By: Candice Dixson, Sports Information Staff
Box Score ITTA BENA, Miss. I Charles Wright threw for two touchdowns to pace the Grambling State University football team, whose offensive and defensive players worked hand in hand as the G-Men remained in the winning column after defeating Mississippi Valley State University, 40-0, at Rice-Totten Stadium.
Grambling State (6-4 overall, 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) was able to tally a touchdown early in the first quarter after a 27-yard pass in the end zone from
Charles Wright to
Devante Davis was good. Following
Miguel Mendez's extra point kick, the score was 7-0.
Mississippi Valley (2-8, 1-5 SWAC) was unsuccessful in scoring in its first possession, and the ball belonged to Grambling State again.
In the Tigers' next drive, Grambling State was unable to get close enough to record a touchdown. Mendez was looked on to kick another field goal, but the 46-yard attempt was no good.
The Delta Devils received the ball again after Wright was sacked by Eric Powell. Overthrown and miscalculated passes prohibited Mississippi Valley from being able to add points to its column.
After a 25-yard catch in the end zone by
Dequarius Thomas from Wright, Grambling State held a 14-0 advantage over Mississippi Valley.
Mississippi Valley was left scoreless at halftime, but Grambling State was able to add more points after a 20-yard field goal kick by Mendez.
At halftime, Wright was 14-of-22 passes for 132 yards with two touchdowns,
Kevin Dominique led the Tigers in rushing with 72 yards and
Joseph McWilliams, Keilon Fontenot,
Damien Crumitie and
Donald Freeman combined for a total of 12 tackles, each tallying four a piece. Tadarius Davis paced Mississippi Valley in tackles with seven.
The Tigers were inches away from its third touchdown, but after an off-sides penalty was called by the officials, the G-Men were forced to move five yards back. While Grambling State was unable to record a touchdown in the drive, Mendez compensated for his team with a 23-yard field goal.
Geremy Hickbottom, who entered the second half of the game after being suspended the first half (Hickbottom was ejected from the second half of the Grambling State and Alcorn contest last week) ran for five yards to score the Tigers' next touchdown.
The Delta Devils opportunity to score was short lived after
Ryan Fields' interception returned the ball back over to the Tigers. With the possession, Grambling State added another touchdown to its side of the board after
Kevin Dominique ran for 23 yards. With 6:39 left in the game, the score was now 34-0.
With its final ball possession,
Keilon Elder's 34-yard run in the zone posted Grambling State's fifth touchdown. The Grambling State defense, consisting of heavy hitters McWilliams, Crumitie, Fontenot, Freeman, Fields and
Anfernee Mullins proved to be too much for Mississippi Valley's offense, leaving the Delta Devils scoreless.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State tallied 40 first downs
> GSU's rushing plays to yards ratio was 48:256
> Grambling State recorded 265 passing yards
> GSU's total offense was 521 yards off of 82 plays
> Charles Wright ended the SWAC contest with 132 passing yards with two touchdowns, while Geremy Hickbottom tallied 111 yards
> Joseph McWilliams and Anfernee Mullins recorded four tackles
> Mississippi Valley tallied nine first downs
> The Delta Devils' rushing plays to yards ratio was 28:96
> Mississippi Valley recorded 38 passing yards
> The Delta Devils' total offense was 132 yards off of 58 plays
> Tadarius Davis recorded 10 tackles
News and Notes
> Joseph McWilliams is ranked number one in the conference in interceptions
> DeAndre McCarthy sits at the #2 spot in the SWAC in tackles for loss
> Head coach Broderick Fobbs and Grambling State improves to 5-2 in conference play
> Broderick Fobbs and the Tigers are now 7-0 against Mississippi Valley
> Grambling State has not lost a game to Mississippi Valley since the 2012 season; 45-21 (October 13)
> At the last time out, the Tigers defeated the Delta Devils, 24-19 (Nov. 3, 2018)
Up Next
Grambling State will enter a bye week and then begin preparation for the 46th Annual Bayou Classic and the showdown with rival Southern. Kickoff for the annual rivalry gameat the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is set for 4 p.m. and will be televised and streamed on the NBC Sports Network.
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.
