GRAMBLING, La | The Grambling State University football earned a gritty 13-10 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. 
 
GSU improved to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the SWAC, while AAMU dropped to 4-5 and 1-4 in conference. The win also secured GSU's first season in which the Tigers will finish at .500 or better since 2019. 
 
The victory was bolstered by stifling defense and big fourth quarter punt return.
 
GSU's defense held AAMU to just 175 yards of total offense while racking up a season-high eight sacks and forcing three turnovers. Defensive end Bryce Cage and Linebacker Jamal Jordan led the defensive effort with six total tackles each. 
 
Both players registered a sack apiece. 
 
Jalen Guillard and Blake Davis both made interceptions for the Tigers. 
 
Offensively, the Tigers battled through adversity in the absence of starting quarterback C'zavian Teasett and backup Ashton Frye. Grambling State relied on true freshmen A'Myne Darensbourg and Hayden Beniot to lead the effort under center. 
 
Darensbourg exited the game in the first quarter with an injury after completing 2-of-3 passes and rushing for nine yards on two carries. Benoit was 9-of-13 for 91 yards.
Andre Crews led the Tigers' running game, rushing 15 times for 38 yards.
AAMU's David Faulk kicked a 27-yard field goal 10:02 on the clock. The Bulldogs made it 10-0 on a 43-yard TD reception by Donovan Payne with 3:59 left in the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter, with 10:38 to go until halftime, Guillard picked off an Alabama A&M pass at the Tigers 38-yard line, returning it to the AAMU 42-yard line. Grambling State converted that turnover into points when Josh McCormick drilled a 38-yard FG and trimming the deficit to 10-3 with 6:12 left in the half. 
 
McCormick made it a 10-6 game after hitting a 30-yard field goal just before halftime. 
 
Midway through the third quarter, a muffed punt by the Bulldogs was recovered by the Tigers at the AAMU 23-yard line. Alabama A&M forced a 35-yard field goal attempt that was blocked.
 
Grambling State took the lead with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter when Delano Franklin returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown, putting the Tigers in front 13-10. 
 
After GSU's defense forced a punt on AAMU's ensuing drive, the Tigers nearly fumble the game away when Frankling muffed the kick. However, kick catch interference called on the Bulldogs kept the ball in Grambling's possession. The Tigers picked up two first downs, draining the clock and preserving the win. 
 
Alabama A&M quarterback JD Davis II went 12 of 18 passing for 123 yards, with two interceptions and one score.
 
Ryan Morrow led the Bulldog's ground game with 41 yards on 11 carries. 
 
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