Arkanssas-Pine Bluff Surprises Alcorn State 45-43

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

(Photo by Nicole Hester/The Natchez Democrat)

Brandon Duncan threw for 505 yards and four touchdowns, including a 25-yarder to Willie Young in the third overtime as Arkansas-Pine Bluff surprised Alcorn State 45-43 Thursday night.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) had not beaten Alcorn State (1-1, 1-1 SWAC), the two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, in their previous three tries.

But over the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, the Golden Lions erased a 30-14 deficit with a Duncan 44-yard touchdown pass to John Hawkins and then a Dante McDonald touchdown run with less than a minute remaining.  UAPB converted two-point conversion plays on both, sending the game into overtime.

The teams traded touchdowns, but Alcorn State quarterback Noah Johnson, a freshman who was replacing injured quarterback Lenorr Footman, was tackled after the Braves scored a touchdown in the third overtime.

Duncan then followed with his TD to Young and then connected with Hawkins to give the Golden Lions the win.

Young had a big game, catching 13 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, leading a UAPB receiving corps that had four players with at least 80 yards receiving.   Noah Johnson had a big night as he finished with 355 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-41 passing and no interceptions. Johnson also ran for 62 yards and three touchdowns.