Tigers Spoil UAPB’s Homecoming With Solid Defense, Late Touchdown

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Jacorey Howard scored on a 1-yard run with 3:31 left and the TSU defense held UAPB to 212 total yards as TSU won its first true road game since 2018 after defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24-17 at Golden Lion Stadium.

The Tiger defense set the tone early with two straight punts but the TSU offense finally had some success as several big pass plays led to a Richard Garcia III 42-yard field goal with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

A TSU interception late in the first half led to a UAPB field goal early in the second quarter for a 3-3 tie. A TSU fumble on a punt return set UAPB with great field position but the defense once again rose to the occasion as they overcame a pass interference call on the goal line with a forced fumble and fumble recovery at the TSU 26. TSU would take advantage and move ahead 10-3 with a strong mixture of the run and the pass as the drive was capped off with a 7-yard Andrew Body run. The defense forced another UAPB punt as the score would remain 10-3 entering the half.

A penalty on third down during TSU’s first defensive drive of the half kept a UAPB drive alive as they would even it at 10-all via a 25-yard run on the ensuing play. Both teams would trade punts once again but the Tiger offense came alive on its next drive with a pair of big runs from LaDarius Owens and Body to move into scoring position. On third down at the UAPB 8, Body fired a laser into the arms of Jacorey Howard as the PAT upped the score to 17-10. On the ensuing drive, the TSU defense made another big play as freshman Charles George picked off a pass but the Tigers finally received a good dose of penalty news as a UAPB penalty on a punt return kept a drive alive which closed out the third quarter. Derek Morton caught a big 28-yard pass to move TSU midfield on the drive but the Tigers ultimately had to punt.

Another UAPB punt led to another TSU drive which saw Morton catch a 17-yard pass from Body to move to the UAPB 39. A pass interference penalty brought the ball to the UAPB 24 but a penalty moved it back to the 27. Freshman Randy Masters caught a 12-yard pass on 3^rd-and-13 which set up a huge fourth down play at the UAPB 15. TSU took a delay of game penalty to set up an attempt at a two-score contest but the drive stalled as TSU missed a 37-yard field goal with 10:26 left.

The Tiger defense forced its seventh punt of the day after the missed field goal but TSU would turn the ball over via an untimely fumble which UAPB recovered at the TSU 28 as the clock read 8:17. UAPB took full advantage of the gift and scored on a Kayvon Britten 5-yard run and tied it at 17-all after the PAT.

Morton opened the next drive with a huge reception and runs by Howard and Body moved the offense down the field quickly as Body’s 18 and 3-yard runs set TSU up at the UAPB 21. Howard would take over the offense with four straight runs as the latter was a 1-yard touchdown run as TSU led 24-17 after the PAT with 3:31 left. UAPB would drive all the way to the TSU 22 and was forced into a fourth down situation with 48.4 seconds remaining. The TSU defense rose to the occasion on fourth down and forced a turnover on downs to preserve the win.

TSU finished with 380 total offensive yards as they passed for 211 yards and rushed for 169. The defense held UAPB to only 212 yards of offense as they held UAPB to 76 passing yards and 136 rushing.

Body passed for 211 yards and rushed for 55 yards while scoring a touchdown via the run and pass. Howard led all rushers with 64 yards on 15 carries while Derek Morton caught seven passes for 95 yards. Viramontes Pippens led all tacklers with eight stops followed by seven from Jacob Williams.

TSU will have its lone bye week of the year next weekend as they’ll return to action at Alcorn State on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Lorman, Miss.