Bradley's returns sparkle in Golden Lions' victory
BECK CROSSARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
PINE BLUFF -- With its offense struggling to find any consistency, Arkansas-Pine Bluff was rescued by defense and special teams.
In a must-win game to keep its Southwestern Athletic Conference title hopes alive, UAPB (3-1, 1-1) received two touchdowns from sophomore Mark Bradley on punt returns and its defense caused two fourth-quarter turnovers Saturday in a 28-22 victory over Texas Southern (2-3, 1-2) before 7,126 at Golden Lion Stadium.
The victory avenged a 21-18 loss last year to Texas Southern.
"Defense and special teams played so big for us," UAPB Coach Lee Hardman said. "Offensively, we made mistake after mistake, but the special teams and defense came through."
Trailing 21-12 at halftime, the Tigers pulled within 21-15 with 8:10 left in the third quarter. Punter Aaron Wall prevented a touchdown with a diving tackle of Santino Hall at the UAPB 25, but Texas Southern scored four plays later on a 30-yard field goal from Vince Patrick.
After starting quarterback LaKendrick Powell was replaced by Fred Leonard early in the third quarter, UAPB failed to get a first down on three consecutive possessions.
Texas Southern, which twice penetrated Lions territory in the fourth quarter, was thwarted on consecutive possessions by turnovers. Within 1:47, Billy Moody and Obbie James recovered fumbles for UAPB.
The Lions capitalized on the latter with a nine-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Dwight McKissic capped the effort with a 4-yard run to increase the lead to 28-15 with 3:04 remaining.
Texas Southern scored with 23 seconds left to set the final margin.
"The defense bailed us out when we needed it the most," Hardman said.
UAPB managed only one first down in the first 15:02, but still led 21-3 thanks to Bradley.
Making his second start as punt returner, Bradley fielded a line drive on the left hash mark at the Texas Southern 42, darted right to avoid two tacklers and sprinted down the right sideline to complete a 58-yard return for a touchdown.
Wall's first of four successful extra-point attempts made it 7-0 with 11:29 left in the first quarter.
A 59-yard kickoff return from Jeremiah Williams helped the Tigers cut the deficit to 7-3. With aid of a UAPB pass-interference call, Patrick capped a four-play drive with a 32-yard field goal with 9:37 left.
The Golden Lions scored their only touchdown of the half on the ensuing possession. Powell converted a third-and-20 at the Texas Southern 38 with a 53-yard pass to Kerrick Williams and scored three plays later on a 1-yard keeper to increase the lead to 14-3 with 8:28 remaining.
Bradley scored again to make it 21-3 with 4:30 left in the first quarter. Bradley fielded the punt on one hop and in traffic but broke free for a 77-yard punt return.
"Mark Bradley did a hell of a job," Hardman said.
UAPB mistakes allowed the Tigers to cut the margin to 21-12 at intermission. Billy Starling returned a Powell interception 72 yards for a touchdown, and Bradley fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 11:43 left in the half.
The Golden Lions prevented further damage by denying the Tigers on fourth-and-1 from the UAPB 11 with 2:01 remaining in the half.
This article was published on October 7, 2001
Copyright and permissions
Copyright © 2001, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.