By: Brian Howard, Sports Information Director
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team continues Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play when Texas Southern University comes to town as part of Homecoming on Saturday. Kickoff during Senior Day from Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
Grambling State will broadcast the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and in Monroe (KJMG 97.3 FM). The Tigers' broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Nick Harrison and Leon Thomas will call all of the action.
It's Homecoming Week and Saturday's game against Texas Southern is expected to bring out a large crowd large to pack Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
"Our focus is always how we play and how we practice," Grambling State head coach
Broderick Fobbs said. "We've been through this before. We've experienced playing at Homecoming, in a homecoming-type game atmosphere here in our stadium. It's definitely going to be a packed house. It's going to be standing room only. There's going to be people all over the place, but at the end of the day, they're here for a show. We're the show and we have to make sure we do everything in our power throughout the week in order to be prepared on Saturday."
Grambling State (6-1 overall, 3-0 SWAC) enters Saturday's game with a six-game winning streak, including a 41-14 victory over Alcorn State last weekend. Texas Southern (0-6 overall, 0-3) is coming off an open week after losing at home to Alabama State, 23-16, on Oct. 14.
What to Watch For
* Grambling State is seeking its seventh consecutive win.
* GSU is looking to avoid a loss in Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, which hasn't occurred since the 2015 season (Bethune-Cookman, 56-53).
* GSU is looking to avoid a conference loss, which last occurred during the 2014 season when Grambling State lost to rival Southern, 52-45, in the Bayou Classic.
* Texas Southern is anticipating their first win of the season.
Grambling State-Texas Southern Connections
* Grambling State leads the series, 43-18-3, including winning the last three meetings.
* GSU head coach
Broderick Fobbs is 3-0 against Texas Southern.
* Grambling State won the last matchup, 47-28, in 2016.
* Separated by 304 miles, this will be the 65th meeting between the two schools.
Football Facts
* Grambling State jumped four spots in the latest FCS Coaches Poll to No. 13 and moved up two spots in the STATS FCS Poll to No. 15.
* GSU remains in the top spot in the SBN Sports Network Black College Football Poll and in the Urban Media Today Black College Football Poll.
* Grambling State kept the No. 2 spot in the latest BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Poll.
* Grambling State is ranked first in the conference in 16 categories, including defensive touchdowns, red zone defense and scoring defense.
* GSU's defense ranks first in the nation in fumbles recovered and second in team sacks.
Inside the Numbers
*
Marc Orozco continues to lead the conference in field goals per game (third nationally), field goal percentage and scoring.
*
Martez Carter is ranked No. 2 in the SWAC in all-purpose yards.
*
Devante Kincade leads the conference in passing efficiency, passing yards/completion and yards/pass attempt.
* Both
De'Arius Christmas and
De'Andre Hogues are ranked No. 3 in the SWAC in forced fumbles. Christmas is also ranked No. 3 in tackles for loss.
*
De'Aumante Johnson continues to be ranked first in the conference (seventh nationally) in interceptions per game.
*
La'Allan Clark is ranked No. 1 in the SWAC in sacks.
Awards and Accolades
* For the sixth time this season, GSU had at least one conference Player of the Week.
*
Devante Kincade was selected the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week.
*
De'Arius Christmas earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Week.
*
Marc Orozco garnered the SWAC Specialist of the Week award.
* With three recognized in the win over Alcorn, it was the third time multiple players were honored by the SWAC from one game.
*
Devante Kincade has been invited to the 2018 College Gridiron Showcase, to take place Jan. 6-10 in Addison, Texas.
Senior Day
* Grambling State will honor its 14 seniors prior to the game. The 2017 Senior Class includes:
Devante Kincade,
Kendall Hill,
Martez Carter,
T'Kevian Rockwell, Montreal Meander,
Derrick Dixon,
Dre' Fusilier,
De'Aumante Johnson,
Deontae Hatter,
Ja'Terious Pouncy, Trent Scott,
Bryce Williams,
Caleb Wells and
Christopher Johnson.
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), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
