PINE BLUFF, AR – The Morehouse defense used a goal-line stand in the final seconds to upset FCS member Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday at Simmons Bank Field.
The Maroon Tigers avenged losses to the Golden Lions the two previous years to start the season 1-0 while UAPB falls to 0-1.
With Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the three-yard line and the clock winding down sophomore transfer, William Callaway, sacked UAPB’s quarterback and forced a fumble which was recovered by freshman, Ben Goins to seal the win.
Morehouse got the scoring started in the first quarter as sophomore running back, Frank Bailey Jr. darted up the field for a 52-yard run and sophomore quarterback, Michael Sims, found Tremell Gooden down the middle of the field on a 29-yard strike to the Pine Bluff one yard line. Sophomore, Ronald Bradley plunged into the endzone for the early 7-0 Maroon Tiger lead.
Morehouse wasted little time to extend the lead as MHC went into the bag of tricks when Gooden found senior, Tamarick Vanover Jr. on a 63-yard bomb on a wide receiver pass extending the lead to 14-0.
UAPB would get on the board when Shannon Patrick connected with Josh Wilkes on a 38-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to cut the lead to 14-7. After trading punts, Sims found Gooden on a 19-yard pass and then hit senior tight end, Ryan Edwards, on a short strike that ended with a 57-yard touchdown pass giving the Maroon Tigers a 21-7 lead. It only took the Golden Lions one minute and 27 seconds to cut into the lead when Taeylor Porter bounced a 29-yard TD run down the right sideline making the score 21-14.
Staying true to the team’s offensive outburst, sophomore running back, Santo Dunn broke out with a 77-yard touchdown run making the score 28-14. Pine Bluff only needed 30 seconds before finding the endzone again on a 12-yard dart from Patrick to Tyrin Ralph but missed what would prove to be a costly extra-point making the score 28-20 going into the locker rooms for halftime.
The teams made the necessary adjustments at the half to slow down each other’s offenses as UAPB did the only scoring in the third quarter on a 31-yard field goal by Jamie Gillan cutting the deficit to just 28-23.
With 11:28 remaining in the game, Dunn again found the endzone on an electrifying 31-yard run extending the as Maroon Tiger lead to 34-23. UAPB would not go away as Patrick again found his favorite target Wilkes this time with a 77-yard pass making the score 34-30 with just 4:55 remaining in the game. The Morehouse defense would hold in the final seconds for the victory.
Dunn would lead the Maroon Tiger offensive attack as he finished with 159 rushing yards on only 14 carries and two touchdowns while Bailey would chip in with 106-yards on the ground. Sims connected on 12-of-21 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown while Gooden caught three passes for 57 yards including a 63-yard touchdown pass of his own.
Defensively the Morehouse defense was led by Junior linebacker, Julien Turner, who finished with a team-high 12 tackles and a sack.
Morehouse out rushed UAPB 305 to 116 on the ground but lost the battle in the passing game as the Golden Lions threw for 463-yards to the Maroon Tigers 262.
The Maroon Tigers remain on the road and travel to Jackson, Tenn. to take on SIAC foe Lane College next Saturday, September 8. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.
Courtesy: Morehouse Athletics
