PINE BLUFF, Ark. – In a game that featured long, time-consuming drives and continuous defensive pressure from both teams, the Alabama State University football team topped the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 21-15, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) interdivision matchup at Simmons Bank Field on Saturday afternoon.
As four drives – one in each quarter – took 12 or more plays, the Hornets (4-3, 2-2 SWAC) snapped a two-game skid while collecting its first road victory of the season against a Golden Lions (4-3, 1-2 SWAC) squad that gave the ball away at the worst possible moments. Bama State limited UAPB to less than 35 points, a position the home offense has not been put in by a non-FBS defense since last November's matchup with the Hornets in Montgomery.
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The first half progressed slowly, with Alabama State recording a pair of second-half rushing touchdowns, first from
Jareese Howard with 12 minutes left and another by the junior tailback on a 34-yard run with just over a minute remaining. While UAPB had the opportunity to match ASU's score after a quick response in the waning seconds of the half, an incomplete pass on its two-point conversion attempt gave Alabama State the 14-12 lead at the break.
Mostly empty drives filled the third quarter, with both sides combining for three punts, the last shifting possession back to ASU with six minutes left in the period. From there, the Hornets, led by
Kareem Keye, made strong, positive strides, as the wide receiver was the recipient of a 16-yard catch, a five-yard first-down rush, a 12-yard grab, and an eight-yard carry to move the offense deep into the red zone.
The final quarter started with the half's first points on a three-yard
Jamarie Hostzclaw touchdown carry and was highlighted by a pair of key Alabama State interceptions from
Zach Williams at 11 minutes to go and
Ta'Shaun Sims on a promising UAPB drive with under a minute to go to secure the victory for the Black and Gold.
Both teams leaned a bit more towards the run, with the Hornets leading the way with 4.5 yards per carry as a team. While Arkansas-Pine Bluff had a strong passing afternoon when they attacked through the air, ASU's kick returns and timely plays got the offense into better starting field positions, a key factor in the win.
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With ASU receiving the ball first, quarterback
Aaron Frye got the passing attack going with an 18-yard strike to
Nehemiah Hixon.
The first Hornet play of the second quarter was just as key, as a kickoff return by
Nicholas Harris was taken 36 yards to the opposing 38-yard line, setting the offense up in a strong position at the start of its third possession of the game.
A pair of plays lifted the Hornets to a second touchdown drive on the afternoon. The first play of the drive saw Frye launch a pass from ASU's two-yard line across midfield and into the hands of receiver
Randall King for a 58-yard gain. Howard's 34-yard touchdown run came just three plays later to swing the advantage back to the visitors.
Another impact play came in the first action of the fourth quarter, as
Jamarie Hostzclaw ran one in from the left side, notching the first tally from either side in the second half.
Of the two interceptions, Sims, a Preseason All-SWAC honoree, collected the more timely takeaway, as the clock was well under a minute to play and the opposition was moving steadily towards the end zone. The ASU offense took the field in victory formation to close out the win following the massive defensive stand.
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QB
Aaron Frye: 15-for-16, 105 yards, interception
RB
Jareese Howard: seven carries, 70 yards, two touchdowns; 12-yard reception
RB
Jamarie Hostzclaw: nine carries, 27 yards, touchdown
WR
Kareem Keye: five catches, 35 yards
CB
Zach Williams: three pass breakups, interception
LB
Corey Lucius: 12 tackles (three solo)
LB
Mitchell Robinson Jr.: nine tackles (three solo), tackle for loss
DT
Jaylan Jarrett: eight tackles, tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks
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Alabama State wins its second straight contest against the Golden Lions, bringing its record against UAPB to 12-2 since 2005. It also boasts a perfect 6-0 road mark, continuing the success it left off from 2015, a 31-24 victory when it last traveled to Arkansas.
It was the second straight game and fifth time this season that the ASU defense held its opponent scoreless in the third quarter. Whether it is controlling the clock on offense or locking down on defense, the team comes out of the locker room after the break refreshed and has dominated teams in a large portion of the game.
Despite playing a complementary role in a loaded backfield, Howard made the most of his opportunities, posting season-high numbers in both rush yards and yards from scrimmage in his seventh game since transferring from Lincoln University prior to this year. The junior tailback has 232 rushing yards on 40 carries with five scores this season.
While UAPB led in most statistical categories, including first downs, total rushing and passing yards, total plays, kickoff returns and time of possession, ASU led in some of the pivotal categories, including yards per carry (4.5), yards per pass attempt (6.4), yards per play (5.3), yards per punt (40.2), and kickoff return average (25).
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The Hornets have a bye week this upcoming week before returning to Alabama for a neutral site matchup against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in the Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola at Legion Field in Birmingham on Saturday, October 31, with the Halloween afternoon kickoff time set for 2:30 p.m. It returns to Montgomery for Hall of Fame Weekend on Saturday, Nov. 14, against Jackson State at 2 p.m.
