UAPB Golden Lions Come Up Short to Alabama A&M

An offensive explosion against the league’s top defense still was not enough as UAPB lost to Alabama A&M 50-42 on Saturday afternoon on the road.

A&M running back Barrington Scott rolled for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Jaymason Lee passed for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

Golden Lions quarterback Ben Anderson had another outstanding day, accounting for over 400 yards of total offense and five touchdowns. He completed 21-of-35 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 88 yards and a pair of scores on 14 carries. However, it would be the two interceptions that Anderson threw that would be critical.

Wideout Dez Beverly was Anderson’s favorite target on the day, catching nine passes for 174 yards.

The team stats were gaudy and UAPB (2-8, 2-6 in SWAC) and A&M (4-7, 4-5 in SWAC) combined for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Golden Lions got on the fireworks started with Anderson racing 33 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. A&M answered on their first possession with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Montaurius Smith, tying the score at 7-7 with 10:35 left in the first quarter. Smith finished the game with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Late in the first quarter, Anderson hit Draylon Willis for a short 5-yard touchdown pass. Then, UAPB added to their lead with a 4-yard touchdown run by Michael Wilson. The touchdown gave the Golden Lions a 21-7 lead with 10:12 left in the half.

The rest of the half belonged to the Bulldogs as they scored 12 unanswered points to close out the second quarter. The first score was a 5-yard pass from Lee to Terrance Price. Then, Cesar Ramon booted a 29-yard fieldgoal to cut the UAPB lead to 21-17. The final score came when Anderson was tackled in the endzone for a safety. But, UAPB still held on to a 21-19 halftime lead.

The second half was defensive coordinator’s nightmare. A&M came out of the lockerroom and took their first lead of the day. Scott scored on an 11-yard run, giving the Bulldogs a 26-21 lead. That was answered by a 42-yard touchdown sprint by Anderson, putting UAPB back up 28-26 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.

The lead seesawed back to A&M when Lee connected on his third touchdown pass of the day, a 57-yarder to Demario Ross. However, the Golden Lions counterpunched on their next drive with Anderson hitting Thomas Winters from five yards out. The extra point made in 35-34 with 4:25 left in the quarter.

UAPB got a little breathing room in the final minute of the third quarter when Anderson struck again on a 42-yard TD strike to Troy Goss, giving the Golden Lions a 42-34. But, the lead didn’t last long.

In the fourth quarter, Ramon hit a 38-yard fieldgoal to trim the UAPB lead to 42-37. Then, with 6:57 left in the game, Scott scored his second touchdown of the day, going in from three yards out to give the Bulldogs the lead back. The 2-point conversion failed, leaving A&M with a 43-42 lead.

On the next UAPB possession, Anderson was intercepted by Lawrence Barnett. The Bulldogs drove 51 yards in seven plays and Scott punched it in from 24 yards out to give A&M a 50-42 lead.

The Golden Lions had one more chance to tie the game on a final regulation time drive. However, Anderson was picked off again, ending the Golden Lions’ hopes.