UAPB has not made it to the SWAC championship game since 2006 and with Grambling sitting at 0-2 in the SWAC, Prairie View A&M at 0-3, the uncertainty at Southern with the new coaching change and with Texas Southern ineligible for the championship game, the Golden Lions definitely have a legitimate shot at getting back to the championship.
While this game is not a conference game, it will go a long way in showing how good both teams really are.
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson. / Photo: Courtesy of UAPB Sports Info.
The strength of the Golden Lions is on defense, where Coleman also serves as the defensive coordinator and opponents are averaging just 262 yards per game. A lot of the success has to do with defensive end Brandon Thurmond, who through four games already has seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Golden Lions are also getting excellent play from linebackers Bill Ross and Jer-ryan Harris, the team’s leading tacklers who have 68 tackles between them. The backfield is led by safety Xavier Lofton (28 tackles, three pass breakups) and David Watson (two interceptions).
Offensively, the Golden Lions present a truly balanced attack. It begins with sophomore quarterback Ben Anderson, who himself averages 213 yards of total offense per game and makes up 58 percent of his team’s total offense. Anderson is completing 56 percent of his passes for 723 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for another 131 yards and a score. Ladarius Eckwood, Dezmond Beverly, and Thomas Winters are very capable receivers who have together caught 46 passes for 508 yards and all average at least 10.2 yards per reception.
