UAPB Football: Goal Line Stand Seals Golden Lions Victory Over Miles In Home Opener
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas – In Alonzo Hampton’s first home opener as head coach, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions needed a stop inside their own 10 with less than a minute left on Saturday afternoon and got it, getting a fourth down stop at the -4 yard line with 23 seconds left to seal the 21-20 win over Miles at home at Simmons Bank Field.
Freshman BJ Curry totaled 98 yards to lead the Golden Lions’ ground attack and added one touchdown in the game, picking up 8.2 yards per carry along the way. Junior Mekhi Hagens also tacked on 62 yards on the ground, picking up 5.2 yards per carry. Sophomore Kenji Lewis pulled in three catches for 66 yards and one score.
Junior Khalil Arnold paced the UAPB defensive effort, totaling eight tackles, 5.0 TFL, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble. Senior Grant Ewell Jr. added six tackles and one recovered fumble and had 1.0 TFL and one sack in the win.
The Golden Lions won the turnover battle in Saturday’s game, forcing two turnovers while coughing the ball up one time. UAPB put together a big showing on the ground, racking up 209 rushing yards while averaging 5.4 yards per carry and out-rushing Miles by 74 yards.
UAPB’s defense held up fairly well against the run, limiting Miles to 135 yards on the ground. The Golden Lions defense lived in Miles’ backfield all game, collecting four sacks and 10 total tackles for loss.
How It Happened
UAPB scored first with 10:48 remaining in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Golden Lions then followed with another score to grow the lead to 14-0.
A score from Miles cut the lead to 14-7 before UAPB scored again with 7:42 left in the third quarter and pushed its lead to 21-7. The Golden Lions managed to hold on, getting a fourth down stop at the -4 yard line with 23 seconds left to seal the win.
Game Notes
» UAPB won the turnover battle 2-1 after recovering two fumbles.
» The Golden Lions had two players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by junior Rico Dozier, who had 11.
» The Golden Lions totaled 10 tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» UAPB got off to a great start in the contest, putting 14 unanswered points on the board before Miles could respond.
The Golden Lions will have a short week, before traveling to Huntsville, Alabama to face Alabama A&M, Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
