GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State piled up 644 yards of total offense in a 48-26 victory over Central State at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. GSU improved to 2-0 while CSU fell to 0-2.
Grambling State wasted no time establishing control. On the opening drive of the game, running back Jamarion Parker broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run just over two minutes into the contest, capping a five-play, 75-yard drive. The Tigers' defense forced a quick three-and-out, and Diego Alfaro connected on a 19-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.
Central State couldn't find any answers on either side of the ball in the opening frame, and Alfaro added a second field goal — this one from 24 yards — to push Grambling's advantage to 13-0 after one quarter.
The second quarter saw GSU's rushing attack take over. D'Shaun Ford punched in a short touchdown run to make it 20-0, and after Central State answered with a Kenyon Gardner field goal, Tony Phillips Jr. blew the game further open with a 75-yard touchdown scamper on just Tigers' second play of the possession, giving the Tigers a commanding 27-3 lead.
CSU's offense found some rhythm late in the half behind quarterback Jackson Wasik, who connected with Damon Griffin Jr. on a 12-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 27-10 heading into the locker room. Grambling's defense also got a boost when a blocked field goal attempt by Markeis Sykes kept points off the board for the Marauders earlier in the half.
GSU didn't let up after the break. A nine-play, 45-yard drive ended with Clyde Mcclendon Jr. punching it in from 2 yards out, extending the lead to 34-10 with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers' defense also came up with a pair of interceptions in the period — one each from Jaylen Burrell — to help control the game's tempo, and the TIgers carried a commanding 24-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Central State made things interesting in the final period. Wasik scored on a 15-yard touchdown run and connected with Avantae Burt on a two-point conversion pass to make it 34-18, and after Byron Eaton Jr. answered right back with a 58-yard touchdown burst for Grambling, Wasik found Burt again — this time for a 29-yard touchdown reception — to pull the Marauders within 41-26 with just over four minutes to play.
But Grambling State's offense closed the door for good. The Tigers put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by Hayden Benoit's 1-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left, sealing the 48-26 final.
Grambling's ground game was the story of the night, piling up 361 rushing yards on 40 carries (9.0 yards per carry) with six rushing touchdowns. Five different Tigers scored on the ground: Phillips Jr., Parker, Eaton Jr., Ford, Benoit and Mcclendon Jr.
Quarterback Reginald Johnson led the Grambling passing attack, completing 18 of 23 attempts for 258 yards, spreading the ball to eight different receivers. Tyson George (5 catches, 93 yards) and Jordan Bride (3 catches, 70 yards) paced the receiving corps.
Defensively, Grambling racked up two sacks, six tackles for loss and forced two interceptions — both hauled in by Jaylen Burrell — while also blocking a field goal. Marcellius Johnson and Lonell Cunningham each finished with 7 total tackles to lead the unit.
Grambling State also won the field-position and time-of-possession battles, holding the ball for 33:11 compared to Central State's 26:49, and converting 9 of 12 third-down opportunities compared to the Marauders' 7 of 14.
Up Next
Grambling State gears up to travel to Ft. Worth, Texas to take on FBS and Big 12 opponent TCU on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Th egame will be streamed on ESPN+.
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