Losing at Grambling a hard habit for Alabama A&M to break

By Paul J. Letlow, the Monroe Newsstar

GRAMBLING — Defending SWAC champion Alabama A&M has never won a game at Grambling State's Robinson Stadium.
Some habits are hard to break.

Grambling extended that drought Saturday night in the home opener at "The Rob" with a dominating 31-6 win over A&M.

The home win before 7,831 was a first for first-year coach Rod Broadway, now 2-1 at Grambling and 2-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. A&M fell to 3-1, 1-1.

Grambling's defense engulfed a potent A&M attack that entered the day averaging 45 points and 519 yards. A&M was limited 147 yards and two field goals (36 and 37 yards) from place-kicker Jeremy Licea in the first half.

Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers completed 22-of-32 attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns while senior receiver Reginald Jackson caught nine passes for 61 yards and a touchdown and ran three times for 30 yards and another score.

Landers used a short passing game early to move the chains and help his team build a 17-6 halftime lead. The Carroll product hit 13-of-16 attempts in the first two quarters, including an 18-yard touchdown to Clyde Edwards — the first score ever for Grambling's star receiver against A&M.

Grambling's other scoring drive finished with a diving touchdown plunge from freshman running back Cornelius "Sky" Walker, who leaped over the pile for to reach the end zone.

Grambling extended its lead to 24-6 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter on a trick play that netted a 24-yard touchdown run by Jackson. Landers faked a broken play and a fumble before handing off to Jackson, who darted around left end for a back-breaking touchdown.

Jackson caught a touchdown pass from Landers with 6:22 remaining to finish off his night.


GRAMBLING 31, ALABAMA A&M 6
AAM................. 3 3 0 0 - 6 Record: (3-1,1-1)
GSU................. 10 7 7 7 - 31 Record: (2-1,2-0)



Scoring Summary:
1st 10:33 GSU - EDWARDS,Clyde 18 yd pass from LANDERS,Brandon (MANUEL,Tim kick), 11-66 4:27, AAM 0 - GSU 7
07:37 AAM - LICEA,Jeremy 37 yd field goal, 4-8 1:08, AAM 3 - GSU 7
03:23 GSU - MANUEL,Tim 29 yd field goal, 10-50 4:00, AAM 3 - GSU 10
2nd 08:24 GSU - WALKER,Corneliu 2 yd run (MANUEL,Tim kick), 7-73 2:43, AAM 3 - GSU 17
00:06 AAM - LICEA,Jeremy 36 yd field goal, 11-60 4:25, AAM 6 - GSU 17
3rd 00:30 GSU - JACKSON,Reginal 26 yd run (MANUEL,Tim kick), 8-65 3:24, AAM 6 - GSU 24
4th 06:22 GSU - JACKSON,Reginal 7 yd pass from LANDERS,Brandon (MANUEL,Tim kick), 9-31 3:18, AAM 6 - GSU 31



AAM GSU
FIRST DOWNS................... 7 22
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 23-30 43-143
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 117 235
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 26-14-0 32-22-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 49-147 75-378
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 3-31 2-28
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 6-122 2-46
Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 0-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 9-43.1 5-43.8
Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards............... 7-55 1-5
Possession Time............... 25:11 34:49
Third-Down Conversions........ 4 of 15 9 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 0 1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 2-2 4-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-9 3-19


RUSHING: AAM-BANKS,Ulysses 12-37; GREEN,Anthony 3-1; LUKE,Kelcy 8-minus
8. GSU-WARREN,Frank 19-65; JACKSON,Reginal 3-30; EDWARDS,Clyde 4-27;
WALKER,Corneliu 12-25; KERLEGAN,Larry 1-7; LANDERS,Brandon 4-minus 11.

PASSING: AAM-LUKE,Kelcy 14-26-0-117. GSU-LANDERS,Brandon 22-32-0-235.

RECEIVING: AAM-SMITH,John 3-40; MOODY,Charles 3-24; HARRIS,Thomas 3-20;
BANKS,Ulysses 2-20; McCLAIN,Bobby 1-13; STOCKDALE,Geral 1-2; JOHNSON,Rashad
1-minus 2. GSU-JACKSON,Reginal 9-61; EDWARDS,Clyde 5-51; HILLS,Kovarus 4-83;
ABNEY,Tim 3-16; WALKER,Corneliu 1-24.

INTERCEPTIONS: AAM-None. GSU-None.

FUMBLES: AAM-BANKS,Ulysses 1-1. GSU-ABNEY,Tim 1-1.