All eyes in Southwestern Athletic Conference football will be fixed and tuned in to Simmons Bank Field as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions will host the Alabama State Hornets.
Due to forecasts of severe weather in the area on Saturday evening, UAPB (2-0 overall, 2-0 SWAC) and ASU (2-1, 2-1) will now kickoff at 4:05 p.m. in the only game on the league’s gridiron schedule this weekend.
Online ticket sales end at midnight Friday at uapblionsroar.com/tickets.
SATURDAY GAME INFORMATION:
- Parking: Simmons Bank Field lots open at 1 p.m. VIP parking is $20 with entry off of Oliver Road at the main entrance to the stadium. General parking is $10 with entry off of University Drive.
- In-Person Ticket Purchases, Stadium Entry, Seating: Ticket booths and stadium gates open at 2 p.m. CDC Guidelines will be enforced, and masks will be required at all times unless consuming food and drink.
- Video: ESPN App or uapblionroar.com/espn
- Radio: UAPB Sports Network Pregame show begins at 3:30 p.m. on KPBA FM 99.3 The Beat in Pine Bluff
After two impressive road wins at Southern (33-30 on March 6) and at Grambling (48-21 on March 20), the Golden Lions will play their spring football home opener. QB Skyler Perry has passed for 569 yards and six touchdowns and also has a pair of rushing touchdowns in spearheading the UAPB offense.
In earning SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors last week, Perry passed for a career-high 348 yards and a career-best four touchdowns in the GSU win. Both WRs Josh Wilkes (6 rec, 131 yards, 1 TD) and Harry Ballard III (7-124-1) went over the century mark in receiving, and TE Jeremy Brown caught a pair of touchdown passes.
DB Jalon Thigpen’s 35-yard interception return for touchdown on Grambling’s second offensive play set a defensive tone for the Golden Lions. It was Thigpen’s second INT in two games this season and sparked a unit that recorded five sacks.
UAPB’s Tyrin Ralph leads the SWAC in kickoff returns (25.6 avg) and is third in punt returns (9.3 avg).
Alabama State has been led by the efforts of RB Ezra Gray, who rushed for 195 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns in the Hornets’ 35-28 win over Jackson St. last week. Gray’s performance earned him a share of the league’s Offensive Player of the Week honors with UAPB’s Perry. Gray has rushed for 268 yards (2nd / SWAC) and three touchdowns on the season. Gray is also third in the league in kickoff returns (21.4 avg).
QB Ryan Nettles earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors after passing for 257 yards against Jackson St. He is third in the SWAC with 406 passing yards and tied for third with four passing touchdowns. Michael Jefferson’s 13 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown leads Alabama State.
Defensively, Colton Adams leads the Hornets in tackles with 18 on a unit in which six different players have at least one sack. The Hornets lead the SWAC in both total defense (allowing 312.0 yards per game) and passing defense (allowing 157.5 yards per game).
