SWAC turns attention to Lions-Hornets

All eyes in Southwestern Athletic Conference football will be fixed and tuned in to Simmons Bank Field as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions will host the Alabama State Hornets.

Due to forecasts of severe weather in the area on Saturday evening, UAPB (2-0 overall, 2-0 SWAC) and Alabama State — (2-1, 2-1) will now kick off at 4:05 p.m. in the only game on the league’s schedule this weekend.

After two impressive road wins at Southern (33-30 on March 6) and at Grambling (48-21 on March 20), the Golden Lions will play their spring football home opener. Quarterback Skyler Perry has passed for 569 yards and six touchdowns and also has a pair of rushing touchdowns in spearheading the UAPB offense.

In earning SWAC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors last week, Perry passed for a career-high 348 yards and a career-best four touchdowns in the Grambling State win. Both wide receivers Josh Wilkes (6 rec, 131 yards, 1 TD) and Harry Ballard III (7-124-1) had more than 100 yards receiving, and tight end Jeremy Brown caught two touchdown passes.

Defensive back Jalon Thigpen’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown on Grambling’s second offensive play set a defensive tone for the Golden Lions. It was Thigpen’s second interception in two games this season and sparked a unit that recorded five sacks.

UAPB’s Tyrin Ralph leads the SWAC in kickoff returns (25.6 average) and is third in punt returns (9.3 average).

Alabama State has been led by the efforts of running back Ezra Gray, who rushed for 195 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns in the Hornets’ 35-28 win over Jackson State last week.

Gray earned him a share of the league’s Offensive Player of the Week honors with Perry. Gray has rushed for 268 yards (second in the SWAC) and three touchdowns. Gray is also third in the league in kickoff returns (21.4 average).

Quarterback Ryan Nettles earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors after passing for 257 yards against Jackson State. He is third in the SWAC with 406 passing yards and tied for third with four passing touchdowns. Michael Jefferson’s 13 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown leads Alabama State.

Defensively, Colton Adams leads the Hornets in tackles with 18 on a unit in which six players have at least one sack. The Hornets lead the SWAC in both total defense (allowing 312.0 yards per game) and passing defense (allowing 157.5 yards per game).