Golden Lions Lose Homecoming Game 29-21 to Southern University
PINE BLUFF – Lenard Tillary rushed for a career-high136 yards and a touchdown as the Southern University Jaguars spoiled homecoming for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 29-21 on Saturday afternoon at Golden Lions Stadium. Southern improved to 4-3 overall, and increased their lead in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division at 4-1. Meanwhile, UAPB fell to 0-7 and 0-5.
Tillery’s also had three receptions for 29 yards. Quarterback Dray Joseph passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-30 attempts.
UAPB quarterback Ben Anderson had 266 yards passing and 99 on the ground. He rushed for one touchdown and passed for two more. Anderson was an efficient 24-for-28 in the air. He was intercepted once off of a deflection.
Southern struck first on their opening drive as Tillery ran it in from 26 yards out. The extra point was blocked, but kicker Greg Pittman picked up the loose ball and plowed into the endzone for two points, giving the Jaguars an 8-0 lead with 9:11 left in the first quarter.
The Golden Lions responded quickly, driving 75 yards on eight plays to get on the board. Anderson did it with his legs, racing in from eight yards out. Tyler Strickland tacked on the extra point, making the score 8-7 with 6:14 left.
After a stop by the UAPB defense, the Golden Lions pulled ahead on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Isaiah Ferguson with 31 seconds left in the quarter. The touchdown and point-after gave UAPB a 14-8 lead.
The second quarter belonged to Southern as the Jaguars scored two touchdowns to reclaim the lead. Joseph had a pair of touchdown passes, the first a 32-yard strike to Willie Quinn and the other a 16-yard TD pass to Nico Talbert. The touchdowns gave Southern a 22-14 lead at halftime.
Late in the third quarter, the Golden Lions moved closer to the Jaguars on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Jamie Smith. The Smith’s touchdown pulled the Golden Lions within a point at 22-21. But, Southern answered with a 13-play, 90-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard sneak by Joseph, extending the SU lead back to 29-21 with 8:34 left in the game.
The Golden Lions were driving for a potential tying touchdown, with a 2-point conversion, it fizzled when Drayton Willis coughed it up at the Southern 35-yard line and Southern recovered. UAPB got the ball one more time, but with only 20 seconds left and no time left, there was no chance.
The Golden Lions will head to Itta Bena next week to try and pick up there first win of the season when they face Mississippi Valley State.
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