Chris Wallace threw for 159 yards and scored on a 60-yard touchdown run to lift Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 45-20 win over Southern University on Saturday and lead the Lions to its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game.
The Lions (7-3, 6-2 SWAC) also capitalized on six Southern turnovers in its Western Division title win.
The loss assured Southern (4-6, 3-5) its second straight losing season, and spoiled their Senior Day plans for a victory. Red shirt freshman quarterback Bryant Lee, who was making his first start, completed 12-of-25 passes for 143 yards, and he was intercepted three times. He also lost two fumbles.
Kendall Addison finished with 105 yards on 12 carries with one score, including a 65-yard touchdown burst in the third quarter. Gerald Landry had six catches for 68 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, DJ Brooks had seven tackles and one sack. Keidrick Bailey had an interception to go along with four tackles. Vincent Lands picked up his team leading sixth sack of the season.
Wallace threw three TD passes and rushed eight times for 67 yards, including the 60-yard touchdown run, and completed 12-of-19 passes.
Running back Martell Mallet, the SWAC's leading rusher, finished with 20 carries for 81 yards after having 10 carries for only a single yard at halftime.
After a scoreless first quarter, Arkansas-Pine Bluff exploded for 24 second-quarter points and led 24-7 at halftime.
A blocked punt set up the Lions' first points, a 21-yard John Heflin field goal early in the second quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Lions' intercepted a Lee pass. On the next play, Wallace connected with a wide-open Jason Jones for a 37-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
The Jaguars now take this Thanksgiving break to get prepared to face the Grambling State Tigers in the New Orleans Superdome for the Bayou Classic.