Quarterback Mekhi Hagens and wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson proved they are a dynamic duo as the UAPB Golden Lions (2-4, 1-1 SWAC) defeated the Prairie View A&M Panthers (2-5, 1-3 SWAC) 21- 17 defeated. Gibbons is a star and star as he raced past the Panthers' defensive backs and caught nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.

Hagens completed 14 of 26 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown. Running back BJ Curry added two touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 50 yards in the win.

Prairie View A&M took an early 2-0 lead when the UAPB punter failed to block an errant snap shot near the goal line for a safety. On the ensuing possession, the Panthers marched 62 yards in seven plays as Jaden Johnson completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Ratliff.

Prairie View led 8-0 with 11:17 left in the first quarter as the Golden Lions pounced on the Panthers' secondary. Hagens threw a beautiful bomb to JaVonnie Gibson for a 59-yard shot. UAPB got closer 8-7 with 3:57 left in the first quarter.

BJ Curry scored an 8-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Lions a 14-8 lead. The drive lasted 4:10 minutes for eight plays and 74 yards.

The Panthers' Rodriguez Garcia was kicking a 50-yard field goal when the football hit the crossbar. UAPB maintained a 14-11 lead after PV completed 11 plays for 42 yards in 4:28.

Hagens took advantage of unplanned plays to frustrate the Panthers' defense on the next possession. The signal caller handed the football to BJ Curry, who with exceptional balance broke three tackles for his second touchdown. The Golden Lions extended their lead to 21-11 with 1:20 before halftime.

Jaden Johnson completed three passes in a row to put the Panthers in field goal position with seven seconds left. Guillermo Rodriguez hit a 54-yard field goal and trailed UAPB (21-14) by seven points at halftime. The five-play, 26-yard drive ended the first half.

The second half was all about the defensive performance of both teams. In the third quarter, Prairie View's Guillermo Rodriquez hit his third field goal with 2:09 left in the 3rd quarter, 21-17.

Neither team would score in the final quarter. Prairie View couldn't sustain the effort to put the Panthers in scoring position. After Coach McDowell's defense stopped a fourth-down rush by Mekhi Hagens at the 10-yard line, Jaden Johnson had his chance with 40 seconds left.

Worth mentioning is the Golden Lions' defense, which bent over the course of the game but didn't break. Johnson's 4th-and-15-yard pass attempt failed as time expired. Coach Hampton's young team would earn its first win in the SWAC Conference. The win should be a big confidence boost for the Golden Lions, who looked like they were going to be a very good team.

Bubba McDowell's Prairie View A&M team posted its third SWAC loss. They fall to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference. This latest loss will likely end the Panthers' dream of claiming SWAC West Champs status.

Jared Johnson completed 25 of 37 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Trejon Spiller led the receivers with three receptions for 46 yards. Panthers running back Jaylen Lane rushed four times for 38 yards.

Pine Bluff's defense hampered PV's offense for most of the game. The Panthers broke the 30-yard line once. The Golden Lions had scoring drives of 86 yards, 74 yards, 75 yards and 47 yards on the night.

The Panthers are scheduled for a bye week in Week 8 before facing Texas A&M Commerce at home on Saturday, October 26th. The Golden Lions travel to a SWAC West meet against Grambling State on Saturday, October 19th.