JACKSON, Miss. – In a tale of two halves, the Grambling State Tigers remained undefeated in SWAC play with a 30-20 victory over Jackson State University before 14,501 fans at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
From the game’s opening drive, Grambling State’s offensive unit set the stage early on as the Tigers used an 11-play, 77-yard drive that was capped by freshman Cornelius Walker’s two-yard run for an early 7-0 advantage. After the early score, Jackson State relied on the big play and shifted the game’s momentum when wide receiver Chris Johnson broke free for a 71-yard touchdown. Eric Perri’s extra point glided through the uprights after the score and tied the contest at 7-all.
With the JSU crowd back in the contest, Grambling’s Reginald Jackson was on the verge of silencing the home crowd after breaking free for a 48-yard kickoff return to JSU’s 49. Unfortunately, Jackson fumbled the ball in the middle of the field and JSU recovered with great field position at their own 49.
On JSU’s opening play of its ensuing drive, quarterback Jimmy Oliver struck again with another big play as he found wideout Jaymar Johnson on a 42-yard pass to GSU’s 9. However, the Tiger defense buckled up and got out of the drive with minimal damage as Jackson State only managed to walk away with a 25-yard field goal by Perri at the 5:30 mark in the first quarter.
JSU’s defense forced GSU to punt on its next offensive possession but a fumble by JSU’s Jaymar Johnson breathed new life into the team. With the ball on Jackson’s 44-yard line, Grambling State drove 43 yards down the field and tied the contest at 10-10 after Tim Manuel nailed a 22-yard field goal to close out the scoring in the first quarter.
After a defensive stop, Grambling State continued to move the ball downfield with ease but several holding penalties forced GSU into a 3rd-and-23 situation early in the second quarter. With the pass as their only legitimate option, quarterback Brandon Landers stuck a dagger in the hearts of JSU fans as he connected with senior wideout Clyde Edwards for a 49-yard touchdown strike. Manuel’s PAT was good as GSU moved back on top 17-10.
GSU was its own worse enemy once JSU regained control of the ball at their own 20. After allowing Oliver to move JSU down the field with three consecutive first down passes, the Grambling defense was flagged for two offside penalties in the redzone which set-up a one-yard rushing touchdown by Erik Haw. JSU tied the contest once again at 17-all after Perri’s PAT but Grambling threatened to regain the lead on their next drive.
After Manuel’s 24-yard field goal sailed left, JSU’s offense went three-and-out which allowed GSU to capture a 20-17 halftime lead on Manuel’s 25-yard field goal right before halftime.
With offense taking center stage in the first half, both defenses stole the spotlight in the second half. Each team alternated possessions to open the half but Grambling State turned the tide of the contest when defensive back Lance Castleberry blocked Brett Bennett’s punt deep in JSU territory. JSU held ground and didn’t allow GSU to move the ball after the block but Manuel made them pay with his third field goal of the game for a 23-17 GSU advantage.
Holding the lead, Grambling State’s defense took control of the game and took the air out of JSU when Zaire Wilborn recovered a JSU fumble and returned it for the score. The Tigers created some breathing room after the big play and led 30-17 once Manuel’s PAT sailed through the uprights at the 2:27 mark. Jackson State made a quarterback change after GSU’s score and received an offensive spark by Trae Rutland. Rutland led the JSU offense to a field goal as they now trailed 30-20 early in the final quarter.
From that point, the contest turned into a game of clock management as GSU converted several big third down plays to keep the clock running. JSU tried to sneak back into the contest on several occasions but Grambling’s rush defense held ground and forced JSU to live-and-die by the pass.
For the game, Grambling State finished with 471 (348 P, 123 R) total yards of offense while JSU netted 353 (328 P, 25 R) yards. Landers finished with a season-high 348 passing yards on 22-of-41 attempts while tight end Tim Abney made his return to the field felt with six receptions for 65 yards. Defensively, middle linebacker Keefe Hall led the way with seven tackles while cornerback Nigel Copeland finished with six.
GSU will return home next weekend and face Texas Southern for homecoming in a contest that’ll be televised nationally by College Sports Television (CSTV).
Just wanted to share a moment with those of you who think SWAC/HBCU schools TRULY hate each other, or those of you who went to an HBCU and actually DO participate in all the hate for one another…..
A group of 50 or more Grambling and Jackson State Alums met today at an Atlanta area sports bar (which I am told is owned by an HBCU alum) and had an eatin’ -n- drinkin’ good time cheering for the Black and Gold or blue and white Tigers. JSU invited GSU to come out and we did so, gladly and in good spirit. JSU arrived in matching football jerseys, while Gramblinites arrived in whatever Black and Gold we had in the closet. I guess you don’t have to match to win. We harassed each other constantly and relentlessly throughout the game, junped up and down on the good plays, booed the bad, clapped and cheered after Doris Robinson spoke, sang fight songs, and each of us took a turn to sing the alma mater after the game. Everyone hugged and shook hands and vowed to do this again. Isn’t that just how it oughta be?
Great win today! It is so good to see “The G” back with its swagger. Coach Broadway is bringing back the “G-Funk”. Now we have to complete the “Tiger Sweep” when the “Stray Cats” from Houston visit “The Rob” next weekend for Homecoming. I’m sure the “Freckled Cats” from South Louisiana are paying attention…at least I hope they are, they NEED to!!! We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and earn that trip back to “GRAMBLING-ham” or “Birming-GRAM” whichever you prefer (Both Alabama teams know about our Home-Field Advantage…IN THEIR STATE!!!).
We should probably rename the final game of the year “The SWAC GRAM-pionship” (we’ve only won half of the 8 titles since the inception of the big game)!!! I have plenty more, but I’ll end here and let the fans of the 2nd through 10th place SWAC teams chime in. Go G-Men!!
Oh, here we go, why do we (TSU TIGERS) have to be the stray cats? Watch out Gram Tigers we are coming to put a little wrench in your homecoming. TS-TS-TS-TS-U-U-U We know you know!
At the end of the day, regardless of the outcome of the game….life goes on! Yes, it’s great to get together with alum from other places and watch the GSU Tigere win a game. I always found it interesting, especially while I was SGA Prez @ GSU how we were treated when we visited other schools. People would get “hyped” when GSU was in town. The tension was sometimes palpable. I’m not bragging, but EVERYONE knows Grambling! Having said that, I’m thrilled that we have this new coach! I didn’t know much about him or what to expect, but he reminds me of Eddie with his patience and his intelligence. This man is really smart, and GSU did well to score him. The GSU Tigers seems to be more cohesive than ever, without the one or two superstar players that make everything happen. We have a young team that plays extremely well together, and that’s something we haven’t had in long time. I’ve been a devoted GSU fan since the day I stepped on campus while still in high school, and I couldn’t possibly be more proud of this team!
Grambling is just lucky this year but you can only go on luck so far. GSU is like gas in car and when the tank reaches E the car will not run. GSU enjoy your luck .
I guess we were also lucky in
2000
2001
2002
2005 and lucky in all the tramplings we issued out over the past 50+ years? That’s not lucky, that’s divinity.
This is not luck, this is the first team making that first big mistake or simply running out of energy, in Jackson St. case they ran out of energy and could not execute their plays to perfection. Many opinions but lets look at reality of the game, mistake is made under pressure, pressure cases fatigue, the body nearly stop when pressure make a team lose thier game plan to an alternate plan. This what you want your opponent to do.
Luck…skill…divine right, call it what you want, but maybe next year we’ll “run out of gas”…NOT!! You see the thing about Grambling is that even when we’re not having a good year, you others consider it a quality win. If you’ve noticed our schedule the past couple of years, we’re playing with the big boys for additional pay dates in non-conference games. In other words, we’re looking for new challenges. I understand that all of you others love your own, and you should…somebody has to…but just because you beat “Leroy’s Barber College” for Homecoming, doesn’t mean that you’re ready to tussle with the heavyweights. Much love to Allen Schonberg, TigerRag, GSUClassof92, and the rest of the TigerNation out there! You know what’s up…”They hate us because they ain’t us!!”
All I have to say is “People Hate Greatness”
Hope to see the “G” get big in something other than football, damn …..nothing more going at the “G”
I couldn’t have said it better myself!!!
Fan57, when is the last time you have been at the “G” to know what is going on there?
Grambling better get ready to play ball on the 15th of December. To be honest, they still got to get past Southern. I would hate it if Southern beat them to kill their momentum leading into the SWAC Championship. Southern still has a great football team. If they would have caught the ball a little better, and kept their star players from getting hurt they may have had a chance to beat us (JSU). Well, JSU will be in Birm. this year. And promise me, we are coming for that 16th championship!!!JACKTOWN WHAT IT DO!
JLast2,
We always ready… u all better be ready. The game in AL is going to be a blowout this time. U all lucked up on a few plays that kept the game close. U all going to get out coached and played.
Please, it would be a much better game if we were playing Bama A % M; we went to Jackson and beat up on your rude crowd. I couldn’t believe your fans actually booed a visiting team’s band! That’s so weak. Granted, our band didn’t try to outplay yours, but to boo a band. We’ve never done that in Tiger stadium. It’s simply poor form to treat a group of individuals who simply show up to support their team that kind of disrespect. I guess they don’t teach manners and etiquette in Mississippi. Anyway, don’t worry about our team defeating SU. We got that. JSU just better get prepared to really get whipped again!!!
Hey, JLast2, see what happens when you start worrying about GSU before you even finish your season…LOL! You lose to PVU!
Hey JLast2, Are you SURE you going to Ala? Now that our coach figured out who should be starting QB, the Panthers bit some of that Tiger booty, lol. Ask your QB if he knows who Zach East the Beast is, oh that’s right The beast hit him so hard on the last play of the game he threw a pick so he might not remember anything, lol. Who ya rootin for? Pee Vee You
FOR THE RECORD!!!
I am here, another week, to address alot of nonsense that has been posted since my last blog. First of all, PVU, ARE YOU SERIOUS?? How dare you say anything about beating JSU. PVU has another 28 games to go to catch up with the wins we have over them. GOOD LUCK! Secondly, we are talking about football, not the band. I can’t help it that GSU band sucks. Lastly, we are going to handle our buisness with Alcorn this week and start preparing for the SWAC Championship! GSU lost this past weekend, so its possible for you all to lose your last 3 games of the season. If so, your so called “stellar season” will have went down the drain….lol
JSU! WHAT IT DO! SEE YOU IN BIRMINGHAM!
JLast2,
U all lost to PV…lol..thats funny….Just face it.. “pressure bust a pipe”
JLast2,
after this week u all going to be taking inventory. turning in your uniform