Sports

DEAN’S PLAY SURPRISES BOTH COACH AND PLAYER SATURDAY

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, November 1, 2009 12:20 AM CDT

Even up until Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s first offensive series on Saturday, coach Monte Coleman had no clue what he was going to get out of Mickey Dean.

The running back was in the starting lineup mostly because it was Senior Day, and the coach put all the seniors, even left tackle Evan Webber, fullback Hezekiah Smith and wide receiver Chris Barrett, into the starting lineup.

But Dean hadn’t played in an official game since he pulled a hamstring during a 27-7 win over Mississippi Valley State Sept. 19. Dean, a preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection, hasn’t practiced much since then but said earlier this week he wanted to play.

What happened when he took the field against Southern, surprised both player and coach.

“I got a lot more out of (him),” said Coleman, raising his voice in the middle of his answer for emphasis. “I didn’t have any clue that he would be able to carry the ball as much (as he did). ...Very pleased with his performance.”

On his first carry, Dean busted through the Southern defense to the Southern 15-yard line for a 22-yard gain to set up a UAPB field goal. He also had a 26-yard run in the second quarter on his way to 91 yards on 18 carries in his final game at Golden Lion Stadium.

“I felt pretty fresh,” said Dean, who admitted his injured right hamstring was on his mind much of the game. “Anybody that’s been out for a month should feel fresh.”

Dean’s solid day, though, was disappointing because of the loss and his fumble right before halftime on the Southern 10-yard line. It was one of three UAPB turnovers that soured a day in which it moved inside the Southern 30-yard line six times.

Even so, a healthy Dean could pay dividends for UAPB in its final three games. The Golden Lions play Grambling State next Saturday in Little Rock before finishing at Prairie View A&M Nov. 21 and against Texas Southern in Dallas Nov. 28.

“Mickey, he played his butt off,” quarterback Josh Boudreaux said. “I believe our running game did good. Our offensive line, you’ve got to give them credit.”

Brown out

For the first time all season UAPB had a change in its starting defensive lineup. The Golden Lions defense, the top-rated unit in the SWAC, was without the use of cornerback Joe Brown on Saturday.

Brown, a sophomore from Killeen, Texas, suffered a head injury during last week’s 38-12 win over Edward Waters College and didn’t practice all week. He watched Saturday’s game in sweats and a jersey as he was held out for what Coleman called “precautionary reasons.”

Coleman said he has not been diagnosed with a concussion.

“He just got a little dizzy, so we just kind of held him out,” Coleman said.

Jamel Maxwell made his first career start in his place and was second on the team with seven tackles.

Interception battle

Southern’s Jason House and UAPB’s Kevin Thornton entered Saturday’s game as one of four players tied for the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision lead with six interceptions.

With an interception of Boudreaux in the third quarter, House pulled one ahead of Thornton, who hasn’t had an interception since a 23-20 overtime win over Jackson State Oct. 10.

Stewart contained

One of the conference’s most dangerous weapons was wearing a white No. 88 jersey on Saturday. And, after Southern’s first drive, Juamorris Stewart wasn’t noticeable at all.

The senior transfer from Southern Miss entered Saturday’s game as the SWAC leader in receptions, yards, touchdowns and receiving yards per game. He caught an 8-yard pass from Lee on the first play of the game and a 10-yarder four plays later.

After that, though, other than a 6-yard run on a reverse on the second possession, Stewart didn’t get his hands on the ball. Credit UAPB cornerback James Harrell, who was on the playmaker most of the game, for the containment.

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