DALLAS -- Martez "Mr. Excitement" Carter lived up to his name Saturday (September 26), scoring four touchdowns.
 
Carter scored two touchdowns on two kickoffs, setting a career record 100-yard kick return for one touchdown, and he finished with 220 yards on three returns. Carter contributed to the passing and rushing game, scoring on a 10-yard rush and with a 29-yard pass to help the Grambling State University Tigers (2-2, 2-0 SWAC) outlast the Prairie View A&M Panthers (2-2, 2-1 SWAC) 70-54.
 
Head football coach Broderick Fobbs appreciated the win, but he was upset after the loss.
 
"There were a lot of highlights, a lot on both sides," Fobbs said after the game. "I thought offensively we played well. I thought we played okay defensively, but then there were times when we made bone-headed mistakes …"
 
Grambling State set a school record scoring 70 points. The Tigers scored 68 points against the Panthers in 1980 and the GMen scored 67 against Elizabeth City State in 1990. 
 
Johnathan Williams did what he does best during the SWAC conference game:  Deliver the football.
 
Williams connected on 20-of-33 passing attempts for 429 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Although, Carter wowed the crowd, running back Justin Kelly was the work horse. Kelly rushed for 94 yards on 22 carries, averaging 4 yards per carry.  
 
The first play from scrimmage, Tigers quarterback Jonathan Williams threw a 83-yard bomb to wide receiver Chad Williams for the first score of the game. After a Marc Orozco field goal, the Tigers led 7-0 with 14:40 left in first quarter. 
 
Prairie View responded on its first series with a 15-play, 80-yard drive, capping it off with an 8-yard catch by wide receiver Nick Pitre.
 
Carter picked up a bouncing kickoff at the 12-yard line, returning it 88 yards untouched along the left sideline for the G-Men second score of the game. Tigers led 14-7.
 
Grambling's offense continued with its momentum QB Williams connected with wide receiver Chad Williams twice, once for a 15-yard catch and again with a 29-yard catch, setting up a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lovett Gibson. Tigers led 21-7 in the 1^st quarter.
 
With a 1:13 left before halftime Prairie View railed off 14 unanswered points to cut Grambling State's lead to 42-34. Fobbs said this was a "bone-headed mistake" and the team "didn't get off the field," something "we have to do a better job with."
 
Panthers QB Trey Green rolled right and delivered a 52-yard strike to Demarquo LaStrappe in double cover to cut the Tigers led to 42-27 with 23 seconds left before halftime.
 
QB Williams under pressure forced a pass down field that Panthers Kenneth Jordan intercepted with nine seconds left before halftime.
 
Green launched a 35-yard pass to Pitre for a one handed grab in double coverage on the Tigers 2-yard line. Short yardage Panther quarterback De'Aurte checked in the game and connected with halfback Tommie Robbins Jr. for a two-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers led 42-34 before the half.  
 
Overall, the Tigers walked away with a win, but one the coach said included too many mistakes and penalties to be a championship team. "There were a lot of negatives. When you look at the score, we've just got to play better," Fobbs said. "In order for us to be where we want to be in the end, we've got to play better."
 
 The Tigers face the Jackson State University Tigers (1-4, 1-1 SWAC) at the Jackson State stadium Saturday (October 3) at 2 p.m. (Central). JSU beat Texas Southern University Saturday (September 26), 17-10, setting a clash of Tiger teams.
 
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