Box Score Montgomery, AL- Tonight in front of 18,000 people and a national broadcast audience, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions proved that can be legitimate contenders for a SWAC Championship.
The Golden Lions got on the scoreboard first when
Justin Billings scored on a one yard run, to cap off a nine play, 80 yard drive with 8:09 left in the first quarter. Alabama State would answer back when Isaiah Crowell scored from four yards out to tie the ballgame at seven. Not to be outdone, UAPB quarterback, Ben Anderson found Ladrius Eckwood on a 27 yard touchdown toss to give the Golden Lions a 14-7 going into the half.
The Hornets came out of the locker room for the second half and took the opening drive 82 yards on ten plays to tie the ballgame at 14-14. But once again, the Golden Lions proved to be clicking on all cylinders when place kicker
Tyler Strickland nailed a 50 yard field goal to give the Golden Lions a 17-14 lead at the 5:24 mark of the third quarter.
Billings would find pay dirt one more time as he galloped 39 yards for his second touchdown of the contest. Billings lead all rushers with 127 yards on 12 carries. Alabama State would score one more time on 17 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Greg Jenkins to Justin Robinson to push the score to 24-21. The Hornets came close to tying the ballgame but came up short on a missed field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Golden Lions were lead by Alabama native
Bill Ross, who tallied 10 stops and one sack on the evening. Brandon Roberts of Alabama State had 15 stops, respectively. With this being a Thursday night contest, the Golden Lions will travel to Nashville, TN next Saturday to take on the Tigers of Tennessee State. The kickoff is set for 5 PM.
