PINE BLUFF – UAPB quarterback Ben Anderson was a one man wrecking crew, accounting for nearly 500 yards of total offense as Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Grambling State 45-42 in the final home game of the season for the Golden Lions.
Anderson passed for 280 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for a season-high 192 yards and another touchdown. He completed 19-of-29 passes, with no interceptions. The only interception in the game came on a failed trick play and Anderson was not the passer.
GSU quarterback Johnathan Williams passed for 275 yards and a touchdown, connecting on 14-of-18 passes. He also rushed for 84 yards on 13 carries.
In a wild first half, the two teams combined to score 46 points and pile up over 500 yards of offense. Grambling State had 269 yards on 31 plays, while UAPB had 238 yards on 33 plays.
The seesawed back and forth the first 30 minutes. GSU got on the board first with a 19-yard run by Williams. UAPB answered on their first possession as Anderson connected with Brandon Kensey on a 16-yard touchdown strike, tying the score at 7-7 with 8:32 left in the first quarter.
GSU came right back with a seven play, 70-yard drive, capped off by a 2-yard run by Jestin Kelly. The PAT was no good, leaving the Tigers with a 13-7 lead. UAPB took advantage of the missed point after on their next possession, going 72 yards in nine plays to take the lead. Anderson threw his second touchdown pass of the day, a 14-yarder to Jamie Smith on the final play of the opening quarter. Tyler Strickland added the extra point to give the Golden Lions a 14-13 lead.
The Golden Lions increased their lead early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Michael Wilson. Wilson’s first touchdown of the season gave UAPB a 21-13 lead with 11:05 left in the half.
However, GSU answered with back-to-back touchdowns to pull back in front. A 14-yard run by Jeremy Runner provided the first score, but the extra point was blocked. Then, wide receiver Chad Williams hauled in a 27-yard jump ball pass from Williams with 4:46 left to cap off a 25-yard drive, set up by an interception. The 2-point conversion failed and GSU took a 25-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The third quarter was relatively quiet compared to the fireworks in the first two quarters. Strickland hit a 45-yard fieldgoal to cut the GSU lead to 25-24. Then, the Lions were driving down the field attempting to reclaim the lead. Anderson had a 60-yard scamper in the drive. But, the drive did a 180 when after stalling deep in GSU territory, a 26-yard fieldgoal attempt by Strickland was blocked. Dwight Amphy not only blocked the fieldgoal, he scooped up the loose ball and raced 85 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, leaving the score 31-24, GSU.
Early in the fourth quarter, Ben Anderson got the Golden Lions even, capping off an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cody Swain. The Anderson-Swain pitch and catch tied the score at 31-all.
Grambling reclaimed the lead with a 19-yard fieldgoal with 12:07 left in the game. However, back-to-back touchdowns by Anderson, one in the air, and one on the ground, gave UAPB some insurance. The first touchdown was a 4-yard pass to Erick Thomas that capped a 14-play, 91-yard drive. The other touchdown came on a 15-yard run with 2:16 left to give UAPB a 45-34 lead.
Grambling made it close with a quick five play drive that only took 44 seconds. Williams plunged in from a yard out and the 2-point conversion made it 45-42. However, the Golden Lions ended the Tigers’ comeback by recovering the onside kick.
The Golden Lions will travel to Huntsville, Alabama to face Alabama A&M next weekend.
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