DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Led by the Lantavious Murphy's three touchdowns, Grambling State piled up 400 yards of offense and were able to hold off a late surge from the Bethune-Cookman to win 32-21 at Daytona Stadium.
The win is the Tigers' first at Daytona Stadium, while the Wildcats have now dropped three in a row after a 3-1 start to SWAC play.
Neither team could get much of anything going offensively early in the game.
Grambling State (5-5, 3-4) drove the ball 52 yards on its first drive deep into Wildcat territory, but were forced to settle for a Theodore Caballero field goal attempt.
After that, the next 11 straight drives netted zero points for either side. Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 3-4) fumbled on the first play of its opening drive and later turned it over on downs inside GSU territory.
The Tigers had a chance to get back on the board later in the second on a 4th and goal from the B-CU 2, but the ball was fumbled on a mishandled snap and it was recovered by Naim Lassiter.
Grambling State finally resumed the scoring with a touchdown drive just before halftime. Quarterback Jacobe Robinson found his receiver Lantavious Murphy on two-straight plays, including a short pass that he took to the house for a 63-yard score, pushing the lead to 10-0.
B-CU saw a momentum shift just after halftime, putting together its best drive of the day. The Wildcats drove 75 yards down the field in nine plays, capped off by a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Deanwar Johnson, to cut the deficit to 10-7.
The Tigers would immediately respond. Robinson converted on another big pass play, this time on a deep pass to Tyrone Wilson, to go up 17-7.
After a holding on the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcats were forced to start their next drive from their own ten. And after failing to advance the ball on first and second down, Cordan Patterson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving the Tigers a safety.
Robinson would then throw his third touchdown pass of the night. After a 54-yard return by Jordan Bride, Robinson found Murphy once again on 3rd and 13, increasing the Tigers lead to 26-7.
The Wildcats continued to move the ball well offensively though as a 48-yard pass from Patterson to Jabari Harris set up a 12-yard touchdown for Kenneth Morgan III, making it 26-14.
Both teams would score touchdowns on the first two drives of the fourth quarter. Murphy caught his third of the day from eight yards out, while Michael Walker earned a 15-yard score to make it 32-21.
Grambling was then able to successfully chew six minutes off the clock on a long drive, which thwarted any chance of a B-CU comeback.
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- Cordan Patterson completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start. It was the first 200-yard performance for a B-CU passer this season.
- Patterson also led the team in rushing with 56 yards on 17 carries.
- Lantavious Murphy finished with six catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers.
- Grambling narrowly out-gained the Wildcats 400 to 350.
- In his final home game, Stephen Sparrow Jr. collected a team-high 12 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
- Jaden Davis managed four pass breakups and an interception, his fifth of the year.
B-CU closes out the regular season at the Florida Blue Florida Classic, which is set for next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. from Camping World Stadium.
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