MEMPHIS – A golden start to the Southern Heritage Classic didn’t last Saturday night for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The Golden Lions fell 41-28 to Tennessee State at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium despite an early lead.
The Tennessee State offense proved too much for UAPB’s defense to handle. The Tigers (2-1) scored touchdowns on four of their seven first-half possessions. UAPB held them to field goal attempts on their first two drives, but the Tigers scored touchdowns on each of the next three.
Quarterback Draylen Ellis completed 20 of 33 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Several running backs combined for 188 rushing yards and two scores.
UAPB coach Alonzo Hampton said the defense didn’t do what it was supposed to do.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“You got guys that’s supposed to blitz (who) don’t blitz,” Hampton said. “You got guys that’s supposed to be in coverage not doing what they supposed to do. So, obviously, we let them get rolling early after we scored.”
UAPB (1-2) led early after quarterback Mekhi Hagens led the Golden Lions on a 75-yard opening drive, capped off with a 33-yard touchdown pass to JaVonnie Gibson. Tennessee State responded with a field goal, then missed a field goal on its next drive, keeping the Golden Lions ahead 7-3.
Jalen Rouse gave Tennessee State a 10-7 lead on the Tigers’ third possession with a 3-yard run, and the Tigers led the rest of the night. UAPB punted after three plays on each of its next three drives after the opening-drive score.
Hampton said mistakes flipped the momentum.
“We had them on their heels,” Hampton said. “First drive, that was easy. Second drive, we’re moving the ball, another first down. We have a chance to be a really good offense. We just gotta be able to shore up our defense, and special teams wasn’t very good tonight.”
The Golden Lions cut the deficit to 17-14 after Hagens found a diving Daemon Dawkins in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. Hagens had completions of 33 and 20 yards to Gibson earlier in the drive.
The Golden Lions were back in the game, but mistakes took them back out. After Tennessee State scored a touchdown on its next possession, running back BJ Curry fumbled the resulting kickoff, giving the ball back to the Tigers at the UAPB 20-yard line.
Thanks in part to a chop block penalty, UAPB got away with it. The Golden Lions forced a field goal attempt, which Tennessee State missed, but the Golden Lions were quickly forced to punt on their next drive.
Gerard Bullock blocked the punt, and the Tigers took advantage this time. when Ellis hit Jalal Dean for a score to extend the lead to 31-14.
On UAPB’s next drive, the Golden Lions attempted to run one last play on fourth down as the half was ending, but they snapped the ball before every player was set. The resulting penalty led to a 10-second run off which ended the half.
Tennessee State scored on its opening drive of the second half, but UAPB didn’t surrender. The Golden Lions struck twice in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 38-28 before Tennessee State added a field goal. UAPB got inside the 5-yard line late in the game but couldn’t score.
UAPB wide receiver JoVonnie Gibson signals a first down he converted after a catch in the second quarter as Tennessee State defenders Dion Villiers (6), Boogie Trotter (1) and Fondren Hollis III (10) look on. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Tennessee State wide receiver Dayron Johnson makes a big punt return deep into the red zone before running into UAPB lineman Jamarkius Garrett in the first quarter. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)