title image via Marcus Plummer
Courtesy of Curtis Ford, Associate AD for Athletic Communications
21
GSU
24
Winner BCU
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSU | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| BCU | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
For the fourth time this season, the Grambling State University football team found itself on the wrong side of game that came down to the wire. GSU fell 24-21 to Bethune-Cookman at Daytona Stadium on Saturday.
Grambling State fell to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the SWAC, while BCU improved to 2-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
All four of GSU’s SWAC losses have been by seven points or less, wity three of those losses being by three points or less.
GSU starting quarterback Deljay Bailey was 18-of-33 for 206 with two interceptions.
Keilon Elder led GSU’s rushing attack, churning out 50 yards and touchdown on eight carries. As a team, the Tigers ran for 122 yards.
Sophomore receiver Javon Robinson had a big day for Grambling State, catching seven passes for 91 yards and returning a punt for a 72-yard touchdown.
Andrew Jones tallied 11.0 total tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss.
On Bethune-Cookman’s opening drive of the game, the Grambling State defense showed why it’s one of the best in the nation at forcing turnover when Joel Williams picked off BCU’s Luke Sprague at the GSU 17-yard line.
On Grambling State’s second possession of the day, the Tigers drove 89 yards in eight plays for the first score of the day. Robinson’s 39-yard reception to the
BCU 25-yard line set GSU up on the edge of the red zone. Two plays later, Keilon Elderscampered 22 yards for a touchdown, giving Grambling a 7-0 lead with 2:27 left in the first quarter.
GSU extended its advantage to 14-0 with five minutes remaining until halftime on a 72-yard yard punt return by Robinson.
Bethune-Cookman made a 14-7 game just before the break when backup QB Cam Ransom found Thomas Nance for a 14-yard touchdown with 51 second on the clock.
Grambling State pushed its lead to 21-7 when Deljay Bailey took a quarterback keeper into the end zone for a 9-yard TD with 12:15 left in the third quarter.
BCU snatched momentum scoring 17 unanswered points in the third quarter. Cade Hetcher nailed a 40-yard field goal to make it 21-10 with 7:05 on the clock. That scored was followed by a 58-yard touchdown reception by Darnell Deas cutting GSU’s lead to 21-17. Dennis Palmer added a 42-yard touchdown gallop, giving the Wildcats a 24-21 lead 10 seconds to go in the period.
After forcing a punt with 11:22 to go in the fourth, Grambling State took over at its own 5-yard line. The Tigers inched the ball downfield, using 15 plays to reach the Wildcats’ 39-yard line. However, with GSU facing a 4thand 13, BCU’s Caleb Blake picked off Bailey to give the Wildcats the ball at their own 32-yard line.
Bethune-Cookman worked the GSU 21-yard line. The Wildcats ended up attempting a 37-yard field goal, but Calvin Henderson blocked it, giving GSU one more opportunity on offense. However, the Tigers threw another interception to hand the Wildcats the win.
BCU’s Cam Ransom was nearly perfect on the day, completing 18-of-20 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Grambling State outgained Bethune-Cookman 328 to 315.
