No scaredy-cats

The final four games of the regular season are about as pivotal as it’ll get for UAPB, but Coach Cedric Thomas said his team isn’t about to flinch.

The Golden Lions have won two games in a row with a home game against Grambling State on Oct. 26, followed by consecutive road trips to Jackson State (Nov. 2) and Prairie View A&M (Nov. 9). All three beat UAPB last season, with Grambling State winning in overtime and Jackson State surviving after blocking a potential gametying field goal in the final seconds. Thomas noted his team’s mindset has changed, and they won’t be fazed by magnitude of the games.

“We don’t get to where we are right now if that’s not the thought process,” he said. “All of the close games we lost last year. … We’ve gotten to where we are because of those games. My kids are good enough, and they believe that they are good enough.

“They’ve got to understand that regardless of who we play on each Saturday, we’ve got to be prepared. I don’t think there’s anybody in the league that’s going to scare us or have the psychological edge. They believe now.”

UAPB is currently 2-1 in the West and are a half game behind Southern (2-0). Prairie View A&M is third at 2-2 while Grambling State and Texas Southern are both 0-2. Grambling State beat East Division foes Jackson State and Alabama A&M in back-to-back weeks, but those games were deemed nonconference contests in order to keep the Tigers at the league-maximum sevengame schedule.