GSU Tigers Capture 2005 Football Championship
SWAC.org
Dec. 10, 2005
BIRMINGHAM -
Grambling State University completed an undefeated run through the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a convincing 45-6 win over Alabama A&M in the 7th SWAC Football Championship Game.
After spotting Alabama A&M a 6-0 lead, the "G-Men" scored 46 unanswered points to leave little doubt about their SWAC supremacy this season.
GSU's Bruce Eugene earned team MVP honors by completing 30 of 47 passes with no interceptions for 473 yards and six touchdowns. During the game Eugene broke the NCAA career record for touchdown passes with 140 and tied the NCAA single season record for TD passes with 56.
Eugene's favorite target was Henry Tolbert who finished the contest with 11 receptions for 184 yards and four TDs. Tolbert's performance set a new school record for touchdowns in a season with 20, surpassing Eric Gant who held the record (19) for the past 13 years.
Alabama A&M drew first blood when the Bulldogs' Nic Luke scored on a one-yard plunge to culminate a 9-play, 52-yard drive. After Jose Osorio missed the PAT, AAMU led 6-0 at 8:59 of the first quarter.
GSU answered with a 10-play, 71-yard drive of its own that ended when Eugene found Tolbert with a 12-yard pass to tie the score at 6-6 after Tm Manuel missed the PAT.
GSU scored its only rushing touchdown when Ab Kuuan entered the end zone from one-yard out to cap a 16-play, 76-yard drive that took over six minutes to complete.
The rest of the day belonged to Eugene who completed three more TD passes to Tolbert, one to George Piggott and one to Reginal Jackson to complete the route of the SWAC Eastern Division Champions.
Grambling's record setting performance included new SWAC Championship Game records for most passing yards (473), most yards of total offense (583), most pass completions (30), most points scored by one team (45) and most touchdowns scored by one team (7).
AAMU was led by team MVP Emmanual Edwards who caught six passes for 77 yards. Bulldog quarterback Kelcy Luke was 18 for 34 for 187 and two interceptions. Alabama A&M committed five turnovers despite a three minute advantage in time of possession.
Grambling finishes the season with an 11-1 record. Alabama A&M falls to 9-3