Late Rally Falls Short For Alabama State

Late Rally Falls Short For Alabama State

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MONTGOMERY - A late rally by Alabama State came up short as Arkansas-Pine Bluff held on for a 24-21 win on Thursday night at Cramton Bowl in front of live national television audience on ESPNU. UAPB improved to 3-1 and 2-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, while Alabama State slipped to 2-2 and 2-1.

UAPB led 24-14 after a 39-yard touchdown run by Justin Billings in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. Alabama State drove 69 yards with less than five minutes left to pull to within a fieldgoal. Greg Jenkins’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Justin Robinson cut the Hornets’ deficit to 24-21 with 3:19 to play.

After holding the Golden Lions to a three-and-out on their next possession, the Hornets regained possession with 2:06 to play. ASU drove 43 yards in eight plays to get into field goal range, but Bobby Wenzig’s 44-yard attempt with 56 seconds to play went wide right.

Billings led UAPB with 115 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Benjamin Anderson connected on 17-of-30 for 220 yards and a touchdown. Lardarius Eckwood caught five passes for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Thomas Winters finished with six receptions for 42 yards.

Alabama State quarterback Greg Jenkins rushed for 102 yards and passed for 187, completing 16-of-31 passes. He also had a touchdown strike.

Both teams were plagued by penalties. UAPB was flagged 17 times for 164 yards, while Alabama State committed 13 penalties for 115 yards.

Billings got the Lions on the board in the first quarter, plowing over from a yard out with 8:09 left. ASU tied the game on their second drive of the second quarter, driving 77 yards in eight plays, taking less than three minutes off the clock. Isaiah Crowell capped the drive on a 4-yard touchdown run, tying the score at 7-all with 5:07 to play until halftime.

With less than a minute left in the half, UAPB reclaimed the lead Anderson hit Eckwood on a 27-yard touchdown strike with 54 seconds left. The hookup gave the Lions a 14-7 lead at halftime.

Opening the second half down 14-7, the Hornets  begin the third quarter with a 10-play, 82-yard scoring drive. Malcolm Cyrus' 13-yard run tied the score at 14-all with 10:26 to play in the third quarter. But, with the 5:24 left in the third, Tyler Strickland nailed a 50-yard field goal to put UAPB back on top 17-14.