Struggles persist for UAPB in LR

War Memorial Stadium has not been a home away from home for the UAPB Golden Lions.

Playing in Little Rock for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons, the Golden Lions’ 32-20 loss to the Jackson State Tigers on Saturday dropped their record at the stadium to 3-7 since 2004.

A week after shocking the Southwest Athletic Conference with an upset victory over two-time defending champion Alcorn State, the Lions (1-3, 1-1 SWAC) watched Jackson State (1-3, 1-1) jump out to a 15-0 lead and never look back. The Tigers never trailed in front of an announced crowd of 14,501.

The Tigers drove 75 yards on five plays on their first drive, gashing the Lions with big runs up the middle, including a 48-yard touchdown run by Jordan Johnson. Christian Jacquemin’s extra-point kick made it 7-0 with 13:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

“We haven’t been giving up runs like that through the first three games of the season,” UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said. “That’s a big, big play.”

The Tigers’ second touchdown was equally deflating to the Lions. After the teams traded punts, the Lions were moving down the field when Jackson State defensive back Justin Jemison jumped a route and intercepted Brandon Duncan’s pass at the Jackson State 29, then returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. Thirdstring quarterback Benjamin Thomas came in and completed a two-point conversion pass to Tevin Garrett, putting Jackson State up 15-0 with 8:36 remaining in the opening quarter.

“You look back at it, they get out there and have a long run on the first drive and then Brandon throws his first interception of the season, and it’s a pick-six, and we lose by 12,” UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said. “That’s the game, right there.”

Jackson State quarterback Brent Lyles was 14-of24 passing for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns. A week after throwing for a school-record 505 yards, Duncan was 25-of39 passing for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he added a lost fumble to his first interception.

“I thought we had a good game plan, they had a good game plan, but unfortunately for us tonight, they executed better than we did,” Coleman said.

The Lions scored near the end of the first quarter. UAPB used the running game to move the ball to the Jackson State 5 before Duncan hit Dante McDonald for a touchdown pass, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 15-7.

The Tigers responded with a 15-play, 72-yard drive capped by a 23-yard field goal to extend their lead to 18-7 with 8:16 left in the first half.