With nonconference play and the bye week finished, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is set to begin the eight-game SWAC gauntlet Saturday.
The Golden Lions will travel to Alcorn State for their SWAC opener, kicking off at 2 p.m. on HBCU GO from Spinks-Casem Stadium in Lorman, Miss.
UAPB (1-3) is coming off its bye week after wrapping up its four-game nonconference slate on Sept. 21. Head Coach Alonzo Hampton said the open date gave the Golden Lions a chance to get healthy and work on areas in which they need to improve.
“Practiced Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,” Hampton said. “Our kids had Friday off and came back (Sunday) and had a good practice, so, ready to go. Ready to start SWAC play … and want to go 1-0 this week.”
The bye week came at a fortunate time for UAPB, as the Golden Lions were missing several players during their 56-17 loss to No. 8 Central Arkansas.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Most of the missing players were not starters, but the running back position was a key exception. UAPB’s top two rushers, OJ Ross and Johness Davis, both missed the game. They each were on the sideline wearing knee braces.
Hampton did not specify who would or would not return when he spoke to the media Monday, but he said he expects three or four players back against Alcorn.
“They still got appointments, but they were all at practice yesterday,” Hampton said. “We’re not going to put them in the game unless they’re 100 percent healthy, but our motto is next guy mentality, next guy up. I’m not worried about the running back position. We got running backs. So, whoever’s there, be there. Whoever’s not, they gotta cheer from home, right?”
ULM transfer Za’Marion Webber started at running back against UCA, rushing six times for 13 yards. BJ Curry rushed five times for 25 yards in the second half.
Ross ran for 51 yards and a touchdown the week prior against Tennessee State, while Davis rushed for 27 yards with 16 receiving yards.
Saturday will be homecoming for Alcorn State (2-3, 1-0 SWAC), one of three occasions UAPB will be someone’s homecoming opponent this year. The next two road games against Grambling State and Jackson State will be both schools’ homecoming games, as well.
Hampton said he is excited to play in that environment.
“Their fans is what it’s all about in the SWAC,” Hampton said. “They gonna be loud. They gonna be rowdy, but that’s what you want, right? You don’t want to go into a stadium and only play in front of 3,000 people. It’s going to be pretty much sold out, so I’m excited about it. Our players are excited about it.”
Alcorn was announced as the preseason favorite in the West Division at SWAC Media Day in July, making a road game in Lorman a tough way to start conference play. The Braves already have a conference win after beating Mississippi Valley State 42-21 on the road last week.
The schedule doesn’t get easier after this week, with a home game against Prairie View A&M followed by Grambling’s homecoming over the next two weeks before UAPB hosts MVSU.
Prairie View was picked to finish second in the West, with Grambling picked third. The Panthers lost their first two SWAC games but defeated GSU 36-34 in five overtimes this past week in the State Fair Classic.
As challenging as the early SWAC slate will be for UAPB, Hampton said the Golden Lions are taking it one game at a time.
“We’re just worried about going 1-0, winning the day,” Hampton said. “As long as we continue to have that mindset, especially when you got a young football team. When I say a young football team, we just now getting our offense starting to put it together. Our defense, we got a lot of young guys that’s played four games. Now, we gotta be able to put it together, because now, every play matters.”