PINE BLUFF, AR. - LORMAN, Miss. — The homecoming crowd at Alcorn State was stunned early in Saturday's game, but the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff couldn't take advantage of its great start.
UAPB dropped its SWAC opener 38-28 to the Braves at Spinks-Casem Stadium.
UAPB quickly took a 14-0 lead as the Golden Lions attempted to spoil the homecoming festivities, but the home team responded with 21-straight points to take the lead. UAPB tied the game briefly but never led again.
Alcorn State brought the SWAC's second-best rushing offense into the game. UAPB stuffed the run in the first half, but the Braves finally got things going in the second half.
UAPB Coach Alonzo Hampton said the Golden Lions stayed in their gaps against the run.
"Even on the touchdown runs that (Alcorn quarterback Xzavier Vaughn) made, it was a scramble drill," Hampton said. "We dropped in coverage, third and 10. They sat a guy down in front of us. We go up, and he just made guys miss. The guy can run. Obviously, he was just a better player on that play."
Alcorn running back Jacorian Sewell finished with 107 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
Hampton said UAPB is shorthanded at linebacker because of injuries. Leading tackler Kyle Vocque and fellow freshman Jonathan Goins didn't play.
Continuing a trend from the previous two games, the UAPB offense started hot before cooling off. Quarterback Mekhi Hagens and wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson connected on touchdown passes on each of UAPB's first two drives to take a 14-0 lead.
Gibson said he felt great about how UAPB started the game.
"We had a good practice this week," Gibson said. "That's what led up to that right there, them two touchdowns."
The Golden Lions didn't score again in the first half, and the Braves fought back to tie the game just before halftime.
The Braves took their first lead of the game on the opening drive of the second half. Tavarious Griffin finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Golden Lions answered on their next drive when B.J. Curry fought his way into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Hagens and Gibson connected for a couple of big plays on that drive.
The game was tied at 21 with 9:13 to play in the third quarter, but the Braves retook the lead with a 21-yard field goal by Noah Kiani on the next drive.
UAPB was looking to tie the game or take the lead early in the fourth quarter when Alcorn defensive back Markel McLaurin recovered an Aramoni Rhone fumble. McLaurin had intercepted Hagens in the first half.
Vaughn scored on a 19-yard run on the ensuring drive. Gibson's third touchdown catch of the game got UAPB back within a possession, but Sewell restored the 10-point lead on the next drive. The Braves stopped UAPB on two fourth downs to seal the game.
Hagens completed 12 of 24 passes for 220 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Gibson caught six passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Curry rushed 14 times for 60 yards and a touchdown.
