GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team got back in the win column with a dominating 28-14 triumph over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon at Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
GSU (4-4 overall, 3-2 SWAC) used a punishing ground attack and opportunistic defense to batter the Wildcats. The Tigers gashed BCU (1-7, 0-5) for 168 yards rushing. GSU gave the Wildcats a heavy dose of the thunder and lightning backfield duo of
Chance Williams and Floyd Chalk.
Williams sprinted for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while Chalk bowled his way to 80 yards and one TD on nine carries.
GSU amassed 334 yards of total offense.
Grambling played perhaps its most complete defensive game of the year, limited BCU to just 177 yards of total offense and forcing three interceptions and one fumble. The TIgers also registered four sacks on the afternoon.
Sundiata Anderson led the defensive unit making 12 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six QB hurries.
Bethune-Cookman got on the board on its opening drive of the game. The Wildcats elected to go for it on 4th and 1 from their own 42-yard line. On a QB sneak, it looked as if GSU's defense made a stop, however, the play wasn't rule dead and play continued. After GSU defensive end
Sundiata Anderson stripped the ball loose, the ball popped up in the air and was caught by BCU's Tink Boyd who scampered 58 yards to the end zone.
After GSU was forced to punt on its first possession, BCU began at its own 17-yard line. An errant snap by the Wildcats sailed into the end zone and was recovered by Devonte Webster, tying the game 7-7 with 11:55 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Tigers made it 14-7 at the 6:20 mark of the first quarter following a 4-play, 57-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard run by Williams.
Williams broke loose for his second TD of the day with 10 seconds remaining in the first period, sprinting 61 yards.
Tanner Rinker converted the PAT, giving GSU a 21-7 advantage.
BCU pulled back within seven points when Omari Hill-Robinson picked up a fumble by Floyd Chalk and took it the other way for a TD with 10:25 to go until halftime.
Chalk atoned for giveaway with a 34-yard gallop into the end zone with 9:11 left in the fourth quarter, giving GSU a two-touchdown lead, 28-14.
GSU quarterback
Myles Crawley threw for 142 yards on 11-of-22 passing. His top target was freshman
Javon Robinson who made eight grabs for 73 yards.
Tylik Bethea got the start at QB for Bethune-Cookman, completing 8-of-24 passes for 70 yards and two INTs.
Up Next
Grambling State heads to Mobile, Ala. to take on SWAC opponent Alabama State in the Port City Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.