Grambling State Tigers rallies to beat Jackson State, 26-23

Jackson, Mississippi -- Grambling State pulled off a late comeback and last-second defensive stand to take a 26-23 win over Jackson State in Jackson on Saturday.

Sophomore running back Dawrence Roberts scampered to paydirt from 10 yards out against a stacked Jackson State defensive line with 1:24 remaining to put Grambling up by three points. But the game was far from over with high-powered quarterback Casey Therriault behind center for JSU.

Therriault moved the home-standing JSU Tigers within scoring position in the final minute. Jackson State opted to go for the win as opposed to a field goal and overtime, but Theriault's pass to the corner of the end zone as time expired was overthrown.

"The most important thing is the way you finish and that's something we've done a good job of the past four weeks," a Gatorade-soaked GSU coach Doug Williams said. "The Grambling-Jackson State rivalry has always been big and a big part of (Southwestern Athletic Conference) football, and with (JSU) celebrating its football centennial, we knew this was going to be a big one."

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Special teams play leaves J-State kicking itself

The words rolled off of Jackson State coach Rick Comegy's lips with the most disgusting tone. "Putrid," he said, referring to the Tigers' special teams play during Saturday's 26-23 loss to Grambling.

 JSU allowed a whopping 213 yards on six kickoff returns, muffed a third punt return this season and missed a late field goal. Grambling's average field position after a JSU kickoff? The 44-yard line.

The G-men returned the first kickoff to the JSU 20-yard line, a 56-yard return that eventually led to a field goal.

Part of the kickoff troubles can be blamed on injury. Kris Selita, the team's normal kickoff specialist and punter, didn't play because of an injury to his plant leg.

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Grambling loss knocks JSU from black college title picture

Time has expired on Jackson State's bid for a black college national championship.

The Tigers tossed away a chance at a game-tying field goal Saturday, deciding not to use a timeout and allowing time to run out during a last-second throw to the end zone in a 26-23 loss to pesky conference rival Grambling.

This, a fourth straight defeat to Grambling (5-4), might burn the most.

Jackson State (7-2) entered as the No. 1 black college team in the country, three wins away from winning a mythical black college national title.

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