After last week’s stunning loss, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will look to get back on track against a non-NCAA opponent.
UAPB will host Westgate Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday on SWAC TV for homecoming at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff.
On Monday, UAPB (2-3) head coach Alonzo Hampton said the Golden Lions made Texas Southern look like the best team in the nation in their 51-7 loss in Houston, but they will bounce back this week.
“I’ve watched this film three times already,” Hampton said. “Just got done watching it with the offensive staff. I couldn’t sleep Saturday night, didn’t sleep Sunday. Yeah, it is one of those ones you want to flush, but then you still gotta be able to take out all the good things. We were able to run the football, had some guys that were open.”
One silver lining, as Hampton mentioned, was the Golden Lions’ ability to run the ball. UAPB rushed for 153 yards against TSU, a season-high against an NCAA opponent. This came after rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Alcorn State.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB’s best overall rushing day came the last time the Golden Lions played a non-NCAA opponent as they will this week. Jaylen Jennings led the way as UAPB finished with 324 rushing yards and four touchdowns in its 34-8 win against Lincoln (Calif.).
After starting the season by managing 96 rushing yards combined in the first two games, this improvement in the run game could be an asset for the Golden Lions in the second half of the season. Playing Westgate Christian (1-5) this week could give UAPB another chance to put up big rushing numbers.
Not much else went well for UAPB this past weekend, though. Hampton said after this type of loss, all anybody wants to do is get back on the field as quickly as possible.
“If I could have, I would have went back out there on Sunday morning, but that’s illegal, NCAA,” Hampton said. “We had that eight-hour bus ride on Sunday morning. We got back there at 5 o’clock, if I could have went to the field, I would have. It’s just a bad loss, but again, that’s what college football is about. You gotta show up and earn the right to win every week.”
Westgate may be just the type of team UAPB needs to rebuild confidence ahead of the next conference game, which will be against Grambling State.
The Ravens enter this game on a five-game losing streak. Their only win came in their season opener against a junior college team. WCU lost 52-37 at home last week in its New South Athletic Conference opener against Clayton State.
The Golden Lions should be able to run the ball but will need to show more consistency through the air. Graduate transfer quarterback Christian Peters has thrown one touchdown pass every game, but the yardage and turnovers have alternated between good and not as good.
Peters threw for 228 yards against Central Arkansas and 323 yards against Alcorn without throwing an interception in either game, but Texas Southern held him to 116 yards with an interception. He threw for 182 yards and three interceptions in the first half against Lincoln.
UAPB has shown its potential through the air but needs to maintain that level of play every week entering a critical upcoming stretch of games.
Hampton said the Golden Lions are excited to return home and put last week’s loss behind them.
“We’re highly motivated here as coaches, and our players, they need to understand what we need to do every day in order to continue to move this program forward,” Hampton said. “It’s a lot of disappointed people in that locker room, but it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be what you do this week. It’s a new week, new beginnings.”
This will be the final nonconference game for both teams this season.