From start to finish the Grambling State University Tigers dominated and controlled the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils.
During their homecoming day game, the Tigers stuck with a ground attack for the third week in a row, this time against winless Mississippi Valley State University. In the second half, the G-Men resumed their air identity, throwing enough passes to combine with rushes for a 49-14 victory. The GSU Tigers extended their win streak to six games.
GLENN LEWIS/The Yearbook
G-Man Chad Williams slips past a Mississippi Valley defender. The Tigers won and brought home a Homecoming victory.
Running back Jestin Kelly ignited the Tigers offense, running for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It was Kelly’s first 100-yard rushing game this season.
“It was good to see Jestin run the ball really well,” Grambling’s head coach Broderick Fobbs said after the football game. “We’ve been trying to get him in there. It’s exciting because he had a really good game.”
GSU had a successful ground day, rushing for 304 yards. The Tigers had a pair of huge TD runs throughout the game. Kelly muscled a 28-yard TD run in the second half, and running back Martez Carter exploded for a 40-yard TD run. Carter ran for 86 yards and one touchdown.
Kelly started the Tigers’ (6-2, 6-0 SWAC) first drive with an explosive 10-yard run. Eight plays later he capped a nine-play drive with a nine-yard TD run. Later in the first quarter, defensive back Artez Cooper scooped and recovered a fumble and scored a 56-yard TD.
Quarterback Johnathan Williams threw for 225 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. Williams and the offense have been good but inconsistent the last couple of weeks. Last week Alcorn State University limited Williams to 141 passing yards and Alabama A&M University allowed 251 yards. Williams finished 13 of 22 passing attempts against Valley.
Mississippi Valley (0-7, 0-5 SWAC) capitalized on an early Williams pick to score their first TD. Running back Thomas Stokes Jr. fought his way into the end zone for a two-yard TD. Stokes ran for 127 yards with 30 carries. Late in the fourth quarter, Mississippi Valley quarterback Thurston Ruban Jr. tossed a 21-yard TD pass to Tre Simms.
Carter got involved with the Tigers’ air attack when QB Williams, under pressure, dumped a pass off to him who was then able to cut right and reverse field, scoring an 18-yard catch. Williams then found one of his favorite targets, wide receiver Chad Williams, for a 34-yard TD pass.
The two Williamses have connected 39 times this season for seven touchdowns. During Saturday’s game against the Devils, wide receiver Chester Rogers led all receivers with 118 yards and three catches. Rogers caught an 87- yard bomb from Williams, but a Devils defender caught him from behind and brought him down in the second quarter.
After some early season struggles, GSU’s defense has been more consistent midway through season. GSU’s defensive line had its way with the MVSU offensive line as GSU caused four first half sacks, finishing with five. On third downs the Tigers disrupted MVSU, converting three of 16 on third downs and the Devils were 0 of 3 on fourth downs.
“The defensive has been getting better every week,” Fobbs added. “I think our guys are starting to jell at the right time. That’s what it takes.”
GSU has a bye week this week, then the Tigers take on Texas Southern University at the Red River State Fair Classic in the Independence Stadium in Shreveport.