after reviewing it, he gave it back to athletic director Betty Austin with some revisions.

"I gave my thoughts to it and now I'm just waiting," said Jones, who gave the contract back to Austin on Thursday. "I'm hoping everything is going in a positive manner. I'm not really concerned with that now. I'm just waiting to hear back from there."

The school's board of trustees approved a package last summer that would pay Jones a total package of $155,000, which would make him the fourth-highest paid coach in the league.

Affordable tickets: Tickets for Thursday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff are available at a reduced rate.

Any school in the Huntsville area is eligible to sell tickets to their students for $1.

School officials have to pick up the tickets and distribute them on consignment at their respective schools.

For more information, contact the A&M ticket office at 372-4059. The offer ends Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Local church groups of 25 adults or more can purchase tickets in group quantity for $10 apiece.

All student tickets (ages 6-18) are half price for the game at $3. These tickets are available at any time. General admission tickets that do not fall under one of these specials are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the game.

The A&M ticket office will be open this week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reggie Benson

A welcome opportunity for JSU

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Once hoping to land at Tennessee, Johnson is thankful to be at A&M

Two years ago, Rashad Johnson was headed to the University of Tennessee. At least, that was the plan. However, those plans were derailed and he landed at Alabama A&M instead.

The Vols' loss has clearly been the Bulldogs' gain as Johnson has emerged into a key contributor at wide receiver in his first season.

A 5-foot-10, 185-pound freshman from Mobile, Johnson had an outstanding senior year at Murphy High School, catching 37 balls for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns. A number of schools recruited Johnson, but he wanted to play at Tennessee.

That dream ended when Johnson failed to make the required score on the ACT. Then Jones got in trouble with the law when one of his friends picked him up from work in a stolen car.

"We got pulled over," Johnson said. "I had no idea it was a stolen car."

With few options, Johnson's mother spoke with then-A&M offensive coordinator Stan Conner.

"Coach Conner told me if I came up here and got eligible, I could get a scholarship and play," Johnson said.

Johnson isn't on scholarship yet, but if he keeps playing the way he has through the Bulldogs' first six games, he'll certainly earn one.

Johnson has just only nine catches, but four have gone for touchdowns, which is second on the team. He is averaging 16.2 yards per catch, third-best on the squad.

That's not bad for a guy who wasn't invited to training camp until after it began.

"I guess they figured I really didn't want to play," said Johnson, who was named A&M's offensive player of the week after catching three passes for 40 yards, including a pair of touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 33-28 win over Southern more than a week ago. "I was determined to play. I sat out last year and I realized how much I loved football.

"I went out there with the mind-set I wanted to play and showed them what I could do."

Receivers coach Willie Totten noticed Johnson on his first day of practice.

"It was a Wednesday night," Totten said. "He was wearing No. 46 and we were doing 1-on-1s. He had great acceleration. He was aggressive. He's got a little different attitude than some of our other receivers. That caught my attention.

"I knew he could help us. He kept getting better and better and I told Coach (Anthony) Jones we needed to consider him. He was hungry. He was very attentive to what we were doing."

It didn't take Johnson long to make an impact.

He had just two catches for 14 yards in the season opener against Tennessee State, but had three catches for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the home opener against Clark Atlanta, including a 65-yarder.

Johnson managed just one catch over the next three games, but he came up big against Southern as A&M hung on for a big conference road win.

"Coach Totten told me to be patient and just keep running my routes," Johnson said. "I had to wait until my number was called and that's when I stepped up."

Johnson hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kelcy Luke to stake the Bulldogs to an early 7-0 lead. Later, Johnson threw a key blocked that allowed wide receiver Gerald Stockdale to find Thomas Harris with a 55-yard touchdown pass. Then, early in the second quarter, Luke found Johnson with a 18-yard touchdown pass.

While Johnson was happy with the touchdown catches, he was more thrilled about throwing the block that led to Harris' touchdown.

"When Stockdale came in motion, I knew his man was going to come with him," Johnson explained. "As soon as he got the ball, he faked like he was going to run the ball and his man came crashing down. I pushed him as far as I could to the sideline and Stockdale was able to throw it to Harris."

Johnson hopes to continue his strong play Thursday night when A&M hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game. Kickoff is at 6:30 and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.

While Johnson is happy to be at A&M, Jones is equally excited to have him on the team. "He's been a great addition to our program," Jones said. "He just needed polishing. Coach Totten has done a great job of grooming him. "While he's been a great addition to our program, we've been a great addition to him and his development on and off the field."

Totten agreed.

"After the Clark Atlanta game, he came to me and said thank you," Totten said. "I didn't understand what he meant at the time. He said 'I appreciate you giving me a chance.' That still sticks with me today.

"He wants to prove to people that he's not the person people think he is. Those are the things that encourage me about Johnson. He's got a great attitude and he's trying to find his place in society. ... This football program is probably saving Johnson's life."

UAPB's reign at an end

By Mike Marzelli/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas-Pine Bluff's swan song as champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Western Division was likely sung following Saturday's Delta Classic for Literacy.

With five games remaining on their conference schedule, UAPB is now 1-3 in SWAC play and four games behind Grambling for first place when the tiebreaker is factored in. That means the Golden Lions would need to win all five of their remaining games and have the Tigers lose four of their remaining five while also getting losses from Southern and Prairie View to win the division.

Not likely.

So what does that mean for UAPB going forward? Fourth-year head coach Mo Forte summed it up in one word in the home locker room of War Memorial Stadium following the game.

“Pride,” he said. “It's all about pride right now, pride and getting better. These kids have a lot of pride and they're going to continue to come out and play to win. They need to maintain their pride and our pride as a football team, that's all I'm telling them.”

The bad news for the Lions is that things won't be getting any easier. They have just entered what Forte has called the toughest stretch of any schedule he's had as a head coach, with a SWAC Championship rematch at Alabama A&M looming on Thursday with just two full days of practice to prepare for it.

Following that the Lions will travel to Jackson State for the Tigers' homecoming before returning home to close out the season against PVU, Southern and Texas Southern.

“We're a struggling football team that's just trying to find itself and that's all we can do the rest of the way is try to get better,” Forte said. “We're still very inconsistent and we just can't seem to get anything sustained and heading in the right direction but we're going to need to to maintain that pride against the good team we still have left to play.”

Moore hurt

Quarterback Johnathan Moore was icing his injured right throwing hand on the sideline after he left the game in the fourth quarter.

The injury did not appear to be serious and Moore will be reevaluated today.

Meanwhile, reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Chris Wallace was efficient in relief in nearly leading the Lions to a comeback win.

“Chris came in and found open receivers and delivered the ball where he had to to really get us two touchdowns,” Forte said. “Our kids all fought back hard and he led the charge.”

Blown opportunities

Twice UAPB found itself knocking on the door inside the Grambling 10-yard line. The difference in the eventual final score may have been tied directly into the fact that the two trips produced a total of three points.

Midway through the second quarter Moore found Demetrice Beverly for a 33-yard reception down to the Grambling 5-yard line, but a 15-yard penalty to guard Patrick Kapuniai on the Lions' next play pushed the ball back to the Grambling 20-yard line and UAPB eventually kicked a field goal.

Late in the third quarter, Moore hit Raymond Webber for 46 yards down to the Grambling 12-yard line, but after UAPB moved down to the Tigers' 6, Moore threw into quadruple coverage and was intercepted in the end zone.

Penalties drive a stake through UAPB's heart

By Mike Marzelli/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

LITTLE ROCK — It would have been no less than another 'Miracle on Markham', but like many of the other positive things the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff put together Saturday afternoon, it was eventually snuffed out by a penalty.

'It' was a stunning 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Wallace to wide receiver Jason Jones with 48 seconds remaining in the second annual Delta Classic for Literacy that would have tied the game for the Golden Lions and given them a chance to move in front of Grambling State with the extra point. However, it all fell apart with a flag for illegal motion, nullifying the play and UAPB's chances in a 30-24 loss to the first-place Tigers before 40,067 at War Memorial Stadium.

The defeat likely ends the Lions' chances of a second consecutive SWAC Western Division title, as it drops them three games behind the Tigers with five games to play.

The play in question came as a result of a furious rally by the Lions (1-5 1-3 SWAC) in the final minutes, as Wallace took over for an injured Johnathan Moore and led his team 86 yards in nine plays to pull UAPB within six on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Webber with 1:16 to play. The Lions then recovered an onside kick before the reigning SWAC Player of the Year hit Jones over the middle and watched his senior wideout break out of a pile of tacklers and sprint down the home sideline into the end zone.

Amid mass hysteria on the UAPB sideline, no one saw the yellow flag lying on the far side of the field behind the original line of scrimmage.

“I don't even know what to say, I just feel like we got robbed,” Wallace said. “I wasn't even aware of [the flag], I was just busy celebrating. We did all we could do, I just feel like we got robbed.

“This hurts like never before.”

Referee Anthony Johnson couldn't give UAPB's on-field coaches the number of who the penalty was on, saying only that it was a player who followed wide receiver Raymond Webber in motion that failed to set himself prior to the snap.

Head coach Mo Forte never saw the infraction as he watched the play unfold from the press box, where he has coached each of his team's past two games.

“I don't know if it was the right or wrong call because I was just following the play downfield, but that's one part I don't like about being in the press box, that I'm not in touch with the officials.” Forte said. “It was disappointment, just disappointment. I was really happy we scored and I just couldn't believe it. It just hurt and took the wind right out of my sails to have a kid give that kind of effort and have it all be for naught.”

The play was hardly the deciding factor in the game for a Golden Lions team that was penalized 11 times for 105 yards and turned the ball over five times, including four fumbles.

UAPB racked up 454 total yards, with 369 yards coming through the air, to outgain the Tigers in both categories. Yet after Moore hit Jones for a 79-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game that eventually led to a 10-0 UAPB lead, the Lions shot themselves in the foot nearly every time they had a chance to gain an edge in the game.

The first Grambling (5-1 5-0 SWAC) touchdown of the game came as a direct result of 35 yards of UAPB penalties and after the teams went to halftime tied 10-10, two of the Tigers' three second-half touchdowns came following Lion fumbles.

The fourth and final fumble was the most damaging, as Moore (16-of-23, 276 yards, one touchdown, one interception) laid the ball on the ground at his own 36-yard line with 9:12 remaining in the game and the Lions down just 24-17 after UAPB's defense had forced a three-and-out on the previous possession. The junior signal-caller was forced to leave the game after injuring his throwing hand on the play, giving way to Wallace (9-of-13, 93 yards, one touchdown)

Five plays later, Grambling had extended its lead to 30-17.

“Over 100 yards in penalties and five turnovers, both of those are ridiculous numbers,” Forte said. “Not many football teams are going to win games with those numbers because … the penalties just killed us.

“We've been struggling a lot and penalties and turnovers really just take away from everything you feel like you're accomplishing.”

One of the lone bright spots for UAPB was its passing numbers, as Jones went for 104 yards and a touchdown, Webber for 109 yards and a score and Demetrice Beverly 81 yards to out-do the Tigers' heralded receiving corps. Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers finished 22-of-38 for 214 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions were again plagued by an inability to run the ball, as Martell Mallett finished with just 28 yards on nine carries in contrast to Grambling's 145 yards on the ground.

The Golden Lions return to action Thursday night at Alabama A&M in a rematch of the 2006 SWAC Championship.

QUICKSLANTS: Grambling vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

By Nick Deriso, The News Star

ON THE UP AND UP
Grambling coach Rod Broadway praised his team for not playing down to the competition against one-win Mississippi Valley last week. The team will need a similar mindset this week against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which sports a 1-4 overall mark.

"Nobody's going to give it to you," Broadway told the team after a recent practice. "It's about desire. Let's piece together a good season. Stay focused and maybe we can win a championship."
SCORELESS LESSONS

Grambling has held opponents out of the end zone in two of its four league games — first allowing Alabama A&M just two field goals and then shutting out Mississippi Valley.

Both games were played at home, where GSU has won by an aggregate 71-6 this season.

Maurice "Mo" Forte — head coach of GSU's next opponent, UAPB — has taken notice.

"They have a very strong defense," Forte said. First-year Grambling defensive coordinator Cliff Yoshida "has them playing very well down there. We're going to have to find a way to move the ball."

In all, Grambling has surrendered just three touchdowns, a score a piece on the ground, in the air and on an interception return.

WINNING IS EVERYTHING

Junior Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers hasn't been able to find his favorite target, Clyde Edwards, as much as he would like this season.

"Opposing teams are dictating their defense toward him," Landers said. "They know he can make the big catch."

The result, so far, has been Edwards' lowest statistical average per game since he and Landers were both true freshmen in 2004.

Landers sees those numbers going up. Either way, though, he and Edwards are focused on the bigger picture.

"He's the type of guy, and so am I, that as long as we're winning," Landers said, "we're fine."

ENEMY LINES: ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, mired in a three-game losing streak, the bye week was a welcome respite.

Fresh off a SWAC Western Division title, the Golden Lions (1-4 overall; 1-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference) needed to take stock.

After all, this team nearly sunk itself last season, only to reel off six straight wins to advance to the league championship game. That run began against this week's opponent, when UAPB beat Grambling 33-28 at War Memorial Stadium at Little Rock in 2006.

"We know we have dug ourselves a hole," said Pine Bluff coach Maurice "Mo" Forte. "Our kids welcome the challenge. The harder the challenge, the more we like it."

There have been plenty, with tough out-of-conference games against Southern Illinois and New Mexico State coming back to back in Weeks 4-5.

While UAPB fell 58-3 to the Salukis, in the worst whipping of Forte's tenure, the Golden Lions held their own against the high-powered NMSU — which came in ranked No. 16 nationally in total offense, yet needed a 37-yard field goal with seconds left on the clock to steal a victory.

"We feel that they are getting better each week," Forte said. "When we came in there, we had an entirely new (offensive) line and it takes time to learn a system. It takes time to do the things that coaches expect you to do. They are getting better each week. Whether that's good enough, well, it really hasn't been so far."

UAPB's struggling offense, which has put up 69 fewer points than Grambling so far this season, also showed signs of life against New Mexico State.

Junior quarterback Jonathan Moore was 16-of-34 for a career-best 234 yards, while junior running back Martell Mallett got back on track with a season-high 84 yards.

Moore now has 554 yards and two touchdowns over three starts this season. Mallett upped his average to 42 yards a game, after a slow start. Tim Turner leads all Golden Lions tacklers with 55 on the year.

Unfortunately that hole Forte was talking about is a deep one.

UAPB enters Saturday's contest two games back from unbeaten Grambling, and one behind second-place Southern. Its only victory on the year is against winless Alcorn State.

History isn't on Pine Bluff's side either. Since winning three straight over Grambling in 1938-40, the Golden Lions have only strung together consecutive wins over GSU twice -- and the last time was a decade ago.

"Do the math," Forte said, "and you could say we are out of it. But we are not thinking about that. What we're thinking about is the next game."

SWAC ATTACK

TELEPHONE LINES
The Southwestern Athletic Conference's coaches teleconference turned into a free-for-all this week.

When it was over, comments made by two league coaches, Jackson State's Rick Comegy and Prairie View's Henry Frazier, were both under review.

First, Comegy questioned the security of Southern's stadium, where he will coach his first game this week — calling the conditions "hostile," and adding that many JSU fans "are not taking their families" out of fear.

Frazier then questioned the competence of the league's officials: "Either they're cheating or they're incompetent," he said.

The SWAC reprimanded Comegy on Wednesday, though it stopped short of suspension. His school president hastily issued an upbeat news release stating that JSU had sold out its allotment of tickets.

Meanwhile, interim league commissioner Duer Sharp rebuked Frazier on Monday, saying: "It's disappointing he used this forum to make those comments; it goes against the code of conduct."

Prairie View was flagged nine times for 79 penalty yards last week against Alcorn State, but won 17-7.