PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Southern football made history on Saturday, but not the kind the Jaguars ever envisioned entering this season.
Southern fell 40-21 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Simmons Bank Field as the Jaguars lost their seventh straight game for the first time in program history.
"I thought we was ready to play this game," Southern interim coach Fred McNair said. "It's up to me to get these guys ready to prepare to play. And we thought we was ready, but we just didn't have the outcome that we wanted."
Southern (1-8, 0-5 SWAC) started quarterback Ashton Strother for a third consecutive game, but he was replaced by Cam’Ron McCoy with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter with the Jaguars trailing 38-7.
UAPB (3-4, 2-3) scored its most points against a Division I opponent this season.
The Jaguars had a disastrous opening quarter. On the kickoff return, returner Princeton Cahee let the ball go through his hands and bounce backward through his legs at his own 20-yard line. UAPB recovered the fumble and started its first possession 8 yards from the end zone.
The Golden Lions used backup quarterback DJ Stevenson instead of its normal starter in the red-zone situation, and he eventually punched in a 2-yard touchdown run.
Southern had a normal return on its next kickoff from star tailback Trey Holly, who had a 24-yard return. But Southern wasn’t done with poor special-teams plays. On UAPB’s first punt in the first quarter, wide receiver Damien Knigthen caught the ball but slipped immediately and was down at the 23-yard line.
Southern’s first drive of the second quarter was one of its best of the season. After starting on its own 11-yard line, Strother perfectly executed the team’s hurry-up offense on a 10-play drive.
He completed all six of his passes on the drive, with his deepest throw being a 29-yard completion to Zackeus Malveaux. The final play was an accurate throw to the left side to Darren Morris on a corner route that allowed the redshirt junior to walk into the end zone untouched.
That play tied the game at 7-7 with 8:59 remaining in the first half.
The Jaguars followed that drive with their second turnover of the game. On third and 11 from their own 11-yard line, Strother threw an interception to the left sideline that went directly into the chest of Golden Lions freshman Azayvonne Stribling. UAPB entered the game leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference with nine interceptions.
"We just had some turnovers that kind of got us off page," McNair said. "We got a kickoff return, we fumbled the ball. We didn't play as well as we expected to play."
UAPB punished the Jaguars again for a turnover by tacking on a touchdown. Quarterback Christian Peters ran 19 yards into the end zone, breaking a tackle by linebacker Mike Jones along the way and getting to the right pylon after some shoving from teammates to take a 14-7 advantage with 6:12.
Southern then had a devastating close to the first half. UAPB made a 39-yard field goal before a Southern three-and-out. The Golden Lions scored another touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the first half.
Peters ran to the right outside the pocket and threw a 31-yard pass to Ellis Stewart. The freshman from Breaux Bridge reeled in the catch with one hand, giving his team a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Stewart had a second one-handed catch as Peters found him on a seam route in the third quarter. Stewart turned sideways as he reached high, using all of his 6-foot-3 frame for the 32-yard touchdown. This gave the Golden Lions a 31-7 lead.
Southern was without preseason All-SWAC first-team defenders in safety Horacio Johnson and linebacker Vincent Paige.
Cornerback Landon Carter, who had two tackles and an interception, said that their absence isn't an excuse.
"We have depth on our defense," Carter said. "There's no real drop-offs."
McCoy entered the game and instantly provided a spark for the Southern offense as he used his running ability to keep the ball moving. His best play was a 41-yard pass while facing pressure to Morris, who caught the ball with his left hand while falling on the 3-yard line.
After the Jaguars were pushed back, Morris finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception.
McCoy ignited a 73-yard drive that ended with his own 3-yard carry into the end zone to make it 38-21 with 8:44 left in the game.
The run of positive plays ended with a safety. McCoy had a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage and he caught it himself and while being tackled, he threw it to the side of his end zone for the safety.
The Jaguars’ best defensive play came from Carter. The redshirt freshman from New Orleans got an interception by punching the ball out of a receiver's hands and catching it before it touched the ground. The team trailed 38-13 with 13:12 left in the game when he made his play.
Southern’s next game is against Alcorn State at 3 p.m. Saturday in Lorman, Mississippi.
