Football Recap: Nov. 10
Around the SWAC
Grambling State 29, Alabama A&M 16
Hampton 54, Mississippi Valley State 39
Southern 56, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24
Featured Game of the Day
Jackson State 20, Alabama State 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Ryan Theyard returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter and quarterback Jarrad Hayes found Keyshawn Harper for an 18-yard strike in the closing minute before halftime as the Tigers went up 17-0 by halftime.
Jackson State (5-4, 4-2 SWAC) stayed in the hunt for the SWAC East Division title race as the Tigers will now play at Alcorn State next Saturday with the division title and spot in the SWAC Football Championship Game on the line.
The JSU defense held the Hornets (3-6, 2-3 SWAC) to just 180 total yards of offense while Khalil Johnson recorded a pair of sacks and Keontre Hampton had another on the day at ASU Stadium.
Keyshawn Harper had 16 totes for 74 yards and Romello Shumake made three receptions for 70 to lead the Tigers skill set players.
Kurron Ramsay made nine tackles to lead the Hornets defense.
Two pick six touchdowns lead Grambling State on road over Alabama A&M
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Joseph McWilliams and Devanir Martin returned interceptions for touchdowns as the Grambling State University football team won its third straight game on Saturday afternoon, 29-16, against Alabama A&M in a non-conference game at Louis Crews Stadium.
“We played well today, but we have some things we need to improve on,” Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. “Alabama A&M is a good football team and is extremely well coached. I thought defensively we played well and were extremely aggressive today. Now we get a week off to get some players healthy before the Bayou Classic.”
The Bulldogs (5-5) took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 11 plays, taking nearly four-and-half minutes off the clock, as Aqeel Glass connected with Marceles Class for a 6-yard touchdown pass to give Alabama A&M an early 7-0 advantage with 10:34 left in the first.
Grambling State (6-4), on its first drive of the day, moved the ball to inside the Alabama A&M 5, but came away with just three points. The Tigers, aided by Geremy Hickbottom going 4 of 6 passing on the drive, marched 73 yards in 15 plays, but could not punch the ball into the end zone as Marc Orozco kicked a 21-yard field goal to cut the margin to 7-3 with 3:53 left in the opening quarter.
On the next offensive possession for Alabama A&M, Glass was picked off by Danquarian Fields. The Tigers used a fake punt to get into Bulldog territory, but costly penalties forced a Tiger punt.
On 2nd-and-seven from the Bulldog 18, Glass was picked off by Joseph McWilliams, who ran 20 yards untouched into the endzone to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 11:20 left in the first half.
Alabama A&M quickly answered as the Bulldogs went 46 yards in nine plays and settled for a 21-yard Corey Spencer field goal, tying the game at 10 with 8:15 remaining in the second.
Grambling State needed almost two minutes to retake the lead as Hickbottom connected with Devante Davis down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown as Grambling State grabbed a 17-10 advantage with 6:23 left in the quarter.
After both teams traded punts in the third, the Tigers marched 51 yards in seven plays as Orozco booted a 26-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 20-10 with 3:43 remaining in the quarter.
On the very next offensive possession for Alabama A&M, Glass was picked off by Devanir Martin, who went 35 yards to the endzone as Grambling State pushed the lead to 27-10 with 2:51 left in the third.
Alabama A&M tried to close the gap late as Dylan Smith rushed 10 yards for the score to trim the margin to 27-16 with 5:32 left. The PAT attempt by Spencer was blocked and McWilliams went all the way for the two-point conversation as GSU led 29-16.
--Grambling State Sports Information
Miss. Valley State drops shootout with Hampton
ITTA BENA, MS – In a combined 93-point barnburner, the Pirates (6-3) jumped out to a 28-7 advantage early before having to hold off the host Delta Devils as it scored 50 plus points for a third consecutive week at Rice-Totten Stadium with a 54-39 win.
Mississippi Valley State (1-8) received a big receiving performance from Booker Chambers who caught 11 balls for 180 yards with two touchdowns and also returned a punt 85 yards for a third touchdown on the day.
Hampton outgained the Delta Devils 481-310 in total yards of offense, but held a decisive 250-25 heavy advantage in total rushing yards.
Jaguars hike up passing attack versus UAPB
BATON ROUGE, La. – Jaguars quarterback Ladarius Skelton completed 12-of-15 passes for 283 yards with four touchdowns and ran for another 27 yards as Southern built a 42-9 lead by halftime and never looked back on rout to 56-24 victory in front of their home fans at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Southern (6-3, 5-1 SWAC) controls their own destiny heading into a bye week before taking on Grambling State in the Bayou Classic in New Orleans with the SWAC West Division title on the line on Nov. 24.
Nine different receivers made a reception for Southern as the Jaguars racked up 589 total yards of offense. Among them who scored were Randall Menard (two receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns), Hunter Register (45-yard touchdown reception), Kendall Catalon (two receptions, 50 yards, touchdown) and Trey Smith (three receptions, 28 yards, touchdown).
Southern also converted 6-of-12 on third down and did not turn the ball over.
UAPB (1-9, 0-6 SWAC) was led by redshirt junior running back Jaimon Peterson, who carried the ball 21 times for 82 yards and a touchdown.