NEW ORLEANS, La. | Two long pass plays in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Grambling State University football team nearly rallied from an 18-point deficit as the Tigers saw its season come to an end with a 38-28 loss to rival Southern during the 45th Annual Bayou Classic in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
 
With the victory, Southern earns the SWAC West Division Championship and will meet Alcorn State on Saturday in the 2018 SWAC Football Championship Game in Lorman, Miss.
 
"My hat goes off to Coach (Dawson) Odums and his staff for an outstanding job they've done," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "I'm so proud of my kids. You're not going to always execute, but to see their heart in fighting back and got us back into the ballgame, that is the thing I enjoy most. A lot of teams would have quit and a lot of teams would have given up when you're down 31-13, but those guys fought back. We have been dethroned, but the way we fought back tonight, these guys have the heart of champions."
 
The Tigers (6-5 overall, 4-3 SWAC) went three-and-out on their first offensive possession. On the ensuing punt, Garrett Urban's kick was blocked by Kordell Caldwell and recovered in the endzone to give the Jaguars a quick 7-0 lead with 13:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Grambling State was forced to punt on its next possession as Southern marched down the field. The Jaguars' drive ended when Joseph McWilliams blocked a 42-yard Martell Fontenot field goal attempt to keep the Southern advantage at 7-0.
 
The Tigers were backed up to their 5-yard line to start their third offensive series. Grambling State marched 95 yards in 10 plays as Geremy Hickbottom scrambled out of the pocket and found Darrell Clark in the back of the endzone for a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7 with 48 seconds left in the first.
 
Southern (7-3, 6-1) broke the 7-all tie after a Grambling State punt as Cesar Barajas booted a 47-yard field goal to give Southern a 10-7 advantage with 8:48 left in the first half.
 
Grambling State was forced to punt on its next possession and Southern got the ball at the Tigers 43. Seven plays later, Ladarius Skelton connected with Trey Smith for a 23-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars a 17-7 lead with 2:47 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Tigers responded on their next possession as Garrett Urban hit a career-long 44-yard field goal right before halftime as Southern took a 17-10 lead into the break.
 
The Jaguars got the ball to start the second half and drove to the Tiger 7, but Skelton fumbled on first down and the ball was picked up by La'Allan Clark, who raced 84 yards to set up first down inside the 10. Despite the great field position, the Tigers had to settle for a 21-yard Urban field goal to cut the margin to 17-13 with 10:27 remaining in the third.
 
Southern answered and on third-and-23 from its own 20, Skelton connected with Kendall Catalon for an 80-yard touchdown pass to five the Jaguars a 24-13 advantage with 8:30 left in the quarter.
 
The Jaguars took advantage of a turnover on downs and marched 65 yards in four plays as Skelton connected with Randall Menard for a 44-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 31-13 with 3:22 remaining in the third.
 
Southern capitalized and marched 65 yards in four plays as Skelton connected with Randall Menard over the top to extend the lead to 31-13 with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Grambling State answered the Southern scoring drive and went 75 yards in 12 plays as Hickbottom scored on a 4-yard keeper. The two-point conversation pass from Hickbottom to Quintin Guice was successful as the Tigers trimmed the gap to 31-21, with 12:30 left.
 
On the very next offensive series, Skelton fumbled the football and the Tigers capitalized. Just four plays after the turnover, Hickbottom went into the endzone untouched to cut the Jaguar lead to 31-28 with 11:07 remaining.
 
The Jaguars put the game away on their next series with a seven play, 65-yard drive as Benn scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to push the margin to 38-28 with 7:51 left.
 
Turning Point
With the momentum swinging toward Grambling State early in the third quarter, it would be a long completion that would be the turning point.
 
The Tigers cut the deficit to 17-13 and the Jaguars got the ball on their next offensive possession at their own 33. On first down, Ladarius Skelton was sacked for seven yards by Donald Freeman. Devon Benn was tackled in the backfield by Johnkill Skipper on second down.
 
A penalty moved the ball back to the Jaguar 20. Set up for a third-and-23 from its own 20, Skelton found a streaking Kendall Catalon over the top for 80 yards to give Southern a 24-13 lead with 8:30 left in the quarter.
 
The Tigers on their next possession moved the ball into Southern territory and failed to convert on fourth down, turning the ball over on downs.
 
Southern capitalized and marched 65 yards in four plays as Skelton connected with Randall Menard over the top for a 44-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 31-13 with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Grambling State closed the 18-point gap to 31-28 with just under 11 minutes left, but could not overcome the big margin.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State registered 18 first downs and 307 total yards of offense
> Geremy Hickbottom led the team in rushing with 60 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns
> Geremy Hickbottom was 18-of-30 passing, with one interception and one touchdown
> Devohn Lindsey caught four passes for 37 yards
> Darrell Clark added two catches for 46 yards and one score
> Danquarian Fields led the defense with eight tackles
> Joseph McWilliams recorded six tackles, with five solo stops, and one blocked kick
> Southern tallied 18 first downs and 480 total yards of offense
> Devon Benn rushed for 167 yards on 19 carries, with one score
> Ladarius Skelton recorded 79 yards rushing on 17 carries
> Ladarius Skelton was 8-of-14 passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns
> Trey Smith caught two passes for 40 yards and one touchdown
> Kendall Catalon added one reception for 80 yards and one score
> Calvin Lunkins posted a team-high 15 tackles, with eight solo stops and 1.5 sacks to lead the Jaguar defense
 
News & Notes
> Saturday's game marked the 70th meeting in the series and 45th in the Bayou Classic
> Southern leads the all-time series, 36-33, and Grambling State leads the Bayou Classic, 23-22
> Saturday's announced attendance at the 45th Annual Bayou Classic was 67,871
> The attendance on Saturday was the highest attended HBCU game/classic this season
> Grambling State blocked a field goal attempt in the first quarter and it was the 12th blocked kick of the season
> The Tigers lead NCAA FCS in blocked kicks
> Grambling State wore all-black jerseys and fell to 7-3 during Broderick Fobbs era.
> Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs is 3-2 all-time against Southern
> The Bayou Classic was streamed and televised live on the NBC Sports Network
> Geremy Hickbottom was named the Grambling State MVP
> Southern advances to play Alcorn State in the 2018 SWAC Football Championship Game on Dec. 1 in Lorman, Miss.
 
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