2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team

The 2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team represented the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Golden Lions were led by first-year head coach Doc Gamble^[1] and played their home games at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football
SWAC West Division champion
SWAC Championship Game, L 33–40 vs. Alabama A&M
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Division	West Division
Ranking
STATS	No. 24
FCS Coaches	No. 25
Record	4–1 (4–0 SWAC)
Head coach	Doc Gamble (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Jermaine Gales (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Jonathan Bradley (2nd season)
Home stadium	Simmons Bank Field
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 24 Alabama A&M x$		3	–	0					5	–	0
Alabama State		3	–	2					3	–	3
Jackson State		3	–	2					4	–	3
Mississippi Valley State		1	–	3					1	–	3
West Division
Arkansas–Pine Bluff x		4	–	0					4	–	1
Southern		4	–	1					5	–	1
Prairie View A&M*		2	–	1					2	–	1
Texas Southern		1	–	2					1	–	2
Grambling State		0	–	4					0	–	4
Championship: Alabama A&M 40, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 33
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Note: The SWAC played a spring conference-only schedule (February–May 2021) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Alcorn State opted out of the spring season; all of their scheduled games were counted as forfeit wins for their opponents. * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. Rankings from STATS Poll

On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the football program.^[2] The conference is formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.

Schedule

Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Bethune–Cookman, Miami (OH), and Troy were canceled.^[3][4] The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17.^[5]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
March 6	1:30 p.m.	at Southern		A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	ESPN3	W 33–30	0
March 20	12:00 p.m.	at Grambling State		Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA		W 48–21	5,105
April 3	3:00 p.m.	at Mississippi Valley State		Rice–Totten Stadium Itta Bena, MS	ESPN3	W 24–17	0
April 17	3:00 p.m.	Prairie View A&M		Simmons Bank Field Pine Bluff, AR		W 36–31	3,000
May 1	2:00 p.m.	vs. Alabama A&M	No. 24	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (SWAC Championship)	ESPN2	L 33–40	17,248
Rankings from STATS All times are in Central time

^[6][7]

Game summaries

At Southern

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Southern

1 2 3 4 Total • Golden Lions 3 23 7 0 33 Jaguars 7 7 3 13 30 Date: March 6, 2021 Location: Ace W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA Game start: 1:36 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 33 minutes Game attendance: 0 Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 12 MPH Referee: Y. N. Meyers Television network: ESPN3

Scoring summary 1 12:20 UAPB Zach Piwniczka 35-yard field goal (8 plays, 37 yards, 2:30) UAPB 3–0 01:07 SOU Jarod Sims 23-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (15 plays, 98 yards, 6:53) SOU 7–3 2 12:42 UAPB Skyler Perry 31-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick)br/>(3 play, 46 yards, 0:43) UAPB 10–7 08:02 SOU Marquis McClain 13-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 4:40) SOU 14–10 05:19 UAPB Team Safety (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) SOU 14–12 02:38 UAPB Josh Wilkes 14-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (7 plays, 60 yards, 2:41) UAPB 19–14 00:02 UAPB Harry Ballard III 2-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (8 plays, 76 yards, 1:50) UAPB 26–14 3 07:08 UABP Skyler Perry 2-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (12 play, 70 yards, 5:19) UAPB 33–14 00:56 SOU Cesar Barajas 36-yard field goal (4 plays, 4 yards, 1:26) UAPB 33–17 4 14:09 SOU Jamel Byrd 17-yard punt returned (two-point conversion pass attempt failed) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 33–23 07:12 SOU Jarod Sims 9-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (9 plays, 80 yards, 3:03) UAPB 33–30

See also: 2020 Southern Jaguars football team

Over/under
SOU −11.0	56

Statistics	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Southern
First downs	20	23
Total yards	411	426
Rushing yards	188	134
Passing yards	223	292
Turnovers	0	4
Time of possession	30:26	29:34

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	22/37, 223 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Skyler Perry	8 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Tyrin Ralph	7 receptions, 86 yards
Southern	Passing	John Lampley	20/33, 238 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Jarod Sims	11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Brandon Hinton	3 receptions, 60 yards

At Grambling State

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Grambling State

1 2 3 4 Total • Golden Lions 7 7 28 6 48 Tigers 0 7 7 7 21 Date: March 20, 2021 Location: Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA Game start: 12:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes Game attendance: 5,105 Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) Referee: Gary Leeper

Scoring summary 1 12:14 UAPB Jalon Thigpen 35-yard interception returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 7–0 2 04:18 GRAM CJ Russell 4-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 1:57) TIE 7–7 03:34 UAPB Harry Ballard III 58-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick)br/>(2 play, 60 yards, 0:38) UAPB 14–7 3 13:58 UAPB Josh Wilkes 60-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (3 plays, 60 yards, 1:02) UAPB 21–7 09:29 UAPB Mattias Clark 4-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (10 plays, 61 yards, 3:24) UAPB 28–7 07:23 GRAM Kobe' Ross 39-yard pass from Elijah Walker (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 73 yards, 1:59) UAPB 28–14 03:09 UAPB Terrill McCray III 7-yard blocked punt returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 35–14 00:48 UABP Jeremy Brown 28-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (2 play, 36 yards, 0:52) UAPB 42–14 4 12:00 UAPB Jeremy Brown 31-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Pwiniczka kick) (10 plays, 70 yards, 1:50) UAPB 48–14 09:04 GRAM Kash Foley 77-yard pass from Keilon Elder (Garrett Urban kick) (2 plays, 77 yards, 0:58) UAPB 48–21

See also: 2020 Grambling State Tigers football team

Over/under
GRAM −6.0	53

Statistics	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Grambling State
First downs	18	16
Total yards	402	368
Rushing yards	56	87
Passing yards	346	281
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	27:53	32:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	18/30, 346 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Omar Allen Jr.	11 carries, 42 yards
	Receiving	Josh Wilkes	6 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD
Grambling State	Passing	Elijah Walker	13/26, 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Keilon Elder	11 carries, 65 yards
	Receiving	Kash Foley	5 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD

At Mississippi Valley State

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State

1 2 3 4 Total • Golden Lions 0 17 0 7 24 Delta Devils 3 0 7 7 17 Date: April 3, 2021 Location: Rice–Totten Stadium Itta Bena, MS Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 11 minutes Game attendance: 0 Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: S 5 MPH

Scoring summary 1 10:00 MVSU Orlando Fernandez 46-yard field goal (6 plays, 39 yards, 3:08) MVSU 3–0 2 14:56 UAPB DeJuan Miller 8-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (4 plays, 41 yards, 1:20) UAPB 7–3 12:54 UAPB Josh Wilkes 4-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick)br/>(7 play, 48 yards, 2:02) UAPB 14–3 00:02 UAPB Zach Piwniczka 17-yard field goal (12 plays, 58 yards, 4:18) UAPB 17–3 3 11:57 MVSU Caleb Johnson 4-yard rush (Orlando Fernandez kick) (7 plays, 76 yards, 2:54) UAPB 17–10 4 07:55 MVSU Caleb Johnson 50-yard rush (Orlando Fernandez kick) (1 play, 50 yards, 0:08) TIE 17–17 01:54 UAPB Tyrin Ralph 77-yard punt returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 24–17

See also: 2020 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team

Over/under
UAPB −18.0	58

Statistics	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Mississippi Valley State
First downs	16	13
Total yards	334	248
Rushing yards	82	144
Passing yards	252	104
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	29:49	30:11

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	23/42, 235 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Mattias Clark	18 carries, 75 yards
	Receiving	Harry Ballard III	5 receptions, 70 yards
Mississippi Valley State	Passing	Jalani Eason	14/24, 104 yards
	Rushing	Caleb Johnson	13 carries, 70 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Malik Myers	4 receptions, 56 yards

Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M at Arkansas–Pine Bluff

1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 14 7 3 7 31 • Golden Lions 7 20 3 6 36 Date: April 17, 2021 Location: Simmons Bank Field Pine Bluff, AR Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 45 minutes Game attendance: 3,000 Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Clear

Scoring summary 1 12:08 PVAMU Khristopher Simmons 28-yard pass from Trazon Connley (Carlos Villagomez kick) (5 plays, 73 yards, 2:44) PVAMU 7–0 08:40 UAPB Harry Ballard III 34-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 2:42) TIE 7–7 02:23 PVAMU Tony Mullins 3-yard rush (Carlos Villagomez kick)br/>(2 play, 47 yards, 0:23) PVAMU 14–7 2 13:21 UAPB Skyler Perry 1-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (10 plays, 67 yards, 4:02) TIE 14–14 10:42 UAPB Josh Wilkes 5-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka PAT blocked) (3 plays, 2 yards, 1:15) UAPB 20–14 08:52 PVAMU Travis O'Connor 18-yard pass from Trazon Connley (Carlos Villagomez kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 1:50) PVAMU 21–20 06:36 UAPB Tyrin Ralph 31-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (6 plays, 60 yards, 2:16) UAPB 27–21 3 12:37 UAPB Zach Piwniczka 42-yard field goal (4 plays, 4 yards, 0:41) UAPB 30–21 07:02 PVAMU Carlos Villagomez 25-yard field goal (6 plays, 38 yards, 2:15) UAPB 30–24 4 12:14 UAPB Josh Wilkes 3-yard pass from Skyler Perry (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (11 plays, 61 yards, 5:11) UAPB 36–24 07:06 PVAMU Kalen Riles 7-yard pass from Trazon Connley (Carlos Villagomez kick) (9 plays, 75 yards, 3:55) UAPB 36–31

See also: 2020 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team

Over/under
UAPB −1.0	52

Statistics	Prairie View A&M	Arkansas–Pine Bluff
First downs	24	18
Total yards	410	346
Rushing yards	70	145
Passing yards	340	201
Turnovers	5	4
Time of possession	29:45	30:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Prairie View A&M	Passing	Trazon Connley	24/49, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Trazon Connley	13 carries, 67 yards
	Receiving	Tony Mullins	10 receptions, 114 yards
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	16/33, 201 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Skyler Perry	12 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Tyrin Ralph	7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Alabama A&M

Arkansas–Pine Bluff vs. Alabama A&M

1 2 3 4 Total No. 24 Golden Lions 14 12 0 7 33 • Bulldogs 10 8 14 8 40 Date: May 1, 2021 Location: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS Game start: 2:06 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 45 minutes Game attendance: 17,248 Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: SE 8 MPH Referee: Marty Adams Television network: ESPN2

Scoring summary 1 13:29 AAMU Spencer Corey 29-yard field goal (7 plays, 67 yards, 1:31) AAMU 3–0 10:24 UAPB Mattias Clark 4-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (7 plays, 46 yards, 3:05) UAPB 7–3 07:38 AAMU Zabrian Moore 30-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Spencer Corey kick)br/>(8 play, 75 yards, 2:46) AAMU 10–7 07:26 UAPB Tyrin Ralph 81-yard kickoff returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:12) UAPB 14–10 2 11:07 AAMU Gary Quarles 3-yard rush (Spencer Corey PAT blocked) (9 plays, 43 yards, 3:41) AAMU 16–14 07:04 UAPB DeJuan Miller 5-yard pass from Taylor Holston (Zach Piwniczka PAT blocked) (9 plays, 71 yards, 4:03) UAPB 20–16 07:04 AAMU Ja'Marian Green Defensive PAT conversion (9 plays, 71 yards, 4:03) UAPB 20–18 05:17 UAPB Kolby Watts 33-yard fumble returned (3 plays, 3 yards, 1:47) UAPB 26–18 3 08:00 AAMU Anthony Howard 7-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Spencer Corey kick) (12 plays, 79 yards, 4:55) UAPB 26–25 01:24 AAMU Gary Quarles 3-yard rush (Spencer Corey kick) (8 plays, 80 yards, 3:15) AAMU 32–26 4 07:16 AAMU Zabrian Moore 13-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Aqeel Glass two-point conversion pass to Terrell Gardner) (7 plays, 66 yards, 2:40) AAMU 40–26 02:30 UAPB Josh Wilkes 11-yard pass from Skylar Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (11 plays, 72 yards, 2:41) AAMU 40–33

See also: 2020 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team and SWAC Championship Game

Over/under
AAMU −3.5	61

Statistics	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Alabama A&M
First downs	18	30
Total yards	324	368
Rushing yards	88	97
Passing yards	236	271
Turnovers	4	2
Time of possession	26:06	33:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	23/36, 231 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Skyler Perry	16 carries, 71 yards
	Receiving	DeJuan Miller	6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
Alabama A&M	Passing	Aqeel Glass	24/45, 271 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Gary Quarles	23 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Zabrian Moore	5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs

References

1. Doc Gamble named UAPB head football coach
2. Stephenson, Creg (July 20, 2020). "SWAC becomes latest FCS conference to postpone 2020 football season to spring". AL.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
3. Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
4. "MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period". ESPN.com. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
5. "SWAC Releases 2021 Spring Football Schedule". swac.org. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
6. "2021 Spring Football Schedule". Retrieved August 16, 2021.
7. "Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions". ESPN. Retrieved August 16, 2021.