Pass uses long TD run to power Panthers over Lions
PRAIRIE VIEW — Jawon Pass has demonstrated his efficiency in throwing the football this season.
Prairie View A&M’s quarterback also has some wheels. He displayed that running ability Thursday.
A 59-yard touchdown run from Pass jump-started the Panthers to a 27-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a nationally televised Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division game under the lights at Panther Stadium.
“We played a great game all around,” said Panthers free safety Drake Cheatum, who had a team-high eight tackles. “We’re still putting it together, but that was our most complete game.”
Pass, who threw for 145 yards against the Golden Lions, added a 4-yard touchdown run to help the Panthers (4-1, 3-0) extend their winning streak to three games.
“The offense did enough and made some big plays and still left some touchdowns on the carpet. I’m pleased but not satisfied,” Prairie View coach Eric Dooley said. “And the defense played extremely well.”
An interception from Panthers defensive tackle Troy James off an attempted screen pass with two minutes left sealed the victory.
“He got a pick from the Dtackle spot, that’s big-time,” Cheatum said.
Pass’ 59-yard sprint to the end zone wasn’t even the longest run by the Panthers in the opening quarter. Lyndemian Brooks scooted 83 yards for a touchdown on an inside run. Both Pass and Brooks scored untouched and also took advantage of right-side blocks from linemen Jordan Johnson and Arrington Taylor.
“I saw the (hole), and then I pretty much wanted to turn the speed on and finish the play,” Brooks said. “I feel we’re still not doing enough. I feel we only did enough to put them away. We’ll come out stronger next time.”
Once Pass got a feel of the game, he began picking apart UAPB, by air but mostly on the ground. Pass completed 17 of 28 passes. He also ran for 70 yards on six carries. Brooks gained 118 yards on the ground on only nine carries.
“He’s (Brooks) coming into his own; that’s what we expect from him,” Dooley said. “A home run hitter. Does some good things in the pass game as well.”
A graduate transfer from Louisville, Pass has been the team’s starting quarterback all season, engineering wins over Texas Southern, Houston Baptist, Grambling State and now UAPB.
Prairie View’s ability to pick up long yardage in the first quarter established its run game. Of the Panthers’ 468 yards of offense, 289 came on the ground. In building a 21-9 halftime advantage, the Panthers put up 327 yards.
Luis Reyes kicked thirdquarter field goals of 34 and 30 yards for the Panthers, who have an open date next week before playing at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 16.
But special teams failed the Panthers late in the game. The Golden Lions cut their deficit to 27-17 with 6:10 left when Raequan Prince recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score.
The Panthers’ defense bottled up UAPB’s offense, limiting the Golden Lions to 224 yards.
“Our defense goes against a good offense every day in practice,” Dooley said. “They were up for the challenge. When you can shut down a powerful offense, it works in your favor.”
UAPB quarterback Skyler Perry was busy dealing with the Panthers’ front line of Rashaud Powell, James, Desmond Obi and Jason Dumas. Perry aired out deep shots but failed to hit his targets.
Perry was briefly replaced by Xzavier Vaughn in the second quarter. It didn’t take long for Vaughn to contribute. In his first series, Vaughn connected with Josh Wilkes on an 82-yard touchdown midway in the quarter. Kevin Victorian blocked the extra point, keeping the Panthers’ lead at 14-9.
Perry returned to direct the Golden Lions in the second half, finishing with nine completions on 29 attempts for only 51 yards. Vaughn passed for 115 yards.
The fall season is not shaping up the way UAPB (1-3, 0-2) had hoped. In the SWAC’s spring season, the Golden Lions captured the West Division title.