Golden Lions win, Tigers still revel
UAPB 45, GRAMBLING STATE 42
PINE BLUFF — Just about everybody had something to be happy about at Golden Lion Stadium on Saturday night.
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions were pleased with the final result, a 45-42 victory over Grambling State, their first home victory in their final home game, and it featured a watershed performance by junior quarterback Ben Anderson, who accounted for 472 yards and five touchdowns.
Grambling backed up a winning performance last week against Mississippi Valley State with another strong effort, the embattled program’s third game back since gaining national notoriety by boycotting an Oct. 19 game at Jackson State.
UAPB (2-7, 2-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to come away with its first comeback victory since a 24-21 victory over Jackson State in last season’s SWAC Championship Game.
Grambling cornerback Dwight Amphy put UAPB in a hole when he blocked Tyler Strickland’s 26-yard field goal attempt and returned it 85 yards to give the Tigers a 31-24 lead with 4:28 left in the third quarter.
Grambling (1-10, 1-7) knows all about rallying from adversity. A player revolt concerning the team’s displeasure with the dismissal of long-time head coach Doug Williams, dilapidated facilities, and long bus trips for games, caught the attention of news outlets nationwide, and brought more attention to the school than at any time since legendary College Football Hall 0f Fame Coach Eddie Robinson retired, with 408 victories, in 1997.
Williams encouraged his former players to return after the boycott and former UAPB assistant Dennis Winston, a former Razorbacks player and assistant, was named interim coach in mid-October, and players said their complaints were acknowledged.
They took the field again Oct. 26 for a 23-17 loss to Texas Southern, followed by a 47-40 victory over Mississippi Valley last weekend.
“Matters are being adderessed,” Amphy said.
“We don’t have anyone complaining about anything,” Winston said. “We thought we should’ve won tonight, but we’re playing hard, and I’m happy with that.”
UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said the SWAC needs Grambling.
“There’s a lot of history, a lot of winning tradition there with Grambling,” Coleman said. “They’re a big part of the SWAC. It’s good that they’ve reconciled their differences.”
Anderson said Amphy’s return inspired UAPB.
“We knew we were still in the game,” Anderson said.
Anderson turned in allaround performance, completing 19 of 29 passes for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns, while rushing 21 times for 192 yards and another score.
“Ben is very special,” Coleman said. “I’m yelling at him, ‘I don’t want you running with the football. Hand it off to the running backs.’ And then he takes off for 30 yards or whatever. I scratch my head and think that maybe I should stop coaching him, just let him do what he wants.”
Anderson completed UAPB’s next drive, after Amphy’s score, with a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Cody Swain when facing third and 10. His throw somehow eluded the fingertips of several Tigers en route to Swain in the back of the end zone.
“Ben had a great game,” UAPB receiver Dezmond Beverly said. “He wowed me several time, but that play really wowed me.”
Anderson said he had mixed emotions when he decided to attempt the pass.
“I saw their linebackers, but to be honest, I didn’t see the safety,” he said. “I knew I had to rip it either way, but when Cody made the play, it kind of surprised me myself. I knew I could get it there, but at first I was thinking I wished I could’ve pulled it back. But then I was like, ‘OK.’ ”
That tied the score 31-31 with 14:05 left in the fourth.
Grambling regained the lead on a 19-yard field goal by Johnathan Wallace, but Anderson responded by driving his team 91 yards on 14 plays, lifting UAPB to a 38-34 lead with his 2-yard touchdown pass to senior Erick Thomas with 6:16 left. His 15-yard touchdown run on UAPB’s next possession made it 45-34.
“Ben is in a different zone right now,” Coleman said.
Grambling closed to 4542 after Johnathan Williams’ quarterback sneak with 1:22 left. But a failed onside kick followed, and Anderson took a knee to secure UAPB’s victory.