In their first game since the football scandal, the Grambling State University Tigers (0-6 SWAC, 0-9) led majority of the game on Saturday. But, the Texas Southern University Tigers (2-5 SWAC, 2-6) tied the game in the fourth, and scored a touchdown in overtime to win, 17-23.
“I think our kids came out and we played well,” said coach Dennis “Dirt” Winston. “We had an opportunity to win it, that really teed-off because we did not win it.”
Grambling won the toss to get the first drive of overtime. After a 15-yard penalty moved the Tigers down to the 8-yard line, they went four yards backward. The Tigers were forced to attempt a field goal. Johnathan Wallace was wide left on the kick and missed.
“Johnathan is a freshmen, new to the big leagues,” said Winston. “We’re not going to just beat him in the ground. What we are going to do is lift him up.”
Texas Southern took over to start their first drive in overtime, and on second down running back Perkins-Loving picked up 22 yards, all the way down to the Tiger 3-yard line.
Jamal Small, the back-up quarterback for Texas Southern, rushed the ball in on the very next play for a touchdown, 17-23.
Despite the final results, the Tigers opened the game off fast; D.J. Williams threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Chester Rogers,7-0.
Texas Southern answered back quickly with 20-yard touchdown run from Homer, which tied the game.
Williams connected a 60-yard pass to Anthony McGhee for a touchdown, 14-7. Williams finished the game 13-of-27 for 261 yards with 2 touchdowns and two interceptions. Grambling State’s running back, Jestin Kelly finished the game with 98 yards on 22 carries.
The Tigers held a 7-point lead at the half with Wallace adding a 38-yard field goal, 17-10.
With both teams scoreless in the third quarter, Texas Southern scored with a 21-yard passing touchdown to Jaquaa Peters in the fourth to tie the game, 17-17. Then, Texas Southern finished the game in overtime.
The Tigers have had problems scoring after halftime all season.
Excluding the forfeit against Jackson State University on Nov. 19, this is the fourth game in a row; the Tigers have not tracked any points after the break.
Grambling State will play Mississippi Valley (1-5 SWAC, 1-7 overall) for homecoming on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Robinson Stadium; which will be renamed the Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium at a ceremony at 1 p.m. in front of Gate 2.