Sports

Six touchdowns from Hickbottom leads Tigers over Aggies

GRAMBLING, La. | After a 45 minute lighting delay, Geremy Hickbottom threw for a career high  297 passing yards and was responsible for six touchdowns, as the Grambling State Tigers defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State 62-7 Saturday night at Eddie Robinson Memorial Stadium.

Defensively, Grambling State Tigers (2-3 overall, 1-1 SWAC) came out aggressive forcing the Aggies to 0 for 13 on third down conversions and just eight first downs on the night. The Aggies failed to reach the red zone until 7:24 left in the second quarter in a possession that led to their only touchdown on the night.

The Tigers came out from the very first offensive possession in rhythm, after an opening kickoff return of 24-yards for Malik Route that set up a four-play 1:02 drive that resulted in a Geremy Hickbottom 14-yard touchdown run with a Marc Orozco extra point to make the score 7-0.

After a 45-yard pass completion from Hickbottom to Quintin Guice, the Tigers got a 22-yard touchdown run by Johntavious Robinson and another Marc Orozco extra point to bring the score to 14-0 at the end of the opening quarter.

The second quarter started with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hickbottom to DeVohn Lindsey followed by an Orozco kick to bring the lead for the Tigers to 21 points.

The Tigers got a 2-yard touchdown run from Hickbottom, a 46-yard touchdown reception from Hickbottom to Quintin Guice, followed by a 60-yard touchdown pass from Hickbottom to Lyndemian Brooks and after Orozco connected on all three extra point’s brought the Tigers lead to 41-7.

Offensively, the Tigers kept the momentum into the second half. Hickbottom added another touchdown to the board as he scrambled for a 20-yard touchdown run to put the deficit to 48-7.

In the final period, the Tigers got a 21-yard run by Lyndemian Brooks and a Cecil Cherry 37-yard interception return for a touchdown to bring the final score to 62-7.

Kicker Marc Orozco came into the game just 32 points away from being Grambling All-Time leader in points by a kicker. Orozco connected on five field goals on the night to bring him just 27 points shy of the record.

The victory extended the Grambling State Tigers home win streak to 14 games. The Tigers will travel to Houston, Texas to face SWAC opponent Texas Southern. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at BBVA Compass Stadium.