It is Homecoming time at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in multiple ways.
UAPB will host Westgate Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday on SWAC TV at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff.
The annual Homecoming celebrations will surround this game, but it is also a much-needed return home for UAPB (2-3), which has played one home game in the first six weeks of the season.
UAPB coach Alonzo Hampton said the Golden Lions are excited to be back in Pine Bluff.
“It’s Homecoming, all the black and golds around,” Hampton said. “This is what you want. Obviously, we went down and had the Southern Heritage Classic. That feels like home, but this here is home. So, our players should be excited. Your peers get a chance to watch you play. Student-athletes are coming back. This is one of the best times of the year.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
This will be the first of four home games over the next five weeks. After hosting Houston-based Westgate (1-5) this weekend, the Golden Lions will host Grambling State next week before traveling to Bethune-Cookman. Following that trip will be home games against Southern and Florida A&M. The season will finish with two challenging road games at Prairie View A&M and Alabama State, making it that much more important for the Golden Lions to stack wins at home.
Playing at home could be what the Golden Lions need after last weekend’s lopsided loss at Texas Southern. UAPB hasn’t won a true road game since the 2023 game at TSU, which has been the only true road win of the Hampton era. Five of the other six wins have been at home, with last month’s neutral site victory against Alcorn State in Memphis being the lone exception.
Hampton said UAPB must take advantage of this upcoming stretch of home dates.
“If you’re able to get on a roll here at home, we got some really good opponents that travel well coming up here, so it’s just exciting to be able to get out here and play in front of your fans,” Hampton said. “I think people will strain a little more. It just means more when you’re at home. Not that it doesn’t mean the same on the road, but you just got an extra boost of confidence to play in front of the home fans, so we’re excited about that.”
Westgate will be UAPB’s second non-NCAA opponent this season after Lincoln (Calif.). It plays in the independent New South Athletic Conference and is classified as a non-countable opponent by the NCAA. The Ravens opened their season with a 44-14 win against a junior college team but have lost each of their games against four-year institutions since. Prior to the NSAC opener last week, which the Ravens lost 52-37 at home against Clayton State’s club team, Westgate played three NCAA Division III teams and one Division II team.
That lone Division II matchup, which was on Sept. 20 against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla., should be the closest comparison of what to expect from Westgate against UAPB. The Ravens lost 70-12 after trailing 35-0 at halftime. Northeastern allowed 203 passing yards but held Westgate to -22 rushing yards. WCU starting quarterback Trey Williams completed 16 of 27 passes for 136 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Backup Allen Rainey completed 4 of 8 passes for 67 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rainey led the Ravens in rushing with 14 yards on three carries.
Westgate’s defense allowed 366 rushing yards with eight rushing touchdowns and 197 passing yards with two touchdowns. The Ravens rushed for 261 yards and threw for 113 a week later against Division III Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Austin won 38-21.
This will be the final non-conference game for both teams.