GRAMBLING, La. – Arkansas-Pine Bluff played in dominant fashion in a 48-21 win over Grambling at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
UAPB (2-0 overall, 2-0 SWAC) defeated Grambling (0-3, 0-3) for the first time since 2013. The Golden Lions also have beaten both Southern and Grambling in the same season for the first time since 2012.
Quarterback Skyler Perry completed 18 of 30 passes in setting career highs in both passing yards (346) and touchdown passes (four) as the Golden Lions rolled up 402 yards total offense.
Wide receivers Harry Ballard III (7 rec, 124 yards, 1 TD) and Josh Wilkes (6-131-1) each had over 100 yards receiving, and tight end Jeremy Brown (2-59-2) tied a career-high in touchdown receptions.
Defensive back Jalon Thigpen’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first GSU possession set the tone for the game and gave UAPB a 7-0 lead. Overall, the defense had two takeaways and recorded five sacks.
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Following a Grambling touchdown that tied the score with 4:18 to play in the second quarter, the Golden Lions regained the lead for good two plays later. Perry connected over the top with Ballard on a 58-yard scoring pass for a 14-7 lead they would take to halftime.
A 28-point third-quarter outburst broke the game open for UAPB. Wilkes’ 60-yard TD reception on the third play of the second half started the onslaught. On the next possession, Mattias’ Clark’s four-yard rushing score gave the Golden Lions a 28-7 lead with 9:29 to play in the third quarter.
Following a Grambling touchdown, UAPB special teams blocked a punt for the second time in as many games. Terrill McCray III scooped up the ball and returned it seven yards for a touchdown and a 35-14 lead. The first of Brown’s TD receptions from 28 yards out ended the scoring in the period and gave UAPB a 42-14 lead.
Brown capped off the Golden Lions scoring with a 31-yard TD reception for a 48-14 lead with 12:00 remaining in the game.
Courtesy: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Athletics
As I thought, when the Offensive Coordinator resigned for Gramb., offense may not have been their main problem.
And if the Bluff take it to the Hornets this weekend and still don’t get a vote for the top 25 then you definitely know something is jack.