NEW ORLEANS–It was a turnover early and a turnover late that was the difference in Grambling defeating Southern in the Bayou Classic 30-21 in front of 66,500 people. Ja’Teri Pouncy intercepted Southern’s Austin Howard on the first play of the game and Devante Kincade converted the turnover into a touchdown seven plays later. Martez Carter later scored on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kincade early in the second quarter to put the Tigers up 14-0.
DID HE SCORE? pic.twitter.com/OO4xBU24V2
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) November 25, 2017
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Southern would get a touchdown on the board later in the quarter when the Jaguars put together a 12-play 67-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard run by Devon Benn. Grambling took a 17-7 halftime lead after a Marc Orozco 42-yard field goal.
The Jaguars would take the lead in the second half after exchanging scores. It began with an Austin Howard 20-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Catalon in the third quarter but Grambling answered with an Orozco field goal early in the fourth to make it 20-14 in favor of the Tigers. But with just over five minutes to go Howard put the Jaguars on top 21-20, finding Dillon Beard on an eight-yard touchdown.
Martez Carter who had left the game earlier with a rib injury returned to the field and punched in an 11-yard touchdown run to retake the lead at 27-21. The crowd was ready to see how Southern would respond in the final three minutes but a strip sack fumble by Brandon Varner knocked the ball away from Howard and that sealed the deal.
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MAMA THERE GOES @ThatManCarterIV ??? pic.twitter.com/tlDUJszejS
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) November 26, 2017
Another Orozco field goal padded the final score and gave Grambling its 25th consecutive SWAC victory. More importantly the G-Men now advance to the final SWAC Championship game to face Alcorn State, the winner of that game will face North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl.
THREE TIMES IN A ROW: @GSU_TIGERS outlasts @SouthernUsports 30-21 in a thriller. On to Houston to face @BRAVESSPORTS in @theswac title game pic.twitter.com/TulbHDIYlE
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) November 26, 2017
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