Arkansas-Pine Bluff 33, Grambling State 28

October 14, 2006

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Several game-changing plays by the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in addition to missed opportunities by the Grambling State Tigers was the difference in a 33-28 UAPB victory Saturday evening at the inaugural Delta Classic 4 Literacy in War Memorial Stadium.

Forced to kick a field goal after driving to the Tigers' 25-yard line on UAPB's opening possession, linebacker David Hicks blocked the kick and freshman T.J. McCord scooped it up for a 65-yard touchdown return to put GSU on board first. UAPB answered back with a seven minute drive and cut GSU's lead to 7-3 on a 20-yard field goal by John Heflin and took a 10-7 lead at the 6:13 mark of the second quarter with a one-play drive. On that drive, UAPB's Jason Jones broke free from the GSU secondary and scored on a 37-yard pass from quarterback Chris Wallace.

Down by three, GSU's offense finally clicked and quarterback Brandon Landers led the Tigers on a nine-play, 87-yard drive that was capped off by Ab Kuuan's one-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left in the second quarter. However, the Golden Lions pulled out another big play on their ensuing possession when tailback Martell Mallett broke free on 3rd-and-1 for a 64-yard scamper to put UAPB ahead 17-14. GSU answered back on its final drive of the second half and took a 21-17 lead when Landers found Clyde Edwards on a 4-yard touchdown pass.

UAPB opened the second half with a bang as running back Dedrick Poole silenced the Tiger fans with a 97-yard run on 3rd-and-19 at the UAPB 3-yard line. Once again, GSU answered back with another scoring drive as Landers found Edwards once again for a 28-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter to reclaim a 28-24 lead. UAPB struck back though on its very next possession and trimmed GSU's lead to 28-27 on a 42-yard field goal by Heflin.

In the fourth quarter, the Tigers were in position to create some cushion for themselves as they recovered a fumble on the UAPB 12. Unfortunately, the Tigers failed to capitalize on the generous field position as they failed to find the endzone and Tim Manuel's 39-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar. GSU forced UAPB to punt on the game's next drive but UAPB regained the momentum when Amp Boone intercepted Landers pass and returned the ball 29 yards to the GSU 33. On the Lions' first play after the INT, UAPB went ahead 33-28 when Wallace found Jones for a 33-yard scoring strike.

After forcing the Tigers to punt, Arkansas-Pine Bluff had a chance to put the game away but came up short as Dimitri Carr stopped Poole on 3rd-and-12 with less than two minutes left in the contest. Down to their final drive, Landers drove the Tigers to UAPB's 22-yard line but came up short as he misfired on four passes to close out the game.

For the game, UAPB netted 408 (246 R, 162 P) yards of total offense to GSU's 396 (300 P, 96 R). Landers finished with 300 passing yards on 21-of-47 passing while Mallett led the UAPB offense with 143 rushing yards.