PINE BLUFF, AR – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football took a heartbreaking loss against the visiting Alcorn State Braves with a final score of 39 – 38 on Thursday night at Simmons Bank Field.
After taking a loss to Central Arkansas, the Golden Lions looked to redeem themselves against Alcorn State.
Wasting no time, UAPB would quickly find their groove early in the game. QB Skyler Perry would start throwing long, seeing WR Josh Wilkes for 26 yards at the Alcorn State ten-yard line. Losing two yards, RB Kierre Crossley would then rush for an easy 12 yards for a Golden Lion touchdown in the first two minutes of play.
Crossley led the Golden Lions in rushing yards, finishing with 62 yards.
Less than 30 seconds later, DL Zion Farmer would intercept Alcorn State QB Felix Harper's pass for a 32-yard interception return followed by a Zack Piwniczka field goal to jump out to (17 – 0) lead over Alcorn State in the first eight minutes of gameplay.
Alcorn State reacted with a touchdown to give UAPB some competition which the Golden Lions responded to with a beautiful 35-yard pass from Perry to find Wilkes in the end-zone following another field goal from Piwniczka to open the Golden Lion lead (26 – 7) over the Braves to end the first half.
Wilkes went on to lead in receiving yards with 85 yards, with six crucial catches.
The Golden Lions would not let up with a mission to seal the victory in the second half over Alcorn State.
Forcing the Braves to a fourth-down causing them to punt, LB Isaiah Singleton blocked the punt, and DB Tyquan Fleming would recover and pick up a 13-yard punt return to keep the Golden Lions in the lead to keep the lead over Alcorn State at the end of the third quarter, (32 – 26).
DB Jalon Thigpen led the Golden Lions on the defensive end with eight punishing tackles.
Going into the fourth quarter, Perry locked his target on WR Daemo Dawkins for 64 yards at the Alcorn State two-yard line. Crossley capped the play for the Golden Lions, fulfilling two yards for a touchdown to bring the score to (38 – 33).
However, defensive breakdowns lead Alcorn State to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat the Golden Lions with a heartbreak for a final score of (39 – 38).
Second-year UAPB head coach Doc Gamble was upset with the loss and took responsibility. "We turned the ball over too many times offensively when we could've put the game away early," said Gamble about the offense.
The Golden Lions will go back to the drawing board to prepare to take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium in Prairie View, TX. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU or listen live on UAPB Sports Network or 99.3 FM The Beat.
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