By: Candice Dixson, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
GRAMBLING, La. | A contest between the two best college football teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) as it pits East versus the West will take place on Saturday as Grambling State gears up to face Alcorn State. Kickoff from Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and it is the Breast Cancer Awareness game so fans are encouraged to wear pink.
The game can be viewed via live stream on the SWAC Digital Network (Stan Lewter and Santoria Black) and Grambling State will broadcast on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network, which can be can be heard in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and in Monroe (KJMG 97.3FM). The Tigers' broadcast crew of Ossie Clark and Nick Harrison will call all of the action.
Although coming off a bye week, Grambling State (5-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) enters Saturday's game with a five-game winning streak, including a 34-21 win over Prairie View A&M in the 94th Annual Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic. Alcorn State (5-2, 3-0) comes into the contest off two straight SWAC victories and is riding a four-game winning streak.
"Both teams are playing great football at this time, so you can't ask for a better time to play against each other, a better chance and a better opportunity," Grambling State head coach
Broderick Fobbs said.
What to Watch For
* Grambling State is seeking its sixth consecutive win after starting the season with a loss at Tulane.
* GSU is looking to avoid a loss in Robinson Stadium, which hasn't occurred since the 2015 season when the Tigers lost to Bethune-Cookman, 56-53.
* GSU is also looking to avoid a conference loss, which last occurred in the 2014 season when the Tigers lost to rival Southern, 52-45, in the Bayou Classic.
* Alcorn State is seeking its fifth consecutive win after reeling off victories over Southern, Texas Southern, Alabama State and Prairie View A&M.
Grambling State-Alcorn State Connections
* Grambling State leads the series, 44-21-3, including winning the last two meetings.
* Tigers' head coach
Broderick Fobbs is 4-1 against Alcorn State.
* Both schools are predicted to face each other, for the third year in a row, in December for the SWAC Championship game in Houston, Texas.
* Grambling State won the last matchup, 27-20, in 2016 at the SWAC Championship game.
* In the 2015 season, Alcorn State defeated Grambling 49-21 for the SWAC Championship title.
* Separated by 153 miles, this will be the 69
th meeting between the two schools.
* Alcorn State was the first opponent to play at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium when the stadium opened in 1983.
Football Facts
* Grambling State is ranked No. 17 in the FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll, and No. 1 in the SBN Sports Network Black College Football Poll and in the Urban Media Today Black College Football Poll. The Tigers are holding the No. 2 spot in the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Poll,
* The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the SWAC in 14 different categories, including rushing defense, team sacks, and scoring defense.
* Alcorn State is unranked in the FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll and in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll. However, the Braves are ranked No. 4 in the SBN Sports Network Black College Football Poll, No. 4 in the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Poll and No. 6 in the Urban Media Today Black College Football Poll.
Inside the Numbers
* Despite a bye week,
De'Aumante Johnson continues to be ranked first in the SWAC (fourth nationally) in interceptions per game.
*
Marc Orozco leads the conference in field goals per game and scoring.
*
De'Arius Christmas is third in the conference in tackles for loss.
Awards and Accolades
*
Martez Carter has been invited to play in the Seventh Annual National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl on January 20, 2018. In the conference, Martez is ranked No. 1 in scoring touchdowns and No. 2 in rushing yards and rushing yards per carry (tenth nationally).
Ticket Information
* Individual game tickets can be purchased in advance for $30 general admission and $35 reserved.
* Tickets purchased on game day will be $35 for general admission and $40 reserved.
* Tickets can be purchased at the GSU Ticket Office, from 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday.
* Ticket Office Phone Numbers: (318) 274-2625, (318) 274-2629.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
