LITTLE ROCK, Ark. | Morehouse College showed flashes on both sides of the football in its 2026 season opener, but turnovers and explosive plays proved costly as Arkansas-Pine Bluff pulled away for a 35-15 victory Saturday night in the Natural State Kickoff Classic at War Memorial Stadium.
The Maroon Tigers (0-1) trailed by just six points at halftime after scoring 15 points in the second quarter and finished the night with 376 yards of total offense, including 286 through the air. Morehouse recorded 22 first downs to UAPB's 17 and controlled the football for 34:44, but the Golden Lions countered with 386 yards on 51 plays and scored three touchdowns on plays of 39 yards or longer.
Quarterback Miles Scott accounted for both Morehouse touchdowns, completing 25-of-36 passes for 284 yards without an interception while adding a team-high 34 rushing yards and two scores. Jeremiah Gibson led the Maroon Tigers with 89 receiving yards, while Eric Stephens caught a game-high eight passes for 82 yards.
GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter – Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7, Morehouse 0
Morehouse won the opening coin toss and deferred, and the Maroon Tiger defense forced a three-and-out on UAPB's opening possession. However, a muffed punt was recovered by the Golden Lions at the Morehouse 24-yard line, giving UAPB an early short field.
The Morehouse defense initially pushed the Golden Lions backward with a sack by Sean Johnson and Stephen Rowser, but UAPB eventually converted the opportunity when Jaylen Jennings scored on a five-yard run with 11:00 remaining in the quarter to make it 7-0.
The Maroon Tigers responded with their best sustained possession of the first half, taking over at their own 5-yard line with 6:42 remaining and driving 89 yards on 18 plays. The possession carried into the second quarter with Morehouse knocking on the door.
Second Quarter – Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21, Morehouse 15
Morehouse's long drive reached the UAPB red zone before Scott was sacked and lost a fumble at the Golden Lions' 6-yard line. On the very next snap, UAPB quarterback Garrison Davis connected with Demetric Whitlock for a 94-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 12:11 remaining.
The Maroon Tigers answered immediately.
Starting from their own 36, Scott directed a nine-play, 64-yard scoring drive. He finished the possession himself with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal, and Davis Rowe's extra point cut the deficit to 14-7 with 8:04 left in the half.
UAPB needed only one play to answer, however, as Jalen Williams broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run just 20 seconds later to push the Golden Lions' lead back to 21-7.
Morehouse responded with another impressive march, going 74 yards in nine plays. A 47-yard completion from Scott to Gibson moved the Maroon Tigers deep into UAPB territory before Scott broke a 13-yard run to the 2-yard line and scored on the next snap. Bryson Easley then connected with Gibson on the two-point conversion to pull Morehouse within 21-15 with 3:32 remaining.
The Maroon Tiger defense created another opportunity before halftime when Joziah Campbell intercepted Davis with 51 seconds remaining. Morehouse quickly moved from its own 45 to the UAPB 13, but Rowe's 30-yard field-goal attempt was blocked as time expired, sending Morehouse into halftime trailing 21-15.
Third Quarter – Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35, Morehouse 15
The Golden Lions created separation in the third quarter.
After Morehouse went three-and-out to begin the second half, UAPB drove 56 yards on seven plays, with Davis connecting with Whitlock for a 13-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 28-15 with 9:39 remaining.
Following another Morehouse punt, UAPB struck again. Backup quarterback Jack Schierholz found Whitlock for a 39-yard touchdown with 7:05 remaining, completing a four-play, 63-yard drive and pushing the advantage to 35-15.
The Morehouse defense settled in from there and did not allow another point over the final 22:05 of the contest.
Fourth Quarter – No Scoring
Morehouse's defense continued to battle in the fourth quarter and came away with its second interception of the game.
With UAPB driving inside the Maroon Tiger 20, freshman safety Markevious Yancie intercepted Schierholz at the Morehouse 2-yard line and returned the ball 19 yards to end the threat with 10:42 remaining.
Neither offense scored in the final period, as the Golden Lions closed out the 35-15 decision.
MOREHOUSE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing
- Miles Scott: 25-of-36, 284 yards, 0 interceptions
- PJ Hatter: 1-of-2, 2 yards
Rushing
Receiving
Scott accounted for 318 yards of total offense and both Morehouse touchdowns while protecting the football through the air. Gibson provided the biggest receiving play of the night with a 47-yard reception.
Defense
- Sean Johnson: 8 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack
- Jordan Williams: 7 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 pass breakup
- Jashaud Johnson: 6 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 0.5 sack
- Toreco Harper: 6 tackles
- Joziah Campbell: 4 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 interception
- Markevious Yancie: 4 tackles, 1 interception, 19-yard return
Morehouse finished with two interceptions and two sacks.
GAME NOTES
- Morehouse falls to 0-1 on the season, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff improves to 1-0.
- Saturday marked the first game for Brad Sherrod as head coach of the Maroon Tigers.
- The meeting was the fourth all-time matchup between the programs. With the victory, UAPB now leads the series 3-1. Morehouse had won the previous meeting, 34-30, in 2018.
- Morehouse finished with 376 total yards, just 10 fewer than UAPB's 386.
- The Maroon Tigers held advantages in first downs (22-17) and time of possession (34:44-25:16).
- Morehouse completed 26-of-38 passes for 286 yards and did not throw an interception.
- The Maroon Tigers converted both of their fourth-down attempts.
- Morehouse's defense limited UAPB to 1-of-8 on third down while recording two interceptions.
- Campbell and Yancie recorded Morehouse's two interceptions.
- Scott scored both Morehouse touchdowns on runs of one and two yards.
- Morehouse scored all 15 of its points in the second quarter.
- The Maroon Tiger defense held UAPB scoreless throughout the fourth quarter.
- Morehouse lost two fumbles and finished 2-for-4 on red-zone opportunities.
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff's three longest touchdown plays covered 94, 70 and 39 yards.
- Attendance at War Memorial Stadium was 17,300.
UP NEXT
Morehouse will look to regroup this week as it turns the page on the season opener. The Maroon Tigers will aim to clean up the turnovers that proved costly in Little Rock and get into the win column as the schedule continues.Morehouse returns to Atlanta for its home and SIAC opener on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Maroon Tigers renew their rivalry with Clark Atlanta University in the ATL Labor Day Classic at B.T. Harvey Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET as Morehouse looks to begin conference play with a victory over its crosstown rival. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com or Maroon Tiger football on Instagram @morehousefootball.
