Alabama State clamps down on UAPB

Arkansas-Pine Bluff used a victory over Alabama State on a Thursday night to propel it to a Southwestern Athletic Conference title two years ago.

The Golden Lions will have to take a different route to contend for a championship this year.

Malcolm Cyrus rushed 29 times for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns to help Alabama State rush for 317 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 42-7 victory over UAPB on Thursday night in a nationally televised game at New ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.

The only thing that kept ASU from being shut out and suffering its worst loss to a SWAC opponent in Coach Monte Coleman's seven seasons was Ben Anderson's 79-yard touchdowns pass to Marvante King late int he fourth quarter.

That was far too late for UAPB, thanks to Cyrus and a UAPB offense that never found a rhythm in its first SWAC game of the season.

Anderson completed 13 of 27 passes for 183 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Anderson rushed 17 times for 78 yards, but the rest of the Golden Lions (1-2, 0-1 SWAC) managed only 40 yards rushing against the Hornets (3-1, 2-0).

UAPB ranked near the bottom of the SWAC in several defensive categories during a 2-9 finish last year, and Thursday night produced similar results.

The Golden Lions, who have lost eight of their past 10 SWAC games since winning the league title in 2012, fell into a hole less than five minutes into the game when Cyrus scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns. His 14-yard run put the Hornets up 7-0, and his 2-yard run late in the quarter made it 14-0.

It was 21-0 at halftime after Daniel Duhart's 68-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Bell.

On UAPB's six first-half possessions, it punted on five and missed a field goal. The Golden Lions also punted on their first four possessions of the second half.

Cyrus ran for an 11-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, and Khalid Thomas made it 35-0 with a 6-yard run. Joshua Davis' 6-yard run put Alabama State ahead 42-0.

The Golden Lions were held to 301 yards of total offense, including 118 yards on 34 rushes. They also were flagged nine times for 55 yards.

Duhart completed 9 of 15 passes for 142 yards and 1 touchdown for the Hornets, who gained 461 yards of offense.

Sports on 09/19/2014

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