UAPB set to return to field

The past week afforded the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team a chance to reset after an eventful first month-anda-half of the season, and Coach Alonzo Hampton indicated that his team did as much during its lone open date.

“We had a great week here in Golden Lion country,” he said. “Had us some great bonding opportunities as a team, just getting to know the players and the players getting to know the coaches. So obviously, we needed that.

“We played five straight weeks and had a lot of close games. The last game against Southern didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, and the kids were frustrated because that game shouldn’t have been 27-0. But we’re excited about where we’re headed as a program, and excited about getting on the field.”

Where UAPB (1-4, 0-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) is headed next is Itta Bena, Miss., on Saturday when it takes on Mississippi Valley State (0-5, 0-2), which is still searching for its first victory after dropping a 31-12 decision at Prairie View A&M in its previous game. But the Golden Lions are more concerned about getting themselves right before playing the Delta Devils.

UAPB is one game back in the loss column behind first-place Prairie View A&M in the SWAC West standings. But the promising thing about that situation is that the Golden Lions have faced just one team from its division.

That means UAPB still has a chance to make a move upward, but it can’t afford too many more slipups.

“We need to have the right mindset,” Hampton said. “And the mindset is we’ve got to do what we need to do in all three phases, offense, defense, special teams. Our offense needs to get moving, and our defense needs to eliminate the big plays.

“And our special teams need to be special. So it’s all on us.”