DALLAS, Texas -- When Grambling State and Prairie View A&M met from 1987-2008, suspense went missing. Grambling State always won.
But as the programs prepare for Saturday’s annual State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl, it’s the Panthers who have won three of the last four meetings and are soaring after knocking off Stephen F. Austin last weekend, the program’s first win over a Southland Conference team since 1985.
Grambling is 0-5 after firing coach Doug Williams in the second week of the season.
“The biggest thing is it shows the commitment from the university side to give us the scholarships we need to go out and recruit,” said Prairie View coach Heishma Northern, who has been part of the rivalry as an assistant at Grambling and at Prairie View since the 1990s and is in his third season as head coach. “At one time, Grambling was fully funded, but Prairie View may have had walk-ons out there playing and only 20 guys on scholarship.
“Now the tide has pretty much evened out. You don’t know who’s going to win.”
Northern said few outside of the Panthers’ program expected Prairie View (3-2, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic) to top Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. Quarterback Jerry Lovelocke threw four touchdown passes and ran for three more scores in the 56-48 win. Stephen F. Austin rolled up ...
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