Grambling looks to get off SWAC schneid against Alcorn this weekend

Courtesy of Brian Howard, Grambling State Athletics

GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team returns to action after a week off as the Tigers welcome Alcorn State to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff for High School Day against the Braves is set for 2 p.m.

Grambling State (1-6 overall, 0-4 SWAC) is still searching for its first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory after falling just short on Oct. 15 to Florida A&M. In fact, the Tigers had a chance to win the game at the end and on its final drive, but could not get into the end zone in suffering the home defeat.

Alcorn State (3-4, 2-2) enters the game off a 34-27 homecoming loss to Texas Southern. The tandem of Aaron Allen and Jarveon Howard accounted for 514 total yards, along with four scores. However, the Braves turned the ball over three times in the loss.

Saturday’s game will be streamed live ESPN+ as Butch Alsandor and Jorge Vargas will have the call. Grambling State will broadcast and stream the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard in Ruston and Dubach on the flagship station, The Peach (KPCH-99.3 FM), KNNW 103.1 FM in Columbia and Monroe and KEDG 106.9 FM in Alexandria and Pineville. The Tigers’ broadcast crew of Ossie Clark and Chyelle Flowers will call all of the action.

Grambling State head coach Hue Jackson said the Tigers are rested after a much-needed bye week after seven straight weeks, six of those on the road, and had the opportunity to get a good solid week in of practice.

“I thought we got a lot of good work done during the open week,” Jackson said. “We had some things we needed to clean up and our players and coaches had some time to really focus on that and try to get better as we gear up for this final stretch. We are looking forward to playing at home again against a really good Alcorn State football team, a team that is coming off a loss and we know Saturday will be a really good football game.”

ABOUT THE GAME 

• Grambling State and Alcorn State will be meeting for the 73^rdtime
• The Tigers have not lost at home to the Braves since a 21-14 defeat in 2006
• Both teams enter on losing streaks as GSU will be looking to snap a five-game skid, while the Braves have dropped their last two
• After opening the season with six straight road games, including a pair of neutral site contests, Grambling State will be playing in its second consecutive home game
• Nothing is set in stone in the SWAC West Division as GSU is still mathematically still alive for a chance at the conference title game… The Tigers would certainly need help along the way
• Alcorn State has gone through a brutal stretch, having lost its last two and has a trip to Prairie View A&M waiting on Nov. 4
• The Braves were predicted to finish second, behind Southern, in the West Division standings
• The Tigers were chosen to finish fourth in the SWAC West Division standings

GRAMBLING STATE NEWS & NOTES  

• The Tigers are coming off a 20-16 home loss to Florida A&M on Oct. 15
• GSU trailed 17-10 and closed the gap to 17-16, but could not get into the endzone on its final drive
• Donald Johnson IIIreturned a punt 80 yards for the score, the first time GSU had a punt return for a touchdown since 2018 when Malik Route went 79 yards against Alabama State
• Johnson was named the SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week and the FedEd Ground FCS National Player of the Week honorable mention as a specialist
• Garrett Urban has scored at least one point (field goal or extra point) in the last 15 games, dating back to the 2021 season
• The Tigers have played three quarterbacks this season – Quaterius Hawkins, Julian Calvezand Chance Amie
• Freshman Julian Calvezhas been tabbed the starter for this week’s game against the Braves and should make his second career start
• The Tigers are averaging 295.3 total yards and 22.0 points per game 

WHERE THEY RANK NATIONALLY

• The Tigers are tops in the FCS and SWAC in blocked punts allowed
• GSU ranks first in the conference in fumbles recovered and eighth nationally
• Grambling State is seventh nationally and third in the conference in defensive touchdowns
• Marquis Britten is first in the SWAC and sixth in the FCS in fumbles recovered
• Donald Johnson III ranks first in the conference and third nationally in punt returns for a touchdown

ALCORN STATE NEWS & NOTES 

• The Braves enter off back-to-back losses
• Alcorn State’s last win came on Oct. 8, a 30-7 victory against Mississippi Valley State
• Since that Oct. 8 win, the Braves have dropped games to Southern (21-17) and Texas Southern (34-27)
• ASU has two of its final three games (after Saturday’s tilt at Grambling State) at home
• The Braves visit Prairie View A&M on Nov. 4, before ending the regular season at home against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 12) and Jackson State (Nov 19)
• Aaron Allen paces the offense with 1,352 yards through the air, with eight touchdowns and six interceptions
• Jarveon Howard has 860 yards on 141 attempts, with nine scores
• The Braves are averaging 387.4 total yards and 24.1 points per game

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

• Grambling State must protect the quarterback
• GSU’s needs to win the turnover battle
• The Tigers must avoid committing a ton of penalties

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY 

• Grambling State leads the all-time series, 46-23-1
• The series dates back to 1952
• Grambling State owns the longest winning streak in the series at 11 games
• The Tigers won the inaugural matchup in 1952, 27-13
• Alcorn State won the 2021 contest in thrilling fashion, a 24-21 victory

WHAT FANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR

• The Gameday color for Grambling State fans is … wear PINK  

LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT’S NEXT 

• Grambling State wraps up the home campaign on Nov 5 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• The Tigers will not only celebrate Senior Day against UAPB, but it is also Homecoming
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff has won two straight in the series, with both victories coming in 2021 (spring and fall)
• The last GSU win over UAPB came in 2019, a 39-33 victory in Pine Bluff, Ark.
• Grambling State’s last home victory over the Golden Lions came in 2018, a thrilling 45-38 overtime win
• Tickets are on sale by visiting the GSU Ticket Office or Click Here