Smashing debuts

UAPB Coach Cedric Thomas may not have gotten the victory he wanted in his first game at the helm, but three of his players had impressive debuts in their initial games with the team.

Quarterback Shannon Patrick, a transfer from Northland (Minn.) Junior College, threw for 451 yards, which is the most by a Golden Lion signal-caller since Brandon Duncan had 505 yards in UAPB’s triple-overtime victory over Alcorn State in 2016. Also, wide receiver Josh Wilkes, a Butler (Kan.) Community College transfer, had 7 catches for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wilkes’ yardage total was Golden Lions’ single-game receiving record and was good enough to earn him the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s newcomer of the week.

The totals from both players were tops in the Football Championship Subdivision.

“Josh is a big-time player, and we knew that coming in,” Thomas said. “[Offensive coordinator] Coach [Jermaine] Gales did a good job of recruiting him all the way up to the midnight hour as far as us getting in so late and behind the eight ball. But we knew he was a steal.

“And Shannon made good decisions. I think there was a stretch where he was 12 for 12 at one time.”

Patrick finished 17-of-25 passing for the game, but it was his final drop back that bothered him most of all.

UAPB was facing a third and goal with 12 seconds left when Patrick was hit from behind and fumbled. Morehouse’s Ben Goins recovered, and the Tigers were able to run out the clock.

“But what I like about it the most, the kid was very frustrated,” Thomas said. “We work two minutes every week and at the end, he felt like he let the team down because he couldn’t make that one last play. That says a lot about the kid’s character just as a winner.

“A lot of kids would just be satisfied with him playing well or themselves playing well, but he’s not satisfied with a moral victory.”

Thomas also got a boost from ASA Miami Junior College transfer running back Taeyler Porter. With starting running back KeShawn Williams out, Porter ran for 109 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had a 67-yard score on UAPB’s first offensive play, but it was wiped out because of a penalty.