Grambling Tigers ends first week of camp with two hour scrimmage

By GSU Sports Information

Senior Zaire Wilborn and the rest of the GSU defense opened the scrimmage with a strong effort.

Played under the lights of Robinson Stadium, the Grambling State University Tigers wrapped up their first two-a-day session with a two-hour scrimmage on Saturday night. While the scrimmage featured its fair share of highlights early on, it also stressed an area of concern for first-year head coach Rod Broadway.

“We’re not in very good shape,” said Broadway. “The first part of the scrimmage saw us flying to the ball, making plays and being very aggressive. Once we got tired it wasn’t the same football team out there. We still have a chance at being a good team but they have to take it upon themselves and get in shape.”

Outside of the Tigers not finishing the scrimmage with the same intensity they began with, Broadway noted that the defense set the tone early with a strong performance.

“I thought the defense dominated the first part of the scrimmage,” he said. “They played well early.”

The scrimmage began with the Tigers focusing on special teams. Senior kicker Tim Manuel connected on a 47-yard field goal early on to set the tone.

The defense opened their first series by forcing and a three-and-out and didn’t allow a first down until senior wideout Clyde Edwards caught a pass from Brandon Landers on the second series. The drive stalled but the second team offense began to move the ball and finished the scrimmage’s third drive with a 37-yard field goal by Manuel. From that point, the defense took over but the first team offense managed to find the end zone late in the scrimmage with a scoring drive that was capped off by a Landers’ touchdown pass.

Outside of the team’s overall condition throughout the scrimmage, Broadway found another area the Tigers will have to work on through the duration of camp.

“We have to get a little more competitive,” he said. “Our guys don’t know the effort it’s going to take in order to be good. They want to be good and for them to do that we have to do a better job of teaching them but it’s going to have to come from within first.”

The Tigers will attend worship services in the morning before returning to the field on Sunday evening for an evening practice session. The next round of two-a-days is set to begin Monday morning.