Arkansas-Pine Bluff started 0-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference a year ago, but went on to win the league title.
While this year’s version of the Golden Lions is also 0-1 in the SWAC, it’s a different situation for UAPB, which is 0-3 overall and dealing with the adversity of being without several starters because of NCAA certification concerns and academic ineligibility.
UAPB hosts Alcorn State at 6 p.m. today at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff looking for not only its first victory of the season but to regain confidence before an open week. The Golden Lions travel to Jackson State on Oct. 5.
Coach Monte Coleman said though there are a number of players from this year’s team that played on the 2012 SWAC championship squad, it’s a new season.
“We want to win a game for this year’s team,” Coleman said. “We’re right where we need to be. We’re not out of the hunt yet.”
Last Saturday against Alabama State, UAPB trailed 21-0 before coming back to take a 32-24 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Golden Lions increased the advantage to 39-30 with 9:42 left after Ben Anderson’s 18-yard touchdown pass to running back Jeremiah Young, who replaced the injured Jamie Smith earlier in the game. Alabama State used a 30-yard field goal from Bobby Wenzig and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Durhart and Jamel Johnson to win 40-39.
“We didn’t finish the deal,” Coleman said.
Smith, who had started the Golden Lions’ first three games, went down with a stinger in his shoulder. Coleman said that Smith’s status for today’s game won’t be known until gametime.
Young replaced Smith and had 70 yards on 18 carries and 2 touchdowns against Alabama State.
“When one guy goes down, another guy has to step up,” Coleman said.
With the absences of running backs Justin Billings and Aaron Lagrone, UAPB has to depend on younger players to run the football. Coleman said that there’s a possibility of Billings being cleared to play today while Lagrone was declared academically ineligible earlier this week.
UAPB has won four of the past five meetings against Alcorn State, including a 24-6 road victory last season on its way to the SWAC Championship game. Fast forward a year later and UAPB just wants to get back on track and improve to .500 in the SWAC.
“It’s going to be very important to beat a conference team,” Coleman said. “We don’t want to leave anything on the table.”Today’s game ARK.-PINE BLUFF VS. ALCORN ST.
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Golden Lion Stadium (14,500), Pine Bluff RECORDS UAPB: 0-3, 0-1 Southwestern Athletic Confernce; Alcorn State: 2-1, 1-0 SERIES UAPB leads 20-13-2 COACHES UAPB: Monte Coleman (29-30 in sixth season at UAPB and overall);
Alcorn State: Jay Hopson (6-8 in second season at Alcorn State and overall) RADIO KUAP-FM, 89.3, in Pine Bluff INTERNET uapblionsroar.com; alcornsports.comTHURSDAY’S GAME Jackson State 35, Texas Southern 7 TODAY’S GAMES - All times Central Southern at Miss. Valley State, 1 p.m.
Grambling State at Alabama State, 5 p.m.
Alcorn State at UAPB, 6 p.m.
Alabama A&M at Prairie View, 6 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 09/21/2013