PINE BLUFF, AR.-  The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team will open conference play on the road, taking on Alcorn St. on Saturday, September, 24 in Lorman, Mississippi.  The Golden Lions will kick off at 6:04 p.m. CT on HBCU GO TV.

MATCHUP: This Golden Lions and Braves went head-to-head on September 23, 2021, at Simmons Bank Field, with Alcorn St. coming away with a 39-38 victory.

RUN THE FOOTBALL: UAPB's ground attack has been a driving force behind its offensive success.  Since the start of the 2022 season, the Golden Lions ranks 19^th in the FCS, averaging 192.7 yards per game, powered behind a strong unit.  Sophomore Kayvon Britten ranks 1^st in the SWAC Conference in rushing touchdowns (4), 2^nd  in the conference in total rushing yards (277), 2^nd  in yards per game (92.3), and top-five in all-purpose yards (338).

GENERAL ON THE FIELD: Signal Caller Skyler Perry, a four-year letterman brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership as the Golden Lions square off against the Braves.  The Golden Lions comes into the matchup against the Braves ranked 2^nd in scoring, averaging (43.7) points per game as a unit. Perry ranks 2^nd in the conference in passing touchdowns (4), 2^nd in passing efficiency (139.3), 3^rd in total passing (504), and top-5 in yards per game (168.0). 

NO FLY ZONE: The Golden Lion's secondary ranks 4^th in the conference in total interception (3), with one returned for a touchdown.  UAPB has two student-athletes who rank in the top-four in pass defended (Nathan Seward and Wankeith Akin Jr.).  Akins ranks 2^nd in the conference in total passes defended (4) and tied for 1^st in pass breakups (4).  Seward, a transfer from Minnesota, ranks 1^st in the conference in total passes defended (5) and tied for 1^st in the conference in pass breakups (4). 

VS. Alcorn St.:  In the last eight meetings between the two programs, the series is tied up at 4-4.  The Braves (1-2), are coming off a non-conference 30-19 win last week against Southland Conference foe, McNeese St.  The Braves are led by running back Jarveon Howard, who leads the conference in total rushing yards (281), and average rushing yards per game (93.7).  On the defensive side, the Braves are led by Terrance Ellis, who leads the team in tackles (24).
 

Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List: Preseason All-American offensive lineman Mark Evans II was named to the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List announced last month. The selection is the sixth preseason honor for Evans in 2022, as he was previously named Black College Football Hall of Fame Watch List. 

Evans was also named to the Stats Perform FCS All-America Third Team, BoxToRow HBCU All-America First Team, and East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 list. He's also a four-time First Team (SWAC) All-Conference, three-time HBCU Boxtorow All-America, Boxtorow All-America Honoree, HBCU Classic All-American, and Rated top-10 HBCU player by Pro Football Network.