Sports

GSU narrowly falls to LA Tech in “Buddy Bowl”

Geremy Hickbottom, a redshirt junior quarterback from Mobile, Ala, drops back to pass. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo

Quintin Guice, a senior wide receiver from Monroe, La., high points a ball. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo

Brandon Wiggs, a redshirt senior linebacker from Atlanta, Ga., stuffs a run versus Louisiana Tech. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo

Week two of college football action saw a tough matchup between the Grambling Tigers versus Louisiana Tech University’s Bulldogs in Ruston, La. this past weekend with a final score of 20-14 in favor of the Bulldogs.

With temperatures recorded in the hundreds, players and fans alike struggled with the heat for the duration of the game.

In a game where the Tigers earned more yardage and offensive drives than their opponent, converting in the end zone remained an issue.

Tech dominated the first half of the game, scoring 20 straight unanswered points. The scoring included two field goals and two touchdown drives, one rushing and the other thrown by quarterback J’Mar Smith for 40 yards to receiver Griffin Hebert.  

GSU’s defense played lights out after halftime, not allowing any more scores from the Bulldog offense. 

The Tiger suffered a major setback in the first half with the loss of senior star safety Danquarian Fields, who went down with a serious right leg injury, later deemed to be a ruptured artery and dislocated knee. 

The already beat up defensive core still, however, pulled through and regathered to do their part.

Grambling put their first points up on the board with quarterback Geremy Hickbottom passing to Raylon Richardson for a 23-yard score with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter making the game 20-7. 

The next scoring drive came from a two yard touchdown run from Jakarie Nichols, making the score 20-14 with two minutes and thirty-nine seconds left in the fourth quarter. 

The Tigers attempted an onside kick, which kicker Garrett Urban executed perfectly, allowing Grambling to recover the ball back on the LA Tech forty-seven yard line. 

Unfortunately, Grambling could not execute a successful touchdown drive and fell short in four plays, locking in the victory for the Bulldogs.  

Grambling State Head Coach Broderick Fobbs told gsutigers.com “I thought we did some good things, but we got to play better.”

“We have to finish. We had an opportunity, several opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them today,” he said.

The only other meeting between GSU and LA Tech was 2010 in the Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. where LA Tech took the victory 20-6. Through the sweltering heat, it records as the fastest away game in Grambling history.  

This weekend Grambling State Football will have a very well deserved bye week. After, the Tigers hit the road ro begin SWAC play against the Alabama State Hornets  at their home ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

 They’ll head to the Hornets home field in search of their first win of the season.