PINE BLUFF - It looked like Arkansas-Pine Bluff might be back on the right track, but a late flurry by Alabama State extended the Golden Lions’ skid.
Alabama State overcame a nine-point deficit in final nine minutes Saturday to defeat the Golden Lions 40-39 in UAPB’s Southwestern Athletic Conference opener at Golden Lion Stadium.
“Alabama State is a good team,” UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said, “but we had the momentum and allowed them to get it back.”
UAPB had fought back from a three-touchdown deficit in the first quarter to take a 39-30 lead on junior quarterback Ben Anderson’s 18-yard pass to freshman running back Jeremiah Young with 9:42 left in the game, but Alabama State wasn’t finished.
A 30-yard field goal by Alabama State senior Bobby Wenzig cut the Golden Lions’ lead to 39-33, then UAPB junior punter Tyler Strickland muffed a snap to turn over the ball on downs at the UAPB 26. A 21-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Daniel Durhart to junior receiver Jamel Johnson completed the scoring with 4:10 left.
UAPB’s final two possessions ended with a punt and an unsuccessful series of laterals in the final seconds.
It seemed like Alabama State was gearing up for a blowout as UAPB hurt itself early with dropped passes on its first four possessions.
Alabama State led 21-0 before the Golden Lions’ receivers finally got a grip, and no one redeemed themselves more than senior receiver Dexter Bryant. His diving, 31-yard catch in the end zone on a pass from Anderson gave UAPB a 32-24 lead with 2:54 left in the third quarter.
That more than offset a blunder that seemed to put Alabama State in control.
Alabama State led 14-0, when a first-quarter pass from Anderson bounced off Bryant to junior cornerback Nicholas Martin. Alabama State responded on the next play with a 25-yard touchdown run by junior running back Isaiah Crowell to take command.
UAPB was pinned deep after South Alabama’s first score and missed a chance to move the ball away from the end zone when senior receiver Brandon Kensey dropped a third-down pass near the 15. Alabama State took over after a shanked punt at the UAPB 33.
“We were just too hyped at the start of the game,” Kensey said. “Our quarterback is a great leader, and he told usjust to settle down, and we were able to find our composure.”
A fumble by junior receiver Marcus Gamble on Alabama Sate’s next possession gave the ball to UAPB, and freshman running back Jeremiah Young scored on a 3-yard touchdown to pull UAPB to within 21-13 with 2:15 left.
A 42-yard field goal by Winzig with one second left gave Alabama State a 24-13 lead going into halftime.
UAPB took the second-half kickoff and drove 85 yards to pull to within 24-20. The drive featured two successful fourth-down passes, the first from Anderson to Kensey for 11 yards and the second from Anderson to junior receiver C.J. Branch for 2 yards and a touchdown with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
Alabama State sophomore Myles Everett fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and sophomore Andre Mitchell recovered to give UAPB possession at the Alabama State 26.
Young carried on the next four plays, with the fourth carry resulting in a 1-yard touchdown that gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 26-24 lead with 6:36 left in the third quarter.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Alabama State 40, UAPB 39 Sam Houston St. 55, Texas Southern 17 Alcorn State 35, Miss. Valley St. 28 Lincoln (Mo.) 47, Grambling State 34 Tennessee State 26, Jackson State 16 South Carolina State 32, Alabama A&M 0 Southern 62, Prairie View A&M 59, OT
Sports, Pages 29 on 09/15/2013