By: Deja Harrison, Sports Information Staff
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team will seek its second straight win as the Tigers take on Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday during Homecoming and Senior Day. Kickoff from Eddie G. Robinson 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.
The Tigers (4-4 overall, 3-2 SWAC) come into the game having won three of their last four games with the lone setback coming on Oct. 20 at Alcorn State. Last week, Grambling State won a thrilling 45-38 overtime victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
In the back-and-forth game, it all came down to a potential game-tying touchdown pass by the Golden Lions in overtime. However, officials reviewed the touchdown called on the field and overturned the call, giving the Tigers the victory. Additionally,
Marc Orozco surpassed Brian Morgan's all-time SWAC and GSU career record for scoring points with an extra point in the second quarter.
Mississippi Valley State (1-6, 1-3) comes into the contest off a 42-14 loss to Texas Southern last week. The Delta Devils' lone victory season came in a 48-47 double-overtime win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 20.
"College students want to have a good time also. And last time I checked our football players were college students too," Grambling State head coach
Broderick Fobbs said about the homecoming festivities. "The thing that stuff is trying to get them to understand that they have to see the light at the end of the tunnel and understand that we have to remain focused and do what we're supposed to do so we can be prepared for this weekend. It will be a lot of things going on around them, but for us, we have to focus on the task at hand before we can enjoy anything this weekend. "
About The Game
> This will be the 61st meeting between Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State
> The series began in 1957 with Grambling State capturing a 19-12 victory
> The most points Grambling State scored in the series was 93 in 1959 while Mississippi Valley State scored 48 points in 1994
> Grambling State holds the longest win streak in the series at 25 games and is currently on a five-game win streak against the Delta Devils
Grambling State - Last Time Out
> Grambling State enters the game off a thrilling 45-38 overtime win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
> For the first time in the
Broderick Fobbs era, Grambling State went into overtime as the fifth- year head coach is now 1-0 in the extra frame
> The Tigers trailed 38-35 with 4:05 remaining, but
Geremy Hickbottom engineered an 11-play drive with
Marc Orozco booting a 20-yard field goal, which sent the game into overtime
>
Marc Orozco broke the SWAC and GSU record for career points scored, which was previously held by Brian Morgan, with an extra point in the second quarter
>Grambling State was held without a first down in the opening quarter against UAPB, but finished the day with 16
>
Geremy Hickbottom's 25-yard touchdown pass to
Darrell Clark on the first play of overtime proved to be the game-winner
Mississippi Valley State - Last Time Out
> Mississippi Valley State is coming off a 42-14 loss last weekend to Texas Southern
> Dejerric Bryant threw for 140 yards on 15 of 27 passing and rushed for 39 yards on 17 touches
> Booker Chambers rushed 28 yards on four carries and led MVSU in receiving with seven catches for 78 yards
> Tracy Thompkins paced the MVSU defense with eight tackles, including two for a loss that totaled 11 yards
Last Time Against Mississippi Valley State
>
De'Aumante Johnson recorded three first-half interceptions in a 38-6 victory last season
>
Dre' Fusilier, who is not a graduate assistant for the Tigers, rushed four times for 83 yards
>
Ja'Terious Pouncy led the Tigers with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops
>
De'Aumante Johnson finished the night with four solo tackles, three interceptions, one for a pick six and returned a blocked extra points for two points
Inside The Numbers
> Grambling State has won 28 out of its last 30 SWAC games, dating back to the beginning of the 2015 season
> The Tigers wrapped up the month of October at 3-1 and are 16-1 in the month under head coach
Broderick Fobbs
> Grambling State has won its last 12 home games and has not lost at home since Sept. 19, 2015 (56-53 loss to Bethune-Cookman)
> The Tigers look to remain perfect (4-0) against Mississippi Valley State during the
Broderick Fobbs era
> Mississippi Valley State is averaging 17.6 points and 247.3 total yards per game
> Grambing State is averaging 30.1 points and 391.1 total yards per game
Accolades
> It was announced on Wednesday that
De'Arius Christmas is now a finalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy
>
Danquarian Fields was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week
SWAC Scenarios
> After last weekend, the picture got a bit clearer in order for Grambling State to capture the SWAC West Division crown. Alcorn State defeated Prairie View A&M, which leaves GSU and PVAMU with two losses in the division. Both are looking up at Southern, but the Jaguars have a quiet month ahead, with a home game on Nov. 10 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and then the match-up with Grambling State. The Bayou Classic showdown could potentially decide the West Division
Up Next
The Tigers will travel to Huntsville, Ala. next Saturday for a non-conference game against Alabama A&M. Kickoff against the Bulldogs at Louis Crews Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
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