The SWAC’s top defense will test a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offense that has been finding its stride on Saturday.
UAPB will face Prairie View A&M at Panther Stadium in Prairie View, Texas, at 2 p.m. on SWAC TV.
UAPB (4-6, 2-4 SWAC) is coming off its two highest-scoring outputs against SWAC competition this season. The Golden Lions scored 28 points in last week’s loss at Florida A&M and 40 the week prior in a victory against Southern, though 2 of the points against Southern were scored by the defense.
The Golden Lions have only scored more points against non-NCAA foes Lincoln (Calif.) and Westgate Christian this season. Against Division I opposition, the previous high was 24.
Starting quarterback Christian Peters threw for a season-best 332 yards with two touchdowns last week against Florida A&M. Against Southern, UAPB rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns, a season high against Division I defenses.
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Head coach Alonzo Hampton said though different parts of the team have played well at times, the Golden Lions need every part to play well simultaneously to win.
“We just gotta play complimentary football,” Hampton said. “When the defense is hot, the offense is not. When the offense is hot, the defense is not. I don’t really get into all those stats, scoring 40 points. I want to win the football game, and that’s by any means necessary.”
Prairie View A&M (7-3, 5-1) will challenge that recent offensive progress. The Panthers boast the SWAC’s top-ranked defense so far this season.
The Panthers are allowing 17.4 points, 284 total yards and 135.3 passing yards per game. All three are the fewest of any SWAC defense. They have also allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league, seven. Prairie View allows 148.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth in the conference.
Hampton said the Panthers’ defense is formidable, and the Golden Lions need to do better running the ball than the 95 yards they managed against FAMU.
“They got a player over there, that No. 4 (safety Travor Randle), man,” Hampton said. “That kid, he can play football. That D-line that they got, they do some good stuff on all three phases. So we need to be able to play complimentary football and take our opportunities when we get them in the passing game, but we gotta be able to run the football.”
Randle is Prairie View’s leading tackler with 75, which ranks third in the SWAC. The graduate student has two interceptions, a fumble recovery and four tackles for loss.
Prairie View suffered its first loss in SWAC play two weeks ago, a 31-28 home defeat to Alabama State. The Panthers bounced back on the road last week, defeating Alabama A&M 48-5.
The Bulldogs kicked a field goal in the first quarter, but their offense didn’t score again the rest of the game.
The Panthers held Alabama A&M to 204 yards of total offense one week after allowing 334 to ASU.
Prairie View coach Tremaine Jackson said he has high standards, and even last week’s performance wasn’t good enough.
“We have an attitude that, we give up a yard, we got problems,” Jackson said.
“We better get that fixed. So until the day comes where we don’t give up any yards or any points, we’re never going to be satisfied anywhere. I look forward to seeing those guys be at their best here in the near future.”
On offense, Prairie View rushes for 191.1 yards per game, third in the SWAC. Redshirt freshman Chase Bingmon leads the team with 651 rushing yards and four touchdowns, followed by graduate student Lamagea McDowell with 43 yards and five touchdowns.
Starting quarterback Cameron Peters has 339 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while backup Tevin Carter has 239 yards and five touchdowns.
Peters has completed 60.4% of his passes for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions, while Carter has completed 53.7% for 508 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Panthers’ leading receiver is Jyzaiah Rockwell with 821 yards and six touchdowns.
Hampton said the UAPB defense needs to grow up a bit and cut down on critical mistakes against Prairie View. “On defense, we gotta be able to stop the run,” Hampton said. “Coach (Jackson) got, like, three running backs. Then, he got a receiver. No. 11 (Rockwell) kind of reminds me of JaVonnie Gibson that left and went to Oklahoma. Coach has done a good job.”
Prairie View can clinch the SWAC West on Saturday with a win or a Grambling State loss.