2021 SWAC Football Championship Game (May)

The Spring 2021 SWAC Championship Game was a college football game played on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.[1] It was the 22nd SWAC Championship Game and determined the 2020 champion of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Sponsored by wireless service provider Cricket, the game was officially known as the Spring 2021 Cricket SWAC Football Championship.[2]

For the 2021 SWAC Championship game that was played during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season, see 2021 SWAC Championship Game (December).

2021 SWAC Football Championship Game
Conference Championship
Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions Alabama A&M Bulldogs
(4–0) (3–0)
33 40
Head coach: 
Doc Gamble		 Head coach: 
Connell Maynor
1234 Total
Arkansas–Pine Bluff 141207 33
Alabama A&M 108148 40
DateMay 1, 2021
Season2020
StadiumMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
LocationJackson, Mississippi
RefereeMarty Adams
Attendance17,248
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
AnnouncersTiffany Greene (play by play), Jay Walker (color)
2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 24 Alabama A&M x$  3 –0   5 –0  
Alabama State  3 –2   3 –3  
Jackson State  3 –2   4 –3  
Mississippi Valley State  1 –3   1 –3  
West Division
Arkansas–Pine Bluff x  4 –0   4 –1  
Southern  4 –1   5 –1  
Prairie View A&M*  2 –1   2 –1  
Texas Southern  1 –2   1 –2  
Grambling State  0 –4   0 –4  
Championship: Alabama A&M 40, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 33
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • Note: The SWAC played a spring conference-only schedule (February–May 2021) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Alcorn State opted out of the spring season; all of their scheduled games were counted as forfeit wins for their opponents.
    * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions.
Rankings from STATS Poll

While prior editions of the SWAC Championship Game had been played in December, this edition was delayed into May due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season.

Teams

Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Main article: 2020 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team

Alabama A&M entered the championship game 3-0. Alabama A&M had won the championship game once prior in 2006.[3]

Arkansas–Pine Bluff
Main article: 2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team

Arkansas–Pine Bluff entered the championship game 4-0. Arkansas-Pine Bluff had won the championship game once prior in 2012.[4]

Game summary
Spring 2021 SWAC Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
UAPB 14 12 0733
Alabama A&M 10 8 14840

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS

  • Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
  • Game time: 3 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy • Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: SE 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 17,248
  • Referee: Marty Adams
  • TV: ESPN2
  • [5]
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:29) AAMU – Spencer Corey 29-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 1:31; AAMU 3–0)
  • (10:24) UAPB – Mattias Clark 4-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:05; UAPB 7–3)
  • (7:38) AAMU – Zabrian Moore 30-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Spencer Corey kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:46; AAMU 10–7)
  • (7:26) UAPB – Tyrin Ralph 81-yard kickoff returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:12; UAPB 14–10)
Second quarter
  • (11:07) AAMU – Gary Quarles 3-yard rush (Spencer Corey PAT blocked) (Drive: 9 plays, 43 yards, 3:41; AAMU 16–14)
  • (7:04) UAPB – DeJuan Miller 5-yard pass from Taylor Holston (Zach Piwniczka PAT blocked) (Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:03; UAPB 20–16)
  • (7:04) AAMU – Ja'Marian Green Defensive PAT conversion (Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:03; UAPB 20–18)
  • (5:17) UAPB – Kolby Watts 33-yard fumble returned (Drive: 3 plays, 3 yards, 1:47; UAPB 26–18)
Third quarter
  • (8:00) AAMU – Anthony Howard 7-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Spencer Corey kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 79 yards, 4:55; UAPB 26–25)
  • (1:24) AAMU – Gary Quarles 3-yard rush (Spencer Corey kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:15; AAMU 32–26)
Fourth quarter
  • (7:16) AAMU – Zabrian Moore 13-yard pass from Aqeel Glass (Aqeel Glass two-point conversion pass to Terrell Gardner) (Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 2:40; AAMU 40–26)
  • (2:30) UAPB - Josh Wilkes 11-yard pass from Skylar Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (AAMU 40–33)

References
  1. "SWAC relocates football championship game to Jackson". www.hbcusports.com. April 21, 2021.
  2. "No. 22 Alabama A&M Wins First SWAC Football Championship In 15 Years With 40-33 Win Over No. 25 UAPB". swac.org. May 2021.
  3. "Party Like Its 2006! No. 22 Alabama A&M Wins First SWAC Football Championship In 15 Years With 40-33 Win Over No. 25 UAPB". aamusports.com. May 2021.
  4. "#GoldenLionLookback 2012: UAPB Wins SWAC Championship In OT Thriller". uapblionsroar.com. July 29, 2023.
  5. "Box Score". swac.org.
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