Central Arkansas will become the highest-ranked team to ever play at Simmons Bank field on Saturday.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will wrap up non-conference play with a home game against the Bears at 6 p.m. on the SWAC Digital Network.
No. 8 UCA (2-1) will be just the second top-10 FCS team to play in Pine Bluff since UAPB joined the NCAA’s Division I-AA, now called FCS, in 1997. UAPB previously hosted No. 10 Southern Illinois in 2006. Simmons Bank Field, previously called Golden Lion Stadium, opened in 2000.
UAPB (1-2) coach Alonzo Hampton said he expects a sellout crowd Saturday night when the two in-state schools get together.
“That’s a great opportunity for us, our fan base,” Hampton said. “I just think if you’re not in Pine Bluff at 6 o’clock on Saturday night, man, you missing. It’s going to be a nice crowd. I think the sun’s supposed to be out. That means the turkey legs’ll be out, so it’ll be fun. They’re really, really good, and so we kind of have our work cut out for us.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UCA moved into the top 10 of the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 after its controversial 34-31 loss at FBS foe Arkansas State to open the season. A-State was ruled to have scored a game-winning touchdown after review with 3 seconds left, but the Sun Belt Conference later released a statement saying the on-field call of an incomplete pass should have been upheld.
The Bears have since cruised to victories against FCS foes Lindenwood, 34-13, and Austin Peay, 45-17.
The home win against Austin Peay avenged last year’s 14-12 loss to the then-15th-ranked Governors in Clarksville, Tenn., in what was a de facto United Athletic Conference championship game.
UCA is entering its second season in the UAC and its seventh under coach Nathan Brown. Hampton said Brown and his staff have assembled a great program, which has already won two conference championships during Brown’s tenure.
“That running back (ShunDerrick Powell) is the real deal,” Hampton said. “I mean, that kid’ll get drafted. I call him thunder and lightning. I don’t wanna see him. I hope he just decide he don’t want to play this week, but he special. The quarterback (Will McElvain) is special. The (defensive) end (David Walker) is special. They got a really good football team.”
This will be the Golden Lions’ first home game against a ranked opponent since a 31-26 loss to No. 13 Grambling State in 2017. UAPB’s most recent game anywhere against a ranked opponent came the last time the Golden Lions faced the Bears. UAPB fell 45-23 to No. 25 UCA in Conway in 2021.
Hagens receives SWAC weekly honors
UAPB quarterback Mekhi Hagens was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Hagens completed 15 of 31 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in UAPB’s 41-28 loss to Tennessee State last Saturday in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis.
Hampton said Monday the team has shown improvement from last season through the first three games, and Hagens is a big part of it.
“He doesn’t say much, but we’re getting him to talk a little bit, and the guys are starting to buy in to what he’s saying,” Hampton said. “He’s becoming the hardest working guy on the team, which, that always makes a difference when your best players are the ones that’s leading it. So, I’m happy for him.”
Through three games, Hagens has completed 53.95 percent of his passes. He has five passing touchdowns, already more than the three he had last season while sharing playing time.
Elsewhere, Grambling State linebacker Andrew Jones was named Defensive Player of the Week. Bethune-Cookman kick returner Darnell Deas was named Specialist of the Week, and Alcorn State quarterback Xzavier Vaughn was named Newcomer of the Week.