Golden Lions rout Arkansas Baptist

After failing to score last week, it took four plays and less than two minutes for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to reach the end zone Saturday night.

UAPB defeated Arkansas Baptist College 73-0 in the Golden Lions’ home opener at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff.

Head coach Alonzo Hampton said it felt good to have this kind of performance after last week’s lopsided loss to Arkansas, but he said the difference in the offensive performance wasn’t as big as the score suggests.

“Every possession, we had an opportunity where we missed plays,” Hampton said. “Whether it was a running back didn’t hit the right hole, tonight, he hit the right hole. Whether it was the quarterback didn’t throw it to the right guy, tonight, he threw it to some guys. We dropped some balls last week, so it wasn’t as bad as it felt.”

UAPB running back Johness Davis scored the Golden Lions’ first points of the season on a 1-yard run 1:38 into the game. He carried the ball on three of UAPB’s four plays on that drive, totaling 29 yards.

Baptist (1-1) had no answers for the Golden Lions. UAPB (1-1) scored touchdowns on its first six drives and seven of its first eight. Austin Peay transfer Braden Ducharme ended the first half with a 38-yard field goal as time expired, giving UAPB a 52-0 edge.

UAPB quarterback Mekhi Hagens completed 15 of 22 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns in less than three quarters of action before giving way to the backups. JaVonnie Gibson led the receivers with six catches for 172 yards and a touchdown. Aramoni Rhone caught three passes for 75 yards, and Donovan Giles caught three for 64 yards and a score.

Oshawn “OJ” Ross led the running backs with 100 yards on five carries with three touchdowns. Davis had two touchdowns on five carries with 55 yards. Za’Marion Webber finished with 60 yards and a touchdown.

Ross said he came into the game determined to do better than in the opener.

“I had a bad week last week, I can admit,” Ross said. “So, I came in this week. My coaches got on me real bad, so I just locked in all week. I knew I was going to come out here and do this.”

Wide receiver Kareem Burke and freshman quarterback Landon Holcomb also scored rushing touchdowns.

The only Golden Lion drive in the first half not to end with points came late in the second quarter when Hagens was strip-sacked. Victor Edwards came up with the fumble for Baptist, but the Buffaloes gave it right back two plays later when freshman defensive back Amyrion Mingo intercepted Baptist quarterback Tyler Strickland.

Mingo’s interception was his second of the half after making a highlight-worthy, one-handed snag earlier in the quarter. Junior cornerback Liam Lindo and senior safety Shawn Wilson also intercepted passes, and sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Jones recovered a fumble.

The takeaways were part of an overall dominant showing from the UAPB defense, which recorded its first shutout victory since a 55-0 win against Cumberland in 2018.

The Golden Lions held Baptist to 161 total yards and nine first downs. The Buffaloes converted four of their 12 third downs. UAPB defensive end Anas Luqman had 1.5 sacks, and Khalil Arnold had the other half sack.

Hampton said giving up 70 points in the first game could have broken the defense’s spirit, but they didn’t let it.

“For the guys to come out there and perform the way they did, I’m happy for them,” Hampton said. “We just gotta continue to build off of what we put out there tonight. It’s going to get tougher, but guess what? When you got a win, it’ll make you focus just a little bit more.”