UAPB Football Season Debut a Success with Victory Over Lane College
PINE BLUFF, AR – With a dominant spring season and finally able to touch the fall gridiron since 2019, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team finished their 2021 season debut with a victory over the Lane College Dragons with a final score of 34 – 16, Saturday night at Simmons Bank Field.
After the heartbreaker from the spring 2021 SWAC Championship, the Golden Lions had something to prove. Straight from the gate, UAPB football was aggressive and put their foot on the gas against Lane College.
Running back Kierre Crossley was very aggressive early in the game for the Golden Lions, picking up a quick but hard-earned 20 rushing yards, earning the first touchdown of the 2021 season for UAPB after transferring from Central Arkansas to continue his legacy as a Golden Lion.
There’s a famous saying that defense wins games in which Golden Lion defense was in full effect tonight.
Later in the first quarter, Lane would lose two yards, followed by a fumble forced by DE Kailon Davis, which he would recover the football to return for a touchdown to give the Golden Lions a 14-0 lead to finish the first quarter.
Quarterback Skyler Perry would get things going in the second quarter after allowing the defense to take charge in the first. Gaining an easy 22 passing yards to his fellow New Orleanian and Kent St. transfer WR Trey Harrell for a first down, he would connect again with Harrell for an additional 13 yards for another first down at the Lane ten-yard line. Recognizing his mission, Perry would find WR Daemon Dawkins in the gap to pick up ten more passing yards and a Dawkins touchdown to give the Golden Lions a 21-3 lead.
The Golden Lions would however run into difficulties returning the ball in their next possession. Kicker Zack Piwniczka was spot on all contests for UAPB, however. His 23-yard field goal attempt gave the Golden Lions a 24-3 over Lane College.
Piwniczka went five-for-five on field goal attempts, kicking a perfect game.
However, a couple of defensive errors would cause two Lane touchdowns, bringing the halftime score to 24-16.
After another Piwniczka kick that would put the Golden Lions at 27 points in the third quarter, UAPB relaxed a little and let their foot off the gas for a while before allowing the third quarter clock to expire.
A fourth-quarter touchdown by RB Kayvon Britten for 28 rushing yards would seal the Golden Lion victory with a final score of 34 – 16 over Lane College.
Second-year UAPB head coach Doc Gamble was highly confident going into the season opener for the Golden Lions. “Winning is tough but is always fun to do,” said Gamble about his team objective for the season debut against Lane.
Vital elements such as DB Jalon Thigpen, DB Solomon Brooks on the defensive end, and WR Josh Wilkes and WR Tyrin Ralph on the offensive end would rest and prepare mentally for their next matchup. Their enthusiastic energy on the sideline was not absent as it would reflect on the field in the Golden Lion victory.
The Golden Lions will prepare for a rivalry matchup against the Central Arkansas Bears on September 18th at the Estes Stadium. The matchup will kickoff at 6 p.m. For more updates on UAPB football, visit uapblionsroar.com/football.
