GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Geremy Hickbottom threw for a career-high 297 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as the Grambling State University football team rolled past Oklahoma Panhandle State, 62-7, on Saturday night in a non-conference game at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
"It was good to execute to a certain extent," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "There were a couple plays that didn't look good here or there, but for the most part guys were in the right place. We made plays and caught the ball. There were times where we ran the ball extremely well as well. There's still some work we need to do in order to be the type of team we want to be. We're pleased to get this win and get us some confidence."
Grambling State (2-3), which rebounded from last weekend's loss to Prairie View A&M, scored on its opening possession as the Tigers marched 55 yards in four plays and used just 1:02 off the clock. Hickbottom scrambled 14 yards into the endzone to give Grambling State a 7-0 lead with 13:58 left in the opening quarter.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-0 as Johntavious Robinson scored on a 22-yard run with 4:23 remaining in the first quarter.
Devohn Lindsey caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hickbottom, which capped a four-play, 60-yard drive to push the margin to 21-0 with 14:53 left in the first half.
On Grambling State's next offensive possession, Hickbottom scored on a 2-yard keeper to extend the margin to 27-0 with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter.
Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-4) cut the deficit to 27-7 as Cole Mercer caught a 9-yard pass from Martez Vrana, but the Tigers put the game away with two scores right before the half.
Hickbottom connected with Quintin Guice for a 46-yard touchdown and with Lyndemian Brooks for a 60-yard score as the Tigers built a 41-7 halftime lead.
Hickbottom completed the night with a 20-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter and Brooks scored on a 21-yard run with 13:46 remaining to extend the margin to 55-7.
Cecil Cherry capped the big night with a 37-yard interception return to close the scoring and give Grambling State a 62-7 victory.
Turning Point
Grambling State led from start to finish and rebounded from last weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) loss to Prairie View A&M.
Geremy Hickbottom started at quarterback and played the first three quarters as he accounted for 36 points (three rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns).
He connected with 11 different receivers and finished the night with a career-high 297 yards on 16-of-24 passing.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State recorded 22 first downs
> The Tigers finished the night with its best offensive output of the season – 550 total yards, including 311 through the air
> Geremy Hickbottom passed the aerial attack by going 16-of-24 passing for a career-high 297 yards and three touchdowns
> Geremy Hickbottom led the ground game with six carries for 71 yards and three scores
> Johntavious Robinson added four carries for 54 yards and one touchdown
> Lyndemian Brooks caught three passes for 71 yards and one score
> Calief Samon finished with 46 yards on three receptions
> Quintin Guice caught two passes for 57 yards and scored on a 46-yard touchdown
> DeAndre McCarthy and Malcolm Williams led the way defensively with five tackles
> Oklahoma Panhandle State finished with 13 first downs and 197 total yards of offense
> Carlos Ransburgh recorded 37 yards on eight carries
> Martez Vrana went 17-of-28 passing for 131 yards, with one touchdown and one interception
> Nick West caught four passes for 50 yards
> Jawan Purifoy led the team with six tackles
News & Notes
> Saturday was Business and Industry Day at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium
> There was a 45-minute lightning delay prior to the start of Saturday's game
> Over the past three seasons, Grambling State has outscored its opponents in non-Division I games, 165-39
> Grambling State improved to 3-0 during the Broderick Fobbs era when wearing gold jerseys with black pants
> Saturday's contest marked the first time Grambling State and Oklahoma Panhandle State had met
> Geremy Hickbottom started at quarterback as the Tigers used three quarterbacks during the game (Aldon Clark and Charles Wright)
> With the win, Grambling State improved its home win streak to 14 games
Up Next
Grambling State returns to SWAC action next Saturday as the Tigers visit BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas to square off with Texas Southern. Kickoff against TSU is set for 6 p.m.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
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GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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