It began with a tribute to the late coach Eddie Robinson. But Grambling State started its preparation for the Bayou Classic when the season first started, and now the game was here.The 34th annual Bayou Classic kicked off with a bang as Southern University scored on their first two possessions. The Jags started the game with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that lasted over three minutes and ended with a 1 yard touchdown run by Darren Coates.
The G-Men answered on their first possession with a 13-play, 61-yard drive that took 5:33 off the clock and tied the score at 7-7 after Cornelius Walker scored on a 1 yard run.
The Jaguars scored on their next possession when Bryant Lee connected with Darren Coates on a 10-yard touchdown pass that capped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive and gave Southern a seven point lead at the end of the first quarter.
The score remained 14-7 at the half.
“You have to take your hat off to Southern,” Grambling’s quarterback Brandon Landers said. “They came out and played.”
The third quarter produced six punts, two fumbles and, after a field goal block that was recovered by the Jags for a safety, Southern went into the fourth quarter with a 16-7 lead.
Southern improved their lead to 19-7 on a field goal with about eight minutes remaining in the game. But Grambling would come back with a touchdown of its own when Landers connected with Clyde Edwards, making the score 19-13.
Southern secured the victory on a field goal, making the final score 22-13. The Jaguars improved their record to 8-3, 6-3 in the SWAC, while Grambling fell to 8-3, 8-1 in conference play.
EDITOR’S NOTE: 53,297 attended the game.