GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and scored the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining, rallying past Alcorn State 63-59 in a wild Homecoming matchup Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with the victory, while Alcorn State fell to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.
Grambling State trailed 45-35 early in the fourth quarter after Alcorn State took control following halftime. The Braves scored 17 points in the third quarter and added an early fourth-quarter touchdown to turn a 35-28 deficit into a 45-35 advantage.
But the Tigers responded with 28 fourth-quarter points, including three touchdowns in the final 6:11, to complete one of their most dramatic comebacks of the season.
Ashton Frye started the fourth-quarter rally with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 13:10 mark, cutting Alcorn State's lead to 45-42.
The Braves answered with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jaylon Tolbert to Jamarr Ebron with 10:52 remaining, followed by Fredrick Robertson's 2-yard touchdown run 34 seconds later to give Alcorn State a 59-42 advantage.
Grambling State refused to go away.
Frye engineered a 68-yard scoring drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nae'Saan Dickerson with 6:11 remaining. The Tigers then pulled within 59-56 on D'Shaun Ford's 1-yard touchdown run with 3:20 left.
The Grambling State defense then delivered a critical play.
With Alcorn State attempting to run out the clock, Tolbert was pressured by Jon Horton and fumbled at the Alcorn 36-yard line. Horton forced the fumble, and Marcellius Johnson recovered for the Tigers at the Alcorn 25 with 4:31 remaining.
The takeaway gave Grambling State another opportunity, and the Tigers capitalized.
Frye moved the Tigers 25 yards on the ensuing possession, with Ford finishing the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon to cut the deficit to three points.
After Alcorn State punted with 2:19 remaining, Grambling State took over at its own 24-yard line with one final opportunity.
Frye immediately connected with Jordan Bride for a 51-yard completion to move the Tigers to the Alcorn 25. After a sack and a short rush left Grambling State facing third-and-20, Frye found Bride again for 24 yards to the Alcorn 11.
With the clock winding down, Frye found Tyson George in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining, completing the comeback and giving Grambling State its first lead since the third quarter.
George finished with six receptions for a season-high 96 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score. His other touchdowns came on a 54-yard reception and an 8-yard reception from Jacobe Robinson in the first half.
Frye completed 11 of 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson added 167 passing yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-17 passing.
Bride led the Tigers with seven receptions for 108 yards, while Byron Eaton Jr. added four catches for 97 yards. Jamarion Parker provided a spark on the ground with 98 rushing yards on six carries, including a 59-yard run.
Grambling State finished with 599 yards of total offense, including 370 passing yards and 229 rushing yards. The Tigers averaged 8.7 yards per play and converted 6 of 11 third-down opportunities.
Alcorn State finished with 566 total yards, led by Tolbert's 411 passing yards and five touchdowns. Damien Jones caught four passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Ebron had three receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Saturday's game also marked the first time GSU scored at least 60 points in game since 2018.
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