Quarterback Geremy Hickbottom, no. 19, passed for 248 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. Jada Stokes/The Gramblinite
The GSU Tigers (3-4) picked up their third straight win of the season Saturday against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Coming down to the wire, the Tigers were able to hold off the Golden Lions for a 39-33 victory.
Picking up a win in the SWAC conference, the Tigers continue to try to earn a spot in the post-season after a troubling 0-4 start to the season.
Adjustments made in the bye appeared to work as the five win Golden Lions could not hold off Grambling from winning the game.
After a few poor drives from both sides, Grambling capitalized on short field and took an early lead with eight minutes left in the first quarter.
The Golden Lions responded four minutes later with a touchdown drive of their own, still down one point after a blocked PAT.
It did not take long for the Tigers to keep on the defensive pressure, forcing a safety.
However, UAPB recovered, as a lightning quick 49-second possession resulted in a touchdown to give them the 12-9 lead after a missed PAT.
Early in the second quarter, the G-Men put together a 75-yard drive to tack on an additional six points from a rush by quarterback Geremy Hickbottom. The following two-point conversion attempt failed.
On the next possession the Tigers defense forced yet another stop.
The offense, playing off of the defensive energy, put together another touchdown drive, this time a 31-yard catch by receiver Lyndon Rash for the score.
With a 22-12 lead, the Tigers allowed one more touchdown before the half to the cut the deficit to just three, the Golden Lions now only trailing 22-19.
Out of the halftime break, UAPB came with more intensity, attempting to rally their team to a win.
After chewing up more then six and a half minutes, they scored on a short pass to cap off a 15 play drive, giving them the 26-22 point lead.
The next drive, the Tigers responded with their own touchdown, this coming on a 40-yard pass from Hickbottom to Kevin Dominique as a response to the 14 unanswered points by UAPB.
Still leading into the fourth quarter, the Tigers tacked on a field goal by kicker Miguel Mendez to put distance between the scores, which now was at a six point difference at 32-26.
After more possession switches, the defense showed up yet again, this time on a 55-yard return by Joe McWilliams for a score.
This marks the fourth game in a row that the defense has come up with its own touchdown.
The Golden Lions, however, would not go down without a fight despite being down 39-26 with just over half of the quarter left.
A 10 play drive resulted in a touchdown from UAPB, now down only six points with the score 39-33.
Coming down to the wire, the Golden Lions were in position to score and possibly take the lead after a PAT.
The defense came up big, forcing an interception to help put the game away and secure the Tigers their third straight win.
Next, the G-Men return home for the second time this year. GSU will take on Texas Southern football team Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
With enough momentum, a victory against TSU at home and the next week at home versus Alcorn, the Tigers will be above .500 and hold a serious shot at taking the top of the SWAC division.