Sports

Tigers defeat Pine Bluff

The G-Men played strong last Saturday against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, pulling off a 8th consecutive victory and wrecking another homecoming game this season with a 49-31 victory over the Golden Lions.   

KEION HAYES/The Gramblinite Jestin Kelly (No. 28) attempts to run through Golden Lion defenders.

KEION HAYES/The Gramblinite
Jestin Kelly (No. 28) attempts to run through Golden Lion defenders.

After the game, head football coach Broderick Fobbs said he was pleased with the win but disappointed with some of the play on the field. He said he is excited about clinching a berth in the Dec. 5 SWAC conference championship game in Houston, but he expects his team to play better.

“It was a tough one, but our kids kept fighting, and it got a little chippy there,” he said, “but the good thing is everybody came out of it healthy and we look forward to having a week off so we can prepare for the Bayou Classic.”

The G-Men (8-2, 8-0 SWAC) began the game with strong defense as the Golden Lions chose to receive the ball in the first quarter. UAPB was unable to get beyond the 33 yard line. QB Johnathan Williams threw for two touchdowns in the first quarter, the first with only four minutes removed from the clock, connecting with Chad Williams for a 44-yard touchdown pass, and the second, a nine-yard direct pass to Martez Carter, giving the G-Men a 14-0 lead.

As the quarter went on, the G-Men defense continued to work overdrive as the Golden Lions challenged them by working to score – but without TD success, only putting a field goal through the air in the first quarter. The Golden Lions were finally able to make it past the 50 yard line with a connected pass from QB Brandon Duncan to WR Willie Young. With three minutes left in the quarter, the Golden Lions were able to place points on the scoreboard with a 37- yard field goal kick by kicker Jamie Gillan.

With less than 30 seconds remaining, fullback Nicholas Woodfork fumbled the ball and it was recovered by DL Jamison Goins, giving the Tigers the ball in the second quarter.

The Tigers struggled in the beginning of the second quarter with incomplete passes. With the ball on the nine yard line, the Golden Lions decided to run the play, but a tackle by LB Troy Roach made it impossible, allowing the G-Men to take over the ball. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Golden Lions defender Jamal Hundley recovered a fumbled ball at the 30 yard line.

While it looked like the Golden Lions would score their first touchdown of the game, a pass intended for WR Willie Young at the two yard line is intercepted by CB Dwight Amphy. 

The Golden Lions fought hard to keep the G-Men from scoring but with one second on the clock, Williams connected with WR Verlan Hunter for a 41 yard touchdown pass that will be sure to be talked about for years to come.

Fobbs reflected on his team’s performance, putting it in context.“Sometimes we do relax,” Fobbs said, noting that the team must play at a high level with passion constantly. “The thing that we’re learning how to do is to play that way all the time. This is a team that’s two years into learning how to do is to play that way all the time. This is a team that’s two years into learning how to do things… Even though we have some juniors and seniors that have played ball before, they haven’t played it our way.” 

With a bye week will travel to New Orleans next week to play the Southern University Jaguars in the 42nd annual Bayou Classic at 4 p.m. Central.

The Tigers will take on the SWAC East Champions Saturday Dec. 5 in Houston, Texas at  Reliant Stadium. 

With a win this weekend Alcorn will clinch the east setting up a rematch. 

Grambling beat Alcorn 35-34 in Lorman earlier this season.