JACKSON, Miss. - For the first time since 2018, the Jackson State University football team will travel to Pine Bluff, Ark., to face the Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ at Simmons Bank Field.

GAME INFORMATION:

• Date/Matchup: Saturday, October 28, 2023: Jackson State Tigers (5-3; 3-2 SWAC) vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-6; 0-4 SWAC).
• Game Time/Stadium/Location: 2 p.m.' Simmons Bank Field; Pine Bluff, Ark. 
• Fan Color: White
• Radio: JSU Sports Network pregame show begins at 1 p.m. on 95.5 WHLH-FM in Jackson, with SWAC Hall of Famer Rob Jay and Former JSU QB Darrell Asberry on the call; Sirius XM 383 and on the SiriusXM App
• Online/TV: Live on ESPN+ and on ESPN App, with Butch Alsandor (PXP) and Jorge Vargas (Analyst)

THE SERIES:
All-Time Record: Jackson State leads 27-14
Longest Jackson State Win Streak: 8 (1977–1999)
Longest Arkansas - Pine Bluff Win Streak: 3 (1967–1968)
Largest Margin of Victory: 42 (42-0, 2002) | Largest Margin of Defeat: 51 (51-0, 1962)

Per the records viewed in the university archives, Jackson State and UAPB first played in 1952 in a game that Pine Bull won 16-6. The next meeting didn't happen until seven years later, in 1959, and the series continued until 1969. Following the 1969 season, the team's next meeting came in 1979. Due to scheduling, they went 16 years without playing again until 1995. Since 1995, they have played each year until 2019, and this is the first meeting between the teams since that 2019 meeting. Because Arkansas - Pine Bluff is in the western division of the SWAC, the two schools didn't play each year.
 

Year    Winner                   Score	Year    Winner                      Score	Year    Winner                         Score
1952    UAPB                    16-6	1979     Jackson State         47-7	2008     Jackson State          21-10
1959     Jackson State     18-12	1995     Jackson State         29-26	2009     UAPB                         20-13 OT
1960     Jackson State      27-14	1996     Jackson State         31-10	2010     Jackson State           52-30
1961     Jackson State     19-8	1997     Jackson State         37-8	2011     Jackson State           48-10
1962     UAPB                     51-0	1998     Jackson State         41-34	2012     UAPB                          24-34
1963      UAPB                    38-6	1999     Jackson State         41-0	2012     UAPB                          21-24
1964     Jackson State     14-12	2000    UAPB                         48-41	2013     Jackson State            42-33
1965     Jackson State     24-21	2001     Jackson State         14-9	2014     Jackson State            33-30
1966     Jackson State     28-25	2002     Jackson State         42-0	2015     Jackson State            37-3
1967     UAPB                    38-17	2003     UAPB                       16-14	2016     Jackson State            32-20
1968     UAPB                    15-14	2004     Jackson State         42-35	2017     UAPB                           27-34
1969    UAPB                     34-25	2005     UAPB                         64-36	2018     Jackson State            30-27
1977     Jackson State     31-0	2006     UAPB                       43-40	2019     Jackson State            21-12
1978     Jackson State     54-14	2007     Jackson State         17-6

TIGERS VS. THE UAPB
This is the first meeting between Jackson State and the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff since November 2, 2019, as the Golden Lions play in the western division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and don't play the Tigers each year.

This is the 42nd meeting between the Tigers and the Golden Lions, dating back to 1952, when the two teams first met. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 27-14.

Jackson State last traveled to Pine Bluff, Ark., on October 6, 2018, in a game the Tigers won 30-27 behind a late touchdown for JSU. Jarrad Hayes threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Warren Newman late in the fourth quarter to give JSU a 30-27 win over UAPB. 

The Tigers are 7-3 in the last three meetings between the two teams, with the last meeting coming in 2019 after playing twice in 2012. Once in the regular season and once in the SWAC Championship game. 

LAST WEEK'S RECAP
The Jackson State defense imposed its will early and often in a 21-6 win on the road at MVSU at Rice-Totten Stadium and improved to 5-3 overall.

Antonio Doyle led the Tigers' defense, which had three interceptions, 12 tackles for a loss of 60 yards, eight sacks, and three quarterback hurries. John Huggins accounted for six tackles and two interceptions for the defense.

Jacobian Morgan got the start and ran and threw for a touchdown. He rushed for 75 yards and threw for 141 yards while connecting with nine different receivers and connecting with Joanes Fortilien for a 14-yard touchdown strike. 
 
COLLAPSE THE POCKET, TAKE THE ROCK
The Jackson State defense continues to take the ball away from others. They had three interceptions against MVSU last week to bring the total to 13 for the season. The number is good enough to lead all FCS in passes intercepted. 

The Tigers are now third in the FCS in turnovers gained with 14, while also leading the way in the SWAC. They now have at least one turnover in each game this season. 

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
The Tigers' head coach, T.C. Taylor, found a diamond in the rough in Daylan Wasson, who was taking classes at Jackson State before deciding to try out for the football team during walk-on tryouts. Coach Taylor needed a kicker, and that is what he found in Wasson.

Wasson was a kicker at Gulf Coast Community College and was 10-of-14 on field goals and 34-of-35 on PATs for 64 points in his time there.

Last week against Alabama State, Wasson made a career-long 46-yard field goal and followed that up with one from 45 yards away. He accounted for seven points on Saturday for the Tigers.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN LIONS
Arkansas - Pine Bluff comes into the game on a four-game losing streak and a 1-6 record. They are led by first-year head coach Alonzo Hampton, who made his mark as a defensive and special teams coordinator. 

Offensively, they are led by Davis Johness at running back, who has 67 carries for 337 years, and Jalen Macon, who has thrown for 634 yards, completed 61-of-92 passes, and had just one interception on the season. The Golden Lions have fumbled the ball nine times and lost eight of their fumbles, which gives them 12 turnovers on the season.

The UAPB defense has forced nine fumbles and taken away three interceptions. Rico Dozier, who has 83 total tackles and 4.0 tackles for a loss of 8 yards, is their leader. Khalil Arnold is the team's sack leader with four sacks for 19 yards loss and two forced fumbles with a recovery.

Maurice Lloyd is the return specialist for Pine Bluff, with 14 kickoffs returned for 33 yards.  

First-year head coach Alonzo Hampton, who takes over after time at ULM as the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator/safeties coach. He played in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as time as NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy.