Grambling State Athletics
Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored on an 82-yard pass and a 76-yard punt return and held off Grambling State 35-32 on Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers (4-5, 2-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) outgained the Golden Lions (6-3, 4-2) 408 yards to 406, ran 75 plays to 56 and held the ball for 34 minutes, 24 seconds. They twice cut into a deficit in the fourth quarter, including a 78-yard touchdown pass nine seconds after UAPB’s punt-return score.
Jacobe Robinson completed 15 of 23 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, and Byron Eaton Jr. caught three passes for 91 yards and the score. Jamarion Parker rushed 14 times for 116 yards.
Theodore Caballero kicked a 33-yard field goal in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead before UAPB went ahead 7-3. D’Shaun Ford’s 12-yard touchdown run put Grambling State up 10-7 early in the second quarter.
UAPB answered with a 20-yard touchdown run by Jack Schierholz and an 82-yard scoring pass from Schierholz to Demetric Whitlock Jr., taking a 21-10 lead. Jordan Bride then returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown, though the extra point failed.
Demone Green sacked Schierholz and forced a fumble that Christen Williamsrecovered late in the half. A UAPB penalty on the play moved the ball to the 15-yard line, and Caballero kicked a 37-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to make it 21-19 at halftime.
Grambling State controlled the third quarter, holding the ball for 11:43. The Tigers took the opening drive 62 yards in 14 plays, taking 6:33 off the clock, and Caballero’s 20-yard field goal gave them a 22-21 lead. His 41-yarder with 47 seconds left in the quarter made it 25-21.
UAPB went 95 yards in eight plays, capped by Jaylen Jennings’ 3-yard run, to lead 28-25 with 8:16 remaining. After the Tigers’ next drive stalled after five plays, DaeDae Allen returned Alexander Davis’ 46-yard punt 76 yards for a touchdown and a 35-25 lead with 5:57 left.
Robinson then hit Eaton down the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown on the first play of the next drive, making it 35-32 with 5:41 to go.
UAPB used 10 plays and 5:38 to run out the clock, converting a fourth-and-2 along the way. Schierholz punted 7 yards to the Grambling State 32 with 3 seconds left. Robinson completed a 23-yard pass to Nae’Saan Dickerson, who lateraled to Lantavious Murphy. Murphy fumbled, and UAPB recovered to end the game.
Dickerson had five catches for 63 yards, and Bride added five for 37. Caballero was 4 of 5 on field goals, missing from 43 yards in the first quarter.
Jon Horton led the defense with nine tackles, and Marcellius Johnson had seven tackles and 1½ sacks. Grambling State had four sacks and six tackles for loss, and was penalized seven times for 65 yards to UAPB’s three for 25.
UP NEXT
Grambling State travels to Dayton, Fla. to take on Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 14 at Daytona Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m EST and will be streamed on SWAC TV.