JACKSON, Miss. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff turned in another solid defensive performance, but it wasn't enough to overcome its season-long problems on the offensive side.
Jackson State held UAPB to two field goals and beat the Golden Lions 17-6 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Jackson State (5-3, 5-1) maintained a share of the lead in the East Division with Alabama A&M and snapped a two-game losing streak to the Golden Lions.
UAPB (1-7, 1-5) lost its sixth consecutive game. The Golden Lions return to Pine Bluff on Saturday for only the second timethis season to host Prairie View A&M for homecoming.
"This is beginning to sound like a broken record," UAPB Coach Mo Forte said. "We just didn'tplay well enough on offense to win, and we made far too many mistakes." tate, which came in averaging 27 points a game, led 7-3 at halftime and extended its lead to 10-3 with 14:48 remaining. Eric Perri capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal.
UAPB answered on the following possession by gaining a first-and-goal at the 5 but was backed up to the 15 after quarterback Chris Wallace was sacked twice.
Brodie Heflin kicked a 32-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-6 with 9:15 left.
The Golden Lions held the Tigers on their next two possessions before taking over at their 18 with 3:00 to play. On fourth-and-11 from the 17, Wallace was sacked at the UAPB 5 to give the ball back to Jackson State with1:18 left.
Jackson State's Cody Hull scored on a 9-yard run with 1:09 left.
"It's hard to win when you end up beating yourself rather than having the other team beat you," Forte said.
UAPB and Jackson State had combined for 83 points in their last matchup, but it was evident early this would be a defensive struggle.
The Tigers started their opening possession of the game at the Golden Lions' 30 after a 25-yard punt return and drove to a first down at the UAPB 19.
On fourth-and-3 from the 12, Perri was wide right on a 28-yard field-goal attempt with 9:19 left in the first quarter.
Jackson State failed to capitalize on a UAPB turnover near midfield but scored the game's first pointswith a 57-yard drive early in the second quarter.
The Tigers converted a thirdand-7 play when quarterback Jimmy Oliver completed a 20-yard pass to Terrence Jones and scored on Erik Haw's 3-yard touchdown run. Perri's extra point gave Jackson State a 7-0 lead with 10:49 left in the half.
The Golden Lions answered with their most productive drive of the half and a 45-yard field goal from Heflin cut the deficit to 7-3 with 5:34 left.
Sports, Pages 41 on 10/28/2007