Sports

YOUTH, INEXPERIENCE DIRECTS UAPB DEFENSE AGAINST VALLEY

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, November 16, 2008 12:22 AM CST

Two freshman and two sophomores, none of whom had garnered significant playing time this season, were part of a defense that Monte Coleman sent onto the field at Golden Lion Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

UAPB’s Martell Mallett gets the first down and a little more as he brushes off Mississippi Valley State’s Michael Higgins in the first quarter of action. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

The Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach was forced to use players like Raymond Duplechain, James Harrell, Darrell Rich and Michael Anthony after suspending 10 players for breaking curfew Nov. 6. Five of the suspended players were either starters or were in the regular rotation on a defense that had kept Arkansas-Pine Bluff in games all season long.

But none of the suspended players on defense — Stewart Franks, Robert Mingo, Ledarius Anthony, Michael Witherspoon and Jermaine Clemmons — were part of a defensive effort quite like Saturday’s.

The patchwork group forced six turnovers and held the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s third-best passing offense to more than 130 yards less than its season average in a 34-0 trouncing.

“All the guys that had to fill the void of what we call ‘starters,’” Coleman said. “”They did an admirable job and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Coleman said earlier in the week he wrestled with the decision to suspend the players, four of whom were denied playing in what would have been their final game at Golden Lion Stadium.

He ended up changing his mind and letting Anthony, Franks and Clemmons participate in a pre-game ceremony (wide receiver Bruce Peters, also a senior who was suspended, did not attend the ceremony), but he didn’t relent on his decision to hold them out of the game.

Instead the suspended players — which also included tight end Remo Gay, wide receiver Andre Kirkland and offensive lineman Evan Webber — watched the game from the bleachers, bundled up in street clothes watching their teammates pull of an unlikely win.

“Just like I talked to coach, I said ‘You can’t substitute winning for discipline,” said Mississippi Valley State coach Willie Totten. “With discipline, that’s where you win football games.”

Totten said his team was in a similar situation having to play without suspended players on Saturday, too. Though he declined to reveal which players, or how many, were suspended, it’s safe to say that UAPB’s replacements played on a level above Valley’s.

Harrell stood out more than the others because of his first-quarter fumble recovery and his third quarter interception. Playing in place of Clemmons the freshman from Tampa, Fla., had four tackles, one that went for a six-yard loss and he also forced a fumble.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Harrell’s lone contribution was a 91-yard interception return for a touchdown Oct. 25 against Lincoln, Mo., University.

“This kid, he’s a bright spot for us right now,” Coleman said. “I look forward to working with him next season through spring ball.”

Harrell’s play was proof that Tim Turner’s pre-game speech to the starting lineup newcomers worked.

“I just told them to go out there and have fun and be calm,” said the linebacker, who had 12 tackles and returned an interception 35 yards in the final quarter of his last game at Golden Lion Stadium. “They came out and played extremely well.”

Darrell Rich, a sophomore, played middle linebacker in place of Witherspoon and had eight tackles, which equaled his season total before Saturday.

Michael Johnson played defensive end in place of Anthony and had three tackles. Duplechain played free safety and broke up three passes.

UAPB’s depth also took a hit when two starters were lost to injury. Cornerback Joseph Brown didn’t play because of a pulled hamstring, Aaron Eugene played in his place. Kevin Thornton injured his knee in the second quarter, and Matthew Price filled in for him.

Coleman never thought he’d have to assemble a defense as green as the one that played Saturday.

But the group was able to hold Valley to 174 total yards, its lowest output since being held to 111 yards in a 47-7 loss to Alabama State on Sept. 25.

“Never thought I would have to,” Coleman said. “They do it in practice. They’re not overachievers. They’re good football players.”

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