LITTLE ROCK -- After helping Arkansas-Pine Bluff emerge from
its offensive struggles, Mickey Dean said he never lost confidence.
"I knew we had it in us the whole time," Dean told the Pine
Bluff Commercial after the Golden Lions' 64-36 win over Jackson
State on Saturday night.
Dean rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, and also added a
touchdown reception to earn a place in The Associated Press Small
College Spotlight.
The Golden Lions (2-6, 2-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference)
hadn't scored more than 23 points in a game this season, but Dean
scored on runs of 2 and 8 yards in the first half and had a 49-yard
scoring run in the fourth quarter. He also caught a 29-yard
touchdown pass from fellow freshman Jonathan Moore in the third.
"Mickey did a super job," coach Mo Forte said.
Moore went 6-of-8 for 134 yards in his first start, throwing for
three touchdowns and running for another.
Dean played in high school at Little Rock Central. He scored
three touchdowns in the state title game last year, leading the
Tigers to their second straight championship. Dean also scored a
touchdown in the 2003 title game.
This year, he's third in the conference with 79 yards rushing
per game. His performance against Jackson State (2-6, 2-4) earned
him SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
"The offensive line did a good job blocking and we just
executed the game plan," Dean said.
Forte was amazed by his team's performance.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd score 64 points,"
he said. "I don't know if I've ever been on a team that's scored
that much before."