UAPB at Tennessee State

WHEN 6 p.m. Central WHERE Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn. 2015 RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-9, 1-8 Southwest Athletic Conference, Tennessee State (4-6, 1-6 Ohio Valley Conference)

COACHES Monte Coleman (18-52 in ninth season at UAPB and overall), Rod Reed (36-33 in seventh season at Tennessee State and overall) SERIES Tennessee State leads 1-0 RADIO KUAP-FM 89.7, in Pine Bluff INTERNET uapblionsroar.com

WHEN UAPB HAS THE BALL New offensive coordinator Ted White brings a “multiple” look to the Golden Lions. While at Howard, the Bison averaged more than 25 points per game in 2013 and 2014. They also averaged a little more than 400 yards a game of total offense in the 2014 season. There are five quarterbacks on the UAPB roster, and three of them started for the Golden Lions last season. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Duncan completed 80 of 149 passes last season for 1,027 yards and eight touchdowns, and he was the Golden Lions’ eighth-leading rusher with 36 carries for 56 yards. He’s the Spread option of the three returning starters. Fellow redshirt sophomore Marcus Terrell completed 54 of 106 passes for 557 yards and 3 touchdowns, while junior Nolen Sorenson hit on just 38 of 102 passes for 479 yards and 1 score. Junior running back Brian Handley is the leading returning rusher for UAPB. He carried the ball 114 times for 435 yards and one touchdown last season. Redshirt junior receiver Willie Young led UAPB with 49 catches for 584 yards and 3 touchdowns. WHEN TENNESSEE STATE HAS THE BALL

2015 was a down year for the Tigers. After consecutive winning seasons, the Tigers finished 4-6. Tennessee State won three of its fist four games, but the Tigers dropped five of their last 6. Redshirt junior Patrick Smith led the Ohio Valley Conference in receiving yards per game last season with 99.6 per contest. Quarterback O’Shay Ackerman-Carter was named to the OVC Newcomer Team after throwing for 1,279 yards

and 11 touchdowns in just seven games. Erick Evans is the Tigers’ returning leading rusher after handling the bulk of Tennessee State’s carries during the final four games of the season. Evans rushed for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns and had 168 all-purpose yards against Florida A&M in 2015.

WHAT’S AT STAKE UAPB is looking for its first season-opening victory since 2012, which is the last winning season for the Golden Lions and the last time they won the SWAC title. Also in 2012, the Golden Lions lost at Tennessee State 40-13 in the fifth week of the regular season before reeling off seven consecutive victories to close out a 10-2 campaign.