GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team will step away from Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play one final time as the Tigers will participate in the 20th Anniversary of the Chicago Football Classic against Clark Atlanta on Saturday. Kickoff from historic Solider Field is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
Grambling State will broadcast the game on Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and in Monroe (KJMG 97.3FM). The Tigers' broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Nick Harrison and Leon Thomas will call all of the action.
 
The Tigers and Panthers come into the contest with identical 3-1 overall records and off victories last weekend. Grambling State picked up a 38-6 road win against Mississippi Valley State to open SWAC play, while Clark Atlanta began Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) action with a 31-7 victory over Lane.
 
"Clark Atlanta is a program that can be scary," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "They're going to always have some guys that can run.  They're going to have some playmakers, and we will have to make sure we play Grambling Tiger football in order to defeat them."
 
Chicago Football Classic
* The first game was played in 1997 between Mississippi Valley State and Southern, with the Jaguars capturing a 57-30 victory.
* Grambling State first played in the contest in 1999 and defeated Alcorn State, 41-25.
* Clark Atlanta's first appearance in the Classic was in 2016 as the Panthers handed Central State a 20-13 loss.
 
What to Watch For
* Grambling State is seeking its fourth straight win after defeating Mississippi Valley State, 38-6, last weekend.
* GSU is looking to avoid its second loss of the season as the Tigers began the year with a 43-13 loss to Tulane.
* Clark Atlanta is seeking its second consecutive win after defeating Lane last weekend.
 
Grambling State-Clark Atlanta Connections
* Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools.
* Located in the south of the United States of America, Grambling State and Clark Atlanta are separated by 533 miles.
 
Football Facts
* Grambling State is ranked No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll, No. 21 in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll, No. 2 in the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Poll and No. 1 in the SBN Sports Network Black College Football Poll.
* The Tigers are ranked No.1 in the SWAC in seven different categories.
* After Saturday's game, the Tigers will step back into SWAC play for the 2017 Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic against Prairie View A&M University on Oct. 7.
 
Inside the Numbers
* Marc Orozco ranks first in the FCS and SWAC in field goal percentage.
* Martez Carter is ranked in the SWAC in seven categories, including all-purpose yards (fifth nationally), rushing yards per game and scoring.
 
Awards and Accolades
* De'Aumante Johnson was named the SWAC's Defensive Player of the Week, the SWAC College Madness Defensive Player of the Week, STATS Defensive Player of the Week- Honorable Mention and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against Mississippi Valley. Johnson accounted for eight points, four solo tackles and three interceptions, including a 30-yard interception return for a score.
* De'Aumante Johnson also was added to the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List.
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

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