PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – K.J. Black threw five touchdown passes and Donald Babers rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Prairie View capped off an undefeated conference slate for the first time since 1964 in a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field.
A 45-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes gave UAPB (5-4, 5-3 SWAC) an early 3-0 advantage in the first quarter but Prairie View (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) answered on its opening drive as Black found wideout Shaun Stephens for a 41-yard touchdown reception. After a UAPB punt, Prairie View moved ahead 14-3 as Black hit wide receiver Gabe Osaze-Ediae on a 21-yard touchdown reception.
UAPB closed the gap to 14-10 after wideout Ladrius Eckwood caught a 56-yard pass from quarterback Josh Boudreaux with 10:59 left in the second quarter. Prairie View once again responded as they marched 73 yards in seven plays as Black connected with Osaze-Ediae for the second time en route to a 21-10 advantage. Boudreaux led UAPB down the field on a nine-yard scoring drive to close the gap to 21-17 late in the second quarter but Prairie View continued to click as they closed out the first half on top 28-17 following Babers’ 1-yard rush with 11 seconds remaining.
A UAPB fumble late in the third quarter led to another Panther score as Black hooked up with Osaze-Ediae for the third time of the afternoon following a 33-yard touchdown reception at the 4:24 mark. Prairie View put the finishing touches on the Golden Lions with two more scores in the fourth quarter as Babers broke off a 76-yard run along with a 31-yard pass from Black to Stephens.
Prairie View tallied 584 (341 P, 234 R) total offensive yards to UAPB’s 296 (223 P, 73 R) yards. Black passed for 312 yards and five touchdowns on 23 of 27 passing while Babers rushed for 121 yards on 12 attempts. Stephens caught six receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns followed by three touchdowns receptions from Osaze-Ediae. Defensive tackle Devin Boyd led the Panthers with six tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two sacks in his final home game.
Prairie View, the SWAC’s Western Division Champion, will play Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.
