Mekhi Hagens threw for 250 yards to go along with a touchdown, and wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson caught 9 passes for 189 yards and a score to lead Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 21-17 win over Prairie View A&M on Friday night that earned the Golden Lions its first SWAC victory of the season.
The Golden Lions (2-4, 1-1 SWAC) scored all of its points in the first half on the strength of a 59-yard TD pass from Hagens to Gibson in the first quarter and two touchdown runs by running back BJ Curry.
Prairie View (2-5, 1-3 SWAC) was led by Jaden Johnson, who threw for 286 yards, 1 touchdown, and an interception on 25 of 37 passing on the night. Wide receiver Jeremiah Ratliff tallied the only other Panthers TD on a 16-yard hook-up from Johnson in the first quarter.
But the game was decided late when the Golden Lions stopped Prairie View on a pair of fourth down attempts in the fourth quarter, including turning away the Panthers on 4th-and-5 with 3:38 left in regulation and on a Hail Mary heave by Johnson as time expired.