Grambling Tigers to face tough test versus PVAMU Panthers

GRAMBLING, Louisiana| The Grambling State University football team will take on Prairie View A&M in the 95th State Fair Classic in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) match-up on Saturday. Kickoff from the historic Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas is set for 4 p.m.
 
The Tigers broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Nick Harrison and Leon Thomas will call all the action on Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game will broadcasted in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and Monroe (KJMG – 97.3 FM) and streamed online at www.gsutigers.com.
 
Grambling State (1-2 overall, 1-0 SWAC) will be looking for their second straight win of the season, and their 27th straight win against a conference opponent. The Tigers are coming into the game off a 34-0 win against Alabama State last weekend at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.  Grambling State scored on all three phases of the game, as the Tigers built a comfortable 21-0 first-quarter lead.
 
Prairie View A&M (2-3, 1-0) was in cruise control throughout last weekend as the Panthers rolled past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 62-13. Quarterback Jalen Morton accounted for 511 yards and six touchdowns in the victory.
 
"They're going to try to score a lot of points," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "They've been very dominant in their first five games with scoring points. We have to make sure we can match their intensity, but we also have to make sure we are effective in making things uncomfortable for their quarterback and also stopping their running game because they have a really good running game. We've been in big games before. A lot of our kids have been in big games before so they're used to the magnitude of the football game, and we're ready to play."
 
About the Game
> This will be the 70th meeting between the two teams
> Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs is looking to remain perfect in the State Fair Classic
> Prairie View A&M head coach Eric Dooley will be making his first appearance as a head coach in the annual game
> The winner of Saturday's game will likely have an inside track at the SWAC West Division title
 
Grambling State-Prairie View A&M Connections
> The series began in 1950 as Grambling State holds a 51-17-1 mark, including winning the last four meetings
> Saturday's game will mark the 70th meeting between the two teams
> Grambling State is looking to avoid a loss in the Cotton Bowl, which hasn't happened since 2013
> Tigers head coach Broderick Fobbs is 4-0 against Prairie View A&M, including last year's 34-21 win
> The most points scored by Grambling State was 77 (1991) and 54 by Prairie View A&M (2015)
> It is safe to say that the 2015 game was the highest scoring game in the series (134 points)
> This will be the first matchup between Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs and former Tigers assistant Eric Dooley
 
Last Time Out
> Grambling State scored 21 first-quarter points and did not look back in recording its first shutout (34-0) since 2016
> The Tigers scored on all three phases of the game (punt return, interception and offensive touchdown)
> Malik Route began the scoring with a career-long 79-yard punt return for a touchdown
> Aldon Clark rushed 11 yards for a score to extend the lead to 14-0 midway through the opening quarter
> De'Arius Christmas capped the scoring in the opening quarter with his first-career interception return – 66-yards - for a touchdown  
> The Tigers recorded five sacks in the victory
> Grambling State amassed 291 total yards of offense, with 16 first downs
> Aldon Clark led the team in passing, while Kevin Dominique paced the ground game with 82 yards on 10 carries
> Percy Cargo, returning from an injury, led the defense with eight tackles
 
Inside the Numbers
> Broderick Fobbs and his Grambling State teams have won 26 straight SWAC games
> Senior kicker Marc Orozco is just 34 points shy of becoming the all-time GSU leader by a kicker. Orozco recorded 10 points (four extra points and two field goals) in a 34-0 win over Alabama State
> Prairie View A&M is averaging 35.8 points and 486.6 yards per game
> Grambling State's defense is allowing 27.7 points per contest
 
In The Rankings
> Grambling State is unranked in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll and the FCS Coaches Poll
> The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the SBN Black College Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the BOXTOROW Coaches Poll
> Prairie View A&M is receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll
> The Panthers is ranked No. 4 in the SBN Black College Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the BOXTOROW Coaches Poll
 
Accolades 
> De'Arius Christmas was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week and SWAC College Sports Madness Defensive Player of the Week
> De'Arius Christmas was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy
> Malik Route earned the SWAC Specialist of the Week honor
> Prairie View A&M quarterback Jalen Morton was selected the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, SWAC College Sports Madness Offensive Player of the Week and STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week

Up Next
Grambling State returns to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 6. As Oklahoma Panhandle State comes to town. Kickoff against the Aggies is set for 6 p.m.
 
Home Games - Tickets Still Available
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale at the GSU Ticket office and fan are encouraged to visit www.gsutigers.com or call the ticket office to purchase tickets. For more information on purchasing season tickets, call (318) 274-2625 or (318) 274-2629.
 
In addition, if you have purchased a ticket for the Sept. 15 game, that ticket will be honored at the gate for the Oct. 6 home game against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.



By: Deja Harrison, Sports Information Staff
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION