PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team battled all afternoon but fell just short in a 30-27 loss to Jackson State University in Southwestern Athletic Conference action. The loss marks a 4-game skid for the Golden Lions.

"The game was kind of indicative to practice; this was our best week of practice by far; we came out and our team was ready to win," said UAPB Head Coach Cedric Thomas. "But at the end of the day, it comes down to discipline. I have to put my team in situations in practice every day to be able to transition out of those phases of getting penalties and having mental lapses. We can't start off first and 15 or first and 20. That's that lack of focus."

The Golden Lions took an early lead in the opening quarter when junior running back work horse Taeyler Porter rushed for an 11-yard touchdown. The Tigers answered back with a field goals to end the first quarter and to open the second quarter to bring the score to 7-6 in favor of UAPB. Both teams stalled on offense as the Golden Lions took the one point lead into halftime. Porter finished with a season-high 167 yards on the ground.

Early in the third quarter, UAPB freshman quarterback Skyler Perry connected with tight end Jeremy Brown for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give UAPB a 14-6 lead. Later in the quarter, the Tigers responded once again with a field goal to cut UAPB's lead to five points as it trailed 14-9 just over midway through the quarter. Perry finished the game completing 27-of-41 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.

That's when the scoring fest began. A total of five touchdowns (none less than 33 yards) was scored in the following 14 minutes.

Late in the third quarter, Jackson State's KeShawn Harper scampered for a 60 yard touchdown run to give Jackson State its first lead of the game as it led 16-14. Minutes later, UAPB senior linebacker Je'Kevin Carter intercepted a pass and took it 60 yards down the field to complete the 'pick six' which gave the Golden Lions a 20-16 after a missed extra point.

"I was getting in that end zone," said a determined Carter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Tigers connected on a 35 yard touchdown pass as Jackson State took a 23-20 lead, but UAPB bounced back with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Perry to Tyrin Ralph, who both played at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans. The score capped a seven play 65-yard methodical drive that seemed to game the game-winning drive with only 6:23 left to play in regulation.

However, the Tigers caught a break when UAPB coverage completely broke down on 72-yard prayer to wide receiver Warren Newman to seal the deal with 4:49 left to play.

Wide receiver DeJuan Miller led UAPB with eight catches for 89 yards while teammate Kolby McNeal hauled in seven passes for 71 yards. Ralph finished with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown while Brown grabbed four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Carter led the team with a total of 7.5 tackles while fellow Golden Lion Shawn Steele finished with seven tackles.

UAPB (1-5, 0-2 SWAC) heads to its bye week next week, and will return to the gridiron on Saturday, October 20 as it travels to Mississippi to take on Mississippi Valley State University in SWAC action. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Itta Bena, Mississippi at Rice-Totten Stadium.