LITTLE ROCK, AR – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team took a loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks with a final score of (45 – 3) on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
RB Kierre Crossley would lead the Golden Lions in rushing yards, gaining 51-yards through 13 carries.
QB Skyler Perry led in passing yards for Arkansas Pine-Bluff, throwing a total of 107 yards through the contest.
WR Daemon Dawkins finished with 49 receiving yards with two receptions on the match.
On the defensive side, DB Nathan Seward had a team-high in tackles, finishing with nine stops.
For the first time in history, the Golden Lions would match up with the Razorbacks to accumulate an audience of 42,576 attendees to fill up the seats in War Memorial Stadium. This contest was the first time since 1944 that the Razorbacks would face an in-state opponent.
With a mindset to upset the powerhouse Arkansas Razorbacks after seeing a 100% probability that the Razorbacks would defeat UAPB. The Golden Lions came out running and taking every risk they could get their hands on.
In their second scoring drive, Perry found Dawkins to the left hash mark for 42-yards which would be caught right on the Razorback 42-yard line, and Dawkins would advance the ball to the 33-yard line for a Golden Lion first down. After picking up a quick seven yards from an Arkansas penalty and a Perry rush, Perry would scramble his way up the field the next play for ten yards to the Arkansas 16-yard line for a first down, putting the Golden Lions in an excellent position to make a scoring play but was not able to capitalize.
Two Arkansas-Pine Bluff drives later following a touchback, Crossley would take off to the left side to gain 28-yards rushing yards before being caught at the Arkansas 46-yard line to end the half, down with a score of (45 – 0).
Looking to get on the board against a strong Razorback team, the Golden Lions would utilize all their resources in the second half.
The Golden Lions defense came up big in the second half, not allowing any Razorback points to be added to the scoreboard the entire half.
DL Athen Smith would cause Arkansas to lose a yard, then force a fumble at the Arkansas 45- yard line, and DB Jalon Thigpen would recover the fumble at the Razorback 47-yard line.
In their second-to-last drive of the matchup, Perry picked up an additional 32 passing yards with a completion to WR Dalyn Hill to bring the UAPB football from the Arkansas-Pine Bluff 49- yard line to the Arkansas 35-yard line with a first down, coming close to a Golden Lion touchdown. Hill then rushed for a 15-yard gain to the Arkansas 20-yard line. However, the Golden Lions would be forced to attempt a field goal from the 32-yards in which kicker Zack Piwniczka would be on the money to get the Golden Lions on the board with a score of (45 – 3).
"We had some great opportunities today but couldn't execute down the stretch, but we'll learn and grow from today," said UAPB head coach Doc Gamble about the offense not being able to convert in the red-zone. "We didn't show up happy to be here, but we came with a mindset which was to win, but it wasn't our day today."
UAPB football will look forward to bouncing back next weekend against Texas Southern on the road in Houston, Texas.
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