GRAMBLING, La. - In search of their first Southwestern Athletic Conference win, as well as their first road win of 2023, the Wildcats head to Grambling to take on the Tigers in their final road contest of the season, Saturday, Oct. 28 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

The Wildcats have enjoyed success against Hue Jackson's Tigers in recent years, taking down Grambling State in consecutive years since joining the SWAC - 31-14 in 2021 and 36-19 in 2022. 



Saturday, Oct. 28
Opponent:  Grambling State (3-4, 2-2 SWAC)
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Grambling, La.
Live Stats: https://gsutigers.com/sports/football/schedule
Watch: https://hbcugo.tv/
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork



Southern University accumulated 338 yards of total offense last Saturday afternoon as the visiting Jaguars earned a 28-18 win over Bethune-Cookman in a SWAC matchup inside EverBank Stadium.
 
Leading 14-10 at the half, Southern scored 14 unanswered in the second half to widen its lead.
 
A five-play, 66-yard drive was capped by a 57-yard touchdown reception by August Pitre off the end of a Harold Blood pass across the middle that saw the Jaguars grab a 21-10 lead following the extra point from Joshua Griffin with 5:51 showing in the third quarter.
 
George Qualls came through untouched on a Bethune-Cookman punt attempt by the Wildcats' Anthony Frederique to block the kick and scoop up the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.
 
Southern led 28-10 with 9:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Bethune-Cookman used reserve quarterback Tylik Bethea on the final drive of the game, with a nine-play, 65-yard drive resulting in a score. Bethea went 5-for-6 on the drive as the former Delaware State signal-caller connected with Jaylin Terzado for nine yards in the corner of the end zone on a diving catch. That was followed by a two-point conversion from Bethea to Daveno Ellington, bringing the Maroon and Gold to within 28-18.
 
BCU jumped on top in the first quarter when starting quarterback Luke Sprague delivered a deep pass to Omari Stewart down the middle for 43 yards to put the Wildcats up 7-0.
 
The Jaguars knotted the game at 7-7 in the second quarter off the strength of several strong runs from Southern's Kendric Rhymes from the running back position. The drive culminated with Blood rushing up the middle for the score. After a Sprague interception was collected by Southern's Kriston Davis at the BCU 38 yard line, the Jaguars stepped ahead in the game with a 23-yard drive up the middle for the touchdown.
 
Griffin's extra point was converted to put Southern up 14-7.
 
BCU's Cade Hechter connected on a 37-yard field goal at the end of the opening half to make it 14-10 at the break.
 
Southern's Rhymes led all rushers with 128 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Blood finished 10 of 20 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Johnson had nine tackles and a breakup to lead the defense of the Jaguars.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led on the day by Sprague with 159 yards passing on 19 of 31 and one touchdown. Bethea added a touchdown through the air, while Dacarri Allen-Johnson had seven catches for 57 yards. The defense was sparked by Dearis Thomas with a game-high 13 tackles, including one for loss.



Grambling State is 3-4 overall this season and 2-2 in SWAC play. After opening SWAC play wint wins over Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M, the Tigers have dropped back-to-back games at Alcorn State and against Alabama A&M. The Tigers enter this weekend.

The Tigers average the second most points in the SWAC at 31 per game. They have scored 28 touchdowns, second only to AAMU. 

The Tigers rushing attack is led by running back Chance Williams, who ranks third in the SWAC at 72 yards per game, 5.9 yards per carry, and four rushing touchdowns. 

Quarterback Myles Crawley has been one of the top signal-callers in the conference, completing 129 of 218 passes for 1593 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. His top receiver, Antonio Jones, is second in the SWAC with 69.9 yards per game with a touchdown. 

Defensively, the Tigers rank near the botttom of the conference, allowing over 34 points per game. Corner Cedric Anderson has a pair of interceptions and five pass break-ups this season. 




REALLY? ANOTHER TIGER?
Saturday's contest marks the fifth of the season in which the Wildcats will take on an opponent with a Tiger mascot. The Wildcats are 1-3 in games against Memphis, Savannah State, Jackson State, and Texas Southern. It marks the 10th Tiger the Wildcats have faced since joining the SWAC - Nearly 1/3 of the 31 total contests facing B-CU in the past three years. 

WE DON'T DO SHUTOUTS
Bethune-Cookman has not been shutout in a span of 37 games, stretching back to a 63-0 setback at Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member Miami (Fla.).

HISTORIC DISCIPLINE
Through seven games, the Wild-cats average only 36.14 penalty yards per game, the best in the SWAC, the seventh-best in all of FCS football, and less than half the penalty yard average from the 2022 season.

With four games remaining, the Wildcats are on pace to shatter the recorded program record in fewest penalties/penalty yards this season. With 32 penalties for an average of 36.14 penalty yards per game through seven games, the Wildcats are on pace to finish the season with just over 50 as a team. The next closest number in record-ed B-CU history is 64 penalties for an average of 53.5 penalty yards per game (in 10 games), set back in 1988 under head coach Larry Little.

SO CLOSE
The Wildcats have lost 24 games since joining the SWAC ahead of the 2021 season. Of those losses, 12 of them have been decided by 10 points or less. Four of six B-CU losses this season have come un-der 10 points.

SWITCH TO YOUR SECONDARY
Four of the top eight Wildcats in total tackles this season play in the secondary. (Stephen Sparrow, Omari Hill-Robinson, Ja'Bari Jaudon, Kiwon Harris)

DEARIS KNOWS DEFENSE
Linebacker Dearis Thomas ranks 21st in all of FCS football in solo tackles (38) and 24th in total tackles (67). He has one shy of double the tackles of the next closes Wildcat - Shelton Quarles. 



Saturday marks the 17th meeting all-time between Grambling State and B-CU. The Tigers hold a 11-5 advantage in the series, but B-CU has won four straight, included contests in back-to-back years since joining the SWAC. 


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