Saturday afternoon was the second time this season the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff defeated a non-NCAA opponent, but it was a much different final score this time.
UAPB won its homecoming game 79-10 against Westgate Christian at Simmons Bank Field.
This was the second home game for UAPB (3-3) this season. The first was a 34-8 win against Lincoln (Calif.), another non-NCAA foe. Head Coach Alonzo Hampton said there is no comparing those two games.
“We had, I don’t know, maybe eight, nine starters that were out that we just kind of held back (against Westgate),” Hampton said. “They were kind of banged up, and so you get a lot of young guys in there just to watch them grow. Guys that didn’t get in to play against Lincoln, so it makes it totally different.”
Starting center Frank Bean, defensive end Elijah Jenkins, safety Na’il Johnson, nickelback Tavon Hardwick and wide receiver Jalyn Witcher were among the notable players to miss this game. Preseason All-SWAC running back BJ Curry, who has yet to play this season, also did not play.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Missing those players didn’t stop UAPB from scoring the most points it has in a game since defeating Miles College 79-6 in 1990.
The score difference also helped UAPB get some younger players in the game, something the Golden Lions didn’t have the luxury of doing against Lincoln, when the score was 13-8 at halftime as opposed to the 51-10 halftime margin on Saturday.
Starting quarterback Christian Peters played only the first two offensive drives before giving way to backup DJ Stevenson. Third-string quarterback Tysan Robbins also played in the first half.
Redshirt freshman Landon Holcomb and true freshman Garrison Davis each led touchdown drives during a shortened second half, which was played with 8-minute quarters due to the halftime score.
Hampton said in-game snaps are valuable for the young players.
“We see them every day in practice,” Hampton said. “Garrison, he’s a pretty good football player, but he’s just behind some really good quarterbacks. He’s challenging them guys. Landon’s a hometown guy, and he’s continuing to get better in the things we’re asking him to do.”
Redshirt freshman D’Avery Robinson led the receivers with 91 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant Sanchez, Ellis Stewart, Raylen Spratt, De’Ontae Clark and Floyd Flugence are all freshmen who had at least one reception or one rush in this game.
Although many freshmen had more opportunities to play Saturday than normal, Hampton has not shied away from playing freshmen in more competitive games. Robinson and Stewart entered this game as UAPB’s third- and fourth-leading receivers, and Sanchez entered as the team’s second-leading rusher. Sanchez rushed eight times for 80 yards against Westgate (1-6).
Robinson said on this team, freshmen need to always be ready in case they are called upon.
“You gotta just step up to the plate,” Robinson said. “He gonna play the guys that he trust and feel comfortable with. I just came to work every day and earned a spot.”
One similarity between this game and the win against Lincoln was how the opponent scored its only touchdown. Lincoln returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, while Westgate capitalized on a muffed punt which gave the Ravens the ball at the UAPB 34-yard line.
Otherwise, the defense held firm. UAPB held the Ravens to 71 passing yards and 50 rushing yards.
Sophomore quarterback Allen Rainey led the Ravens in rushing with 35 yards. Junior wide receiver Joqwan West, who moved to quarterback after Rainey was injured in the third quarter, followed with 10 yards.
The rest of Westgate’s team combined for 5 yards, but the quarterbacks had a few good runs up the middle as the defensive front overcommitted to the flanks.
Hampton said the Golden Lions need to improve at shedding blocks.
“We knew he could run,” Hampton said. “Guys got caught in bad positions. We just gotta do a better job not running past the quarterback. It’s called team defense for a reason. When they get past the D-line, linebackers gotta step up and make plays. We didn’t call many blitzes today, but we gotta continue to get better in the things we’re doing on defense.”
UAPB’s defense intercepted four passes in this game, doubling its total for the season. Kristian Gammage returned one for a touchdown.