GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State (7-3 overall, 3-2 SWAC) looks to extend its winning streak to five when the Tigers travel to Lorman, Miss. to face Alcorn State (4-6, 3-3) in an important SWAC matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spinks-Casem Stadium and will be streamed live on SWAC TV.
GSU defeated Bethune-Cookman 31-23 last weekend to move into second place in the SWAC West Division and keep its hopes a division title alive.
Grambling State leads the all-time series with ASU, 47-26-3. GSU dropped last year's meeting to the Braves, 17-15 in Grambling, La.
In Grambling State's victory over BCU, the Tigers rolled up 415 yards of total offense, with 220 coming through the air and 197 coming via the ground game.
Freshman QB
Hayden Benoit completed 12-of-20 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start.
Linebacker
Marcellius Johnson led the defense with nine tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Alcorn State comes into this weekend's game following a 35-17 win over Southern. The Braves piled up 378 yards of total offense, including 259 on the ground, while holding the Jaguars to just 74 rushing yards.
Alcorn State features one of the top defenses in the SWAC, ranking second in rushing defense (130.0 ypg) and third in scoring defense (23.5 ppg).
CLOSE GAMES
· Grambling State and Alcorn State have played each other close in recent meetings
· Six of the past seven games between the two programs have been decided by eight poits or less. Four of the past five games been decided by four points or less.
FIRST WINNING SEASON SINCE 2019
· With Grambling State's win over Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers clinched their first winning season since 2019.
· GSU curretnly sits at 7-3, which is the most wins since going 11-2 in 2017.
BENIOT AND JOHNSON EARN SWAC WEEKLY HONORS
· Grambling State freshman quarterback
Hayden Benoit was named the SWAC Newcomer of the Week, while linebacker
Marcellius Johnson earned
SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
· Benoit completed 12-of-20 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start.
· Johnson led the defense with nine tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
LINZER'S STILL AT THE TOP
· GSU defensive back
Markel Linzer leads the SWAC in interceptions with four. He's also second in FCS in INTs.
SACK LEADERS
· Grambling State's defense leads the SWAC in sacks. The TIgers are also 12th in the nation.
· The G-Men have registered a league-high 29 sacks.
ROBINSON IS A DEFENSIVE MENACE
· Transfer defensive end
Warren Robinson continues to make an impact along the GSU defensive line.
· Robinson is tied for first in the SWAC in sacks with 7.5.
· The Houston, Texas native has 32 total tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss.
CREATING TURNOVERS
· GSU's defense has been great at forcing turnovers this season. The G-Men rank eighth in the country in takeaways with 18. Nine of those takeaways have come via interceptions
BRADFORD BECOMES THE FEATURED BACK
· Grambling State running back
Tre Bradford has been used heavily in the GSU running game lately.
· Bradford ranks eighth in the SWAC in rushing with 569 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries (5.6 ypg).
· He's run for over 100 yards in a game twice this season.
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