UAPB falls 27-14 to Alabama A&M in SWAC Game of the Week

[Seminole Indian]

(Huntsville, Ala.) On the road in front of a homecoming crowd of 15, 685, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff fell to Alabama A&M University by the score of 27-14 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Game of the Week at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. With the loss, UAPB drops to 1-1 in conference while the Bulldogs advance to 2-0 in conference play.

In the opening drive for UAPB, quarterback Brandon Duncan threw an interception which resulted in a pick six for Devonte King and the Bulldogs. After trailing 7-0, the Golden Lions simply could not get much on the offensive end as the team produced just 13 yards in two separate quarters throughout the game and simply could not move the chains when needed, converting a dismal 1-of-11 on third downs.

   The Bulldogs would score a total of 17 unanswered points after another field goal and touchdown.    However, the Golden Lions (2-3, 1-1 SWAC) answered back with just over one minute remaining in the first half as Duncan rolled to the left side of the field and threw a five yard touchdown on a play-action pass to Jaelen Collins to cut the score to 17-7 at the half.

Alabama A&M (2-3, 2-0 SWAC)was the only team to score points in the third quarter by opening the second half with a field goal to take a 20-7 lead as it milked nearly the entire third quarter, draining the clock for 11 and a half minutes while UAPB held the ball for a mere three and a half minutes. All hope seemed lost for UAPB after it gave up a total of 98 yards on 11 penalties.

However, in the fourth quarter, the Golden Lions came roaring back with a huge 20-yard touchdown run by running back Christia Jordan, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to just six points with less than eight minutes left to play in regulation. The defense needed one more stop in order to create another potential game tying or game winning drive to spoil A&M's homecoming game, but the Bulldogs responded as running back Trevon Walters shut the door on any comeback opportunity with his second touchdown of the game with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

Jordan led UAPB on the ground with 43 yards rushing and one touchdown while Duncan finished with 83 yards passing and one touchdown. Jamal Odom and A.C. Gilliam both had seven tackles apiece to lead the Golden Lions defense. Odom had the play of the first half with a sensational interception that initially looked like a big completion for the Bulldogs, but Odom, along with other defenders, all had their hands on the ball
as Odom outmuscled everyone and came up with the ball as all players fell to the ground.

Kicker/punter Jamie Gillan, who is the reigning SWAC Specialist of the Week, had a total of eight punts and averaged nearly 46 yards per punt.

This was the Golden Lions' foruth straight road game as it looks to return to the comfort of its own home for the first time since September 2 when the team defeated Morehouse College 23-10.

The Golden Lions will face Mississippi Valley State University on Saturday, October 7 in SWAC action. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff.

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