Grambling State University rolled into week 11 with an explosive offense, but the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff was able to hold them off, by a score of 45-42.
Special teams issues came back to hunt Grambling State. The G-men missed one field goal and two extra point kicks, which accounts for five points in a three-point lost margin.
In the first quarter, Johnathan Wallace missed his first extra point attempt. Then had another one blocked in the second quarter.
After Dwight Amphy blocked Pine Bluff’s 26-yard field goal, he returned the block for 85-yard touchdown, Wallace missed the extra point.
Grambling went for a two-point conversion, and failed in the second quarter. Those missed opportunities came back to hurt Grambling State.
Johnathan Williams, quarterback for Grambling State, accounted for over 300 yards of total offense. He went 14 of 18 for 275 yards and one passing touchdown. Williams also rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson was unstoppable as he accounted for nearly 500 total yards.
He went 19 of 29 for 280 yards and four passing touchdowns, carrying the ball 21 times for 192 yards and one scoring touchdown.
For the third game in a row, Grambling State led at halftime, 25-21. Grambling State’s largest led came after Amphy’s 85-yard touchdown in the third quarter, 31-24.
Grambling State marched up and down the field offensively throughout the match-up, finishing the game with 428 yards of total offense.
Saturday was the second game in a row Grambling State scored over 40 points. The downside was the defense has also given up over 40 points in those games.
Pine Bluff offensive game was working efficiently, finishing 594 yards of total offense in the game.
Grambling leads the SWAC in first downs given up by a team, averaging of 26 first downs a game. The G-Men allowed Pine-Bluff to move the chain 35 times.
Pine Bluff showed better discipline than Grambling State, committing three penalties the whole game for 21 yards. The G-Men committed 11 penalties for 84 yards.
Grambling averages 90 yards in penalties a game and are second to last in the SWAC in that category. There were bright points in the game on defense for Grambling. The team had two sacks, and Tyree Hollins caught an interception and he returned for 33 yards.
Grambling’s next game is against Southern University for the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. Southern comes into the game with a clinched birth in the SWAC championship game in Houston. The game is November 30 at 1:30 p.m.