Florida A&M football fell 31-28 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee. The result dropped Florida A&M to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. UAPB improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Armond Parker completed 23 of 37 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also added 57 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Parker’s production helped Florida A&M finish with 394 total yards, including 319 through the air.
Kieren Jackson led the Rattlers with 101 receiving yards and one touchdown. His biggest play came with 3:19 remaining, when he caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Parker to cut UAPB’s lead to 31-28. Florida A&M did not score again.
Florida A&M built its offense through the air
Corey Petty caught seven passes for 85 yards and one touchdown. Gabriel Caison made three field goals for the Rattlers, including a long of 43 yards.
Florida A&M scored 10 points in the second quarter, its highest-scoring period of the game. Parker scored on a 37-yard run at the 9:16 mark of the second quarter to give the Rattlers a 13-7 lead. After UAPB moved back in front, Parker connected with Petty on a 17-yard touchdown pass to put Florida A&M ahead 19-14.
UAPB controlled the ground game
Florida A&M outgained UAPB 394-351 overall, but the Golden Lions held a significant advantage on the ground. UAPB rushed for 211 yards, while Florida A&M finished with 75 rushing yards. Florida A&M held UAPB to 140 passing yards.
Jack Schierholz completed eight of 12 passes for 80 yards and one touchdown for UAPB. Demetric Whitlock Jr. led the Golden Lions with 74 receiving yards and one touchdown. Jaylen Jennings, Jalen Williams and Za’Marion Webber each scored a rushing touchdown for UAPB.
UAPB led 28-19 before Caison made a 43-yard field goal with 12:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. Trey Glymph answered with a 39-yard field goal at the 3:36 mark, giving UAPB a 31-22 advantage. Jackson’s 61-yard touchdown reception followed 17 seconds later, but the Rattlers could not complete the comeback.
Florida A&M won the turnover battle
Florida A&M won the turnover battle 1-0 and turned its takeaway into six points. Isiah Davis recorded one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the Rattlers. Florida A&M also converted one of three fourth-down attempts.
Jaiden Roper led Florida A&M with 13 tackles, while Justin Bostic added seven tackles. The Rattlers converted 3 of 12 third downs, compared with 8 of 14 for UAPB. That difference and UAPB’s rushing advantage helped the Golden Lions protect their lead after Florida A&M moved within three points late.
FSB Take
The yardage advantage did not translate into control of the game for Florida A&M. UAPB converted eight of 14 third downs and held the ball for 33:44, compared with 26:16 for the Rattlers. Florida A&M’s three conversions in 12 third-down attempts put more pressure on explosive passing plays to sustain the comeback. Improving on those possession downs is a concrete priority before Southern visits on Oct. 31.
Source: Original report