Although swallowing a 20-16 loss to NCAA Division II Oklahoma Panhandle State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach Monte Coleman did see improvement in some areas.
The Golden Lions managed to effectively move the ball against the Aggies, a mantra Coleman preached all summer and during fall camp leading up to a season-opening loss to Tennessee State.
"That was huge for us," Coleman said. "Dante [McDonald] is a big back, we're counting on him. I thought that we got back to what we really want to do. Terry Montgomery came in and ran the ball well for us."
Against the Aggies on Saturday, UAPB carried the ball 37 times for 140 yards (3.8 ypc). Take away the six sacks that the Golden Lions surrendered for 42 yards, and the Golden Lions had 31 carries for 182 yards (5.9 ypc).
It was a stark contrast from the Golden Lions' first game on the road at Tennessee State, where they managed just 49 yards rushing. It was an improvement from last year, too, when UAPB averaged 130.4 rushing yards per game, eighth in the SWAC.
Holding on
Monte Coleman said holding onto the football was a key to keeping the Golden Lions in the game against the Oklahoma Panhandle State.
"Brandon Duncan, so far, has not had an interception," Coleman said. "Protecting the football has been big for us. We had one turnover and we had one the week before. At this point last season, we had six turnovers through two games. That's been huge."
In 2015 the Golden Lions threw six interceptions in the first two games. For the season, they had 21 interceptions and lost 10 fumbles, third most in the SWAC.
Duncan, in general, has improved from his 4 starts in 2015 where he threw 8 interceptions and completed 55 percent of his passes. So far, he has no turnovers in 2016 and a 64 percent completion percentage. The only area where Duncan hasn't progressed is getting the ball into the end zone. Through two games, Duncan has yet to throw a touchdown.
"We've lost two nonconference games and we didn't want to lose them, but I think we're on schedule," Coleman said. "We've got a lot of new faces around here. The whole offensive line is new and we got a lot of new coaches. Guys are working hard."
Big-play killers
If the Golden Lions could have chosen two quarters to keep from their loss to Oklahoma Panhandle State, it would have been the first and third. UAPB held the Aggies scoreless in the first and third and looked to have a first-half shutout against the Aggies until giving up a late second-quarter touchdown with 3:40 left.
Even with the late touchdown, UAPB held the Aggies to just 85 yards of total offense in the first half. Likewise, in the second half, the Golden Lions fought their way back to a 16-3 lead before surrendering 142 yards on two touchdown drives. The three scoring drives by the Aggies accounted for nearly two-thirds of their 343 yards of total offense.
"We went in at halftime and had only 85 yards of total offense and they got most of their second-half offense on that big play," Coleman said. "We scooped up a loose ball on a fumble that would have been a score. We are doing some things on defense that are positive. I thought the defense flew around. We are making strides from the first two games."
As easy as it is to point fingers on a 55-yard touchdown pass by the Aggies with 2:49 left to play, Coleman said there was plenty of blame to go around.
"Me and the coaching staff and the players are very disappointed," Coleman said. "We let it slip away from us. Too many miscues in that game to win it. Missed two field goals. We didn't take advantage of opportunities in the red zone. And when we gave up a big play, that put the nail in our back. Played well for three quarters, but it wasn't enough."
Tonight’s game
UAPB AT ALCORN STATE
WHEN 6:30 p.m. Central
WHERE Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman, Miss.
RECORDS UAPB 0-2, 0-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Alcorn State 1-0, 1-0
COACHES Monte Coleman (18-54 in ninth season at UAPB and overall); Fred McNair (1-0 in first season at Alcorn State and overall)
TV ESPNU
RADIO KUAP-FM, 89.7, in Pine Bluff
INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
WHEN UAPB HAS THE BALL Look for junior Dante McDonald to get the bulk of the carries again. McDonald is third in the conference, averaging 68 yards per game after rushing for 122 yards last week against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Brandon Duncan continues to improve for the Golden Lions under center, as he is now just one of two SWAC quarterbacks to throw for more than 300 yards on the season with no interceptions. The other is Mississippi Valley State quarterback Austin Bray. Senior receiver Cody Swain leads the SWAC with 16 receptions and is second in the league with an average of eight receptions per game.
WHEN ALCORN STATE HAS THE BALL The Braves are second in the conference in scoring at 21.0 points per game, and first in defense at 18.0 points per contest. Running back Marquis Warford is second in the league in rushing with 87 yards per game, while teammate Noah Johnson is fourth at 61 yards per game, averaging 6.8 yards per carry that ranks second in the SWAC. The Braves, meanwhile, struggle to move the ball through the air. Quarterback Lenorris Footman was 10th in the league in yards per game at 62.0 before leaving last week’s game with a foot injury, while Noah Johnson, who looks to start this week, is ninth in passing efficiency with a rating of 92.8. Coach Fred McNair has said it will be a game-time decision on who will play. WHAT’S AT STAKE After playing two nonconference opponents, UAPB gets a quick barometer of where it stands in the SWAC by going on the road to face the two-time defending conference champions. The Braves dismantled the Golden Lions 61-14 last season in Little Rock en route to a 9-4 season. After winning consecutive conference titles, former Coach Jay Hopson left to take over at Southern Miss, leaving way for McNair, brother of former Alcorn State and NFL quarterback Steve McNair, himself a former quarterback at Alcorn State who played in the CFL, AFL and other minor-league football leagues. Although it’s the first league game for the Golden Lions, Alcorn started off league play with a 21-18 victory over Alabama State last week in Lorman, Miss.
Sports on 09/15/2016