Fourth down made the difference during the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s 31-28 home loss to Florida A&M at Simmons Bank Field on Saturday.
Florida A&M (4-5, 3-2 SWAC) scored 17 points on drives which were extended by fourth down conversions. FAMU went 3 for 3 on fourth down, while the Golden Lions went 0 for 3.
UAPB (4-6, 2-4) first attempted to convert a fourth down on its opening drive. The Golden Lions reached the FAMU 21-yard line and lined up to attempt a fourth and 1 before committing a false start.
Despite the 5-yard penalty, the Golden Lions kept the offense on the field. Starting quarterback Christian Peters threw an on-target pass to wide receiver Chris Hicks Jr. for what would have been a touchdown, but Hicks couldn’t hang on to the ball.
UAPB made up for it with a touchdown on its next possession. On the ensuing FAMU drive, running back Thad Franklin Jr. converted a fourth and 2 at the UAPB 31-yard line with a 2-yard run. That drive ended with a 47-yard field goal by kicker Daniel Porto to cut UAPB’s lead to 7-3.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Golden Lions later trailed 10-7 in the second quarter but reached the Rattlers’ 33-yard line. FAMU linebacker Brian Norris Jr. sacked Peters for a loss of 2 yards. UAPB wasn’t in field goal range, so the offense stayed on the field. Peters was sacked again, this time by defensive lineman Antonio Camon for another turnover on downs.
UAPB got to the 28-yard line on its next drive, but a false start and two incomplete passes, one on fourth and 8, ended that drive 59 seconds before halftime.
The Rattlers got the ball to start the second half and went on a 13-play, 87-yard touchdown drive to make it 17-7. The touchdown came on fourth and 5 when quarterback RJ Johnson III connected with wide receiver Goldie Lawrence for a 42-yard score.
Franklin converted FAMU’s third fourth down with a 3-yard run on fourth and 2 at the UAPB 42 late in the game. The Rattlers scored a touchdown three plays later, extending their lead to 24-14.
UAPB Coach Alonzo Hampton said FAMU’s fourth downs were typically shorter than UAPB’s, but the Golden Lions also made too many mistakes.
“The one touchdown pass, it’s cover two,” Hampton said. “We got a guy that don’t stay inside of a route. You just want them to be able to make those plays. They didn’t do anything we didn’t tell them. … Even the last one, we had a chance to get off the field. Hit him in the back field twice. Their guy made a play. He wanted it more than our guy who was trying to tackle him.”
The fourth down disparity was highlighted by how similar the teams were on third down. UAPB converted 9 of 14 third downs, while FAMU converted 7 of 13.
STRIBLING CLAIMS JOHNSON’S FIRST INTERCEPTION
Entering this game, Johnson was the only starting quarterback in the SWAC who hadn’t thrown an interception this season.
UAPB true freshman Zay Stribling changed that when he intercepted a Johnson pass in the end zone late in the second quarter.
Stribling, a Little Rock Mills product, said watching film and working hard in practice allowed him to make the play.
“In the red zone, we been practicing cloud cover,” Stribling said. “Basically, (we) rerouted (Jalen Rogers), and I seen (Lawrence) come my way, and I seen the quarterback looking my way. So, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s mine.’ I just trusted my coaching. One-on-one jump ball, and I just knew I had it.”
The interception was UAPB’s 11th this season, breaking a tie with Alabama State for the most in the SWAC.
It was also Stribling’s third this season, extending his team lead. Eight other Golden Lions have intercepted passes this year, but none more than once. Stribling joins Bethune-Cookman’s Johnny Harris III and Southern’s Landon Carter in a three-way tie for third in the SWAC. Grambling State’s Markel Linzer leads the league with four.
Hampton said Stribling’s interception was a big play with the Rattlers in the red zone.
“He got beat on the play before, but again, he’s a young player. He understands that it’s a next-play mentality,” Hampton said. “This guy is highly competitive, and that’s why he starts for us as a true freshman. So, I’m happy that he made the play. He believes in his abilities. When he locks in, man, he’s really good.”