The offense treated fans to an eight-touchdown day Saturday afternoon at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team’s Black and Gold Game.
UAPB scrimmaged in front of fans and the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South at Simmons Bank Field to conclude its spring practice period. Several high school recruits were also present to witness the game.
The offense, clad in white jerseys, scored touchdowns on eight of 12 drives. Most started from the offense’s own 30-yard line, except for the drives following the rare defensive stops.
The defense, wearing black jerseys, forced a punt on the fourth possession and got a fourth down stop with goal to go on the seventh. The first half was played with normal timing rules and featured eight drives, while the second half was played with a running clock and featured four.
Head coach Alonzo Hampton said the defense won both spring scrimmages prior to the spring game, so it was good to see the offense make plays on Saturday.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“A lot of it, the (transfer) portal kind of took us down as far as D-linemen,” Hampton said. “We lost three guys, four guys, so we didn’t have any inside guys. They were able to run the ball first half. That’s where depth comes in, and that’s how you get hurt at our level, when guys get in the portal and then they exit out. So, we didn’t have any bodies today, but good job by the offense.”
UAPB rotated through four quarterbacks during the game, with last year’s backup DJ Stevenson sitting out due to an undisclosed injury. The other four combined to complete 29 of 47 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
Redshirt senior Tysan Robbins and Shaw University graduate transfer Christian Peters each took three turns playing quarterback, two each in the first half and once each in the second half. Redshirt freshman Landon Holcomb and true freshman Garrison Davis had two turns each.
Robbins started the game, missing his first two passes before completing five straight. Peters took over near the end of the second drive, then led the next two. Peters later led a touchdown drive in the final minutes of the first half.
Davis and Holcomb’s first half possessions featured mostly handoffs to running backs, though each threw more in their second half possessions, with Holcomb going 5 for 5 in his.
Peters finished the day 10 of 17 for 137 yards and a touchdown. Robbins completed 10 of 16 passes for 129 yards. Holcomb finished 7 of 8 for 29 yards and a touchdown, and Davis finished 2 of 6 for 34 yards.
Though Davis’s passing percentage was low, he had the most impressive rushing performance of any quarterback, carrying the ball six times for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
Hampton said each quarterback has improved throughout the spring and emphasized Saturday was just one of 15 practices.
“We threw a lot at them from a defensive perspective,” Hampton said. “Today, man, they were a lot more calm. It was a little steamy out here, and we had three D-linemen trying to, I think we ended up with 120 plays. So, we give those D-linemen, our guys, a lot of credit, but credit to the offense, man. They did what they were supposed to do.”
The rushing attack also shone, with a host of running backs and the four quarterbacks combining for 385 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore running back Za’Marion Webber led the rushing attack with 113 yards on 14 carries, while junior BJ Curry rushed 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt senior Dae’Trell Cooper rushed 13 times for 67 yards and a score. They were the only three running backs to play in the first half, though Chris Gannaway and Jalen Morris appeared in the second half.
Curry said after the defense won last year’s spring game, he believes this year’s performance shows the offense is improving.
“I feel like we did good as a whole,” Curry said. “We came together as a whole offense, and we had everything clicking today. … (Running backs coach Miguel) Black been working us since before spring started and the whole spring. He just wanted us to stand apart from the whole offense.”
Eleven receivers caught passes. Junior Chris Hicks finished with a team-high four catches for 63 yards, while redshirt junior Kareem Burke caught three for 52 yards and a touchdown, which came from Peters.
Maryland transfer Josh Richards caught three passes for 51 yards. Former Arkansas State receiver Cameron Harris caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown, all on Holcomb’s final drive.
Two of the defense’s four stops came on the final two drives. Cornerback Zaquwon Moss broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth down and goal late in the first half.
Kristian Gammage, who played wide receiver last season but transitioned to defensive back this spring, broke up a pass in the first half which he nearly intercepted for a touchdown. Hampton said Gammage is one of a handful of defensive players who have impressed him this spring, even if Saturday wasn’t their best showing.