UAPB REPORT: Late leads vanishing a problem

The problem that plagued the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff throughout the conference portion of last season's schedule has started to affect the team this year.

For the third consecutive game, UAPB was unable to hold on to a late fourth-quarter lead. The first two collapses came against Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State, teams that have endured their share of struggles over the past few seasons, but last week's loss came at the hands of Grambling State, the team that won the past two Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.

"We were ready," said UAPB Coach Cedric Thomas, whose Golden Lions dropped a 45-38 decision to the Tigers in overtime. "The kids played their tails off, played physical, and I thought we really just empowered our will on the other team. We just didn't finish the job."

UAPB outplayed Grambling State -- on paper. The Golden Lions outgained their counterparts in nearly every statistical category, including time of possession, and recorded five sacks on defense. It wasn't enough to stop their losing streak, but it did reassure Thomas that his team is getting closer to making that 180-degree turn.

UAPB had a chance to win in overtime for the second week in a row but much like its 48-47 loss to Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 20, Thomas' troops came up just short.

Grambling State scored on its first play in overtime while UAPB couldn't after a second-and-1 from the Tigers' 4. The series wasn't without controversy. On fourth down, UAPB quarterback Skyler Perry rifled a pass to wide receiver Kolby McNeal that was ruled a touchdown on the field. But after the officials conferred, the call was overturned and changed to a no-catch, allowing the Tigers to escape.

"It was clearly a catch to me," Thomas said. "But we've just got to be able to not leave it in the refs' hands. We've got to be able to go out and take those games and not look for ones to hand it to us."

Despite the loss, Thomas said the showing was yet another step in the right direction for the Golden Lions, who were involved in five SWAC games that were decided by seven points or fewer in 2017. On the flip side, he also noted that his team still has a long way to go in terms of knowing how to win close games.

"We're closing the gap, but it's still some unfinished business that we're not doing that we've got to clean up," Thomas said. "You can't turn it over twice, you can't give up the big plays in inopportune times, and you've gotta tackle in space. So I think for them, it's the beginning of the season because they're just starting to figure it out."

Ho hum for Porter

Running back Taeyler Porter is starting to make a habit of having big games.

The junior recorded his fifth consecutive game of at least 137 yards rushing when he ran for a career-high 226 yards against Grambling State last Saturday. Porter carried the ball 38 times and scored three second-half touchdowns, both of which were also career highs.

"I've got all the faith in the world in him because he has faith in us," UAPB Coach Cedric Thomas said. "He's the staple of this program. You see him score on a 60- or 70-yard touchdown, and he's picking the quarterback up.

"But that's just the type of guy he is. We're just blessed and honored to have him on the team."

Porter leads the SWAC in rushing with 1,037 yards. That total is the most by a UAPB player since Justin Billings ran for 852 yards in 2012. He's also the first Golden Lion to run for more than 1,000 yards since Martell Mallett rushed for 1,129 yards in 2006.

Puppy love

UAPB wide receiver Dejuan Miller hasn't gotten a great deal of notoriety among SWAC circles, but the freshman certainly has carved a niche for himself over the past few weeks.

Miller caught 10 passes for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns against Grambling State. Two weeks ago, he had 7 receptions for 117 yards and 2 scores in a loss to Mississippi Valley State. His diving catch in the back of the endzone on the final play of regulation sent the game into overtime.

"They call him puppy," UAPB Coach Cedric Thomas said of Miller. "When Josh [Wilkes] went down, the kid was kind of finding himself because [Josh] was the man those first two and a half games. Now all of a sudden, he's grown up."

Miller, a 6-2, 184-pounder, served in a complimentary capacity early in the season but began to flourish when Wilkes went down with a season-ending leg injury on Sept. 15 against South Dakota State. The Florida native now ranks second in the league in catches (37), receiving yards (556) and touchdown receptions (5).

Homecoming blues

In the past, homecoming games for UAPB usually signified easy victories in front of a huge, spirited crowds, but over the last five seasons, fans haven't had a lot to cheer about.

The Golden Lions haven't won their homecoming game since the 2012 season, which was the year they won their first conference title. Since then, UAPB has been outscored 209-117 in losses to Southern, Prairie View A&M, Grambling State, Alabama A&M and Central State (Ohio). UAPB will again face Alabama A&M for its annual showcase, but UAPB Coach Cedric Thomas is hoping for a different outcome this time around.

"[Alabama A&M Coach Connell] Maynor has a done a good job with a lot of those kids," Thomas said. "Big time quarterback that can throw it around and he's got some wideouts that are pretty athletic that can go get it. And defensively, they get after you pretty good.

"But it's more so about us now. It's about winning because we're doing it the right way. I'm not going to ever jeopardize wins and losses for my own personal gain, but they deserve to win by preparation and doing things right. So the battle cry now is win."

Sports on 11/02/2018

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