PINE BLUFF, AR – Larry Jenkins set the tone for the first half of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s full scrimmage Saturday night, as the junior cornerback returned an interception for a touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
But the Golden Lion offense shook off what first-year head coach Monte Coleman called a serious case of the “jitters” and behind a pair of late touchdown runs by Stephen Jones and a 70-yard rushing performance from Mickey Dean notched a 37-6 win over the defense at Golden Lion Stadium.
Jenkins, a JUCO transfer from Arkansas Baptist, picked off Jonathan Moore’s first pass attempt and raced 35-yards for the defense’s lone touchdown of the evening.
“That was nice,” Coleman said of Jenkins’ interception. “Since I’ve been here, that’s something that our defense has never done much of and that’s score.”
Moore and the Lions’ offense sputtered at time in the early goings, but Dean proved to be the workhorse grinding out 70 yards on the ground. The junior from Little Rock also scored on a nifty 27-yard run in the second quarter.
“I was very excited in Mickey’s performance,” Coleman said. “He ran the ball well behind our first-team offensive line. I was also impressed with the way those guys performed.”
Moore, who finished the night 9 of 16 for 68 yards, connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Anthony Abrams for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The senior from Pine Bluff also connected with freshman Andre Kirklin for a 10-yard gain late in the game.
“I honestly think jitters had something to do with the way we played early on,” Coleman said. “I even had the jitters coming out. It felt like the Super Bowl out there. With the band and a great crowd, I think we got caught up in a little of it to begin with.”
Jones, a sophomore from Memphis, scored twice in the fourth quarter and finished the scrimmage with seven carries for 34 yards. True freshman Dhabion Woodfin had 10 attempts for 31 yards and redshirt freshman TJ Shelton had 27 yards on eight carries.
Junior transfer place-kicker Carlos Reyes was a perfect 5-for-5 in extra point attempts and 3-of-5 in field goal attempts. Reyes missed his first attempt of 48 yards, before connecting on field goals of 42-, 38-, 35 and 40-yards. His only other miss was a 45-yarder than sailed wide right on him.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” Coleman said. “Overall I’d give us about a C on the scrimmage. We had too many costly penalties on defense and the offense struggled at times with the new 40 second play clock. I want ed to see hustle from our players and I did see that.”