SWAC Football: 3 takeaways from Alabama A&M’s title win

Most previews had UAPB finishing fourth in the West this spring. 

First-year head coach Charles “Doc” Gamble has nothing to hang his head about after this afternoon’s result. No one had the Golden Lions finishing higher than third or fourth in the SWAC West, let alone playing in for the SWAC title this spring.

The Lions improved last season, finishing 6-5, showing growth on both sides of the ball. However, coming into this spring, running back Taeylor Porter was gone, and the West is the tougher of the two SWAC divisions with Southern and an improved Prairie View A&M team.

The Golden Lions opened their spring schedule with a road upset of Southern and never looked back. UAPB was solid in all three phases of the game: how they got to the SWAC title game.

Whatever the Lions needed to win, it seemed as if they got it. When they needed a big kick or punt return, Josh Wilkes came up with the goods. If it was a big defensive play, Issac Peppers came up with a big sack, or Jalon Thigpen came up with a big interception.

If the Lions needed a big offensive performance, Skyler Perry, their offensive leader, would play big. There is no shame losing to a team the caliber of Alabama A&M, not as well as the Lions played this afternoon.