GRAMBLING, La. – The Jackson State football team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I FCS football Saturday when the Tigers traveled to Robinson Stadium to take on the Grambling State Tigers. GSU defeated Jackson State 28-21.
On JSU’s final drive of the game Casey Therriault tried to rally the Tigers in a fourth quarter comeback. JSU took over on its own seven yard line with 2:54 remaining in regulation. Therriault immediately connected with B.J. Lee on a 52 yard strike down to the Grambling 41 yard line. He then connected with Marcellos Wilder for a three yard completions. On third and seven the penalty bug almost stalled the drive. JSU was hit with a false start penalty.
On third and 12 Therriault failed to connect with Alfred Moreland. On fourth and 12 the Tigers had another false start penalty. On fourth and 17 when all hope seemed lost for the Tigers, Therriault eluded two GSU defenders and hit E.J. Drewery for a 28 yard completion along the JSU sideline to keep the drive alive.
After two incomplete passes, Therriault again escaped the grasp of two defenders and scrambled for an eight yard gain to the GSU 12 yard line. With 11 seconds remaining in the game from the GSU 12 yard line, Therriault tried to connect with Anthony Mayes in the end zone, but the pass was broken up by Desmond Leonard and fell harmlessly to the turf. The G-Men took over and ran off the remaining six seconds on the clock.
“This was a good team that we played,” said JSU head coach Rick Comegy. “They played well, but we didn’t play as well as we could have. I am pleased with the way our team fought and the way we came back. We just couldn’t pull out the win.”
Grambling State put the first points on the scoreboard when Frank Warren capped a six play, 80 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run at the 8:04 mark in the first quarter. Zoltan Riazzo connected on the extra point kick.
JSU put up its first points of the game at the 3:31 mark in the first when Therriault capped an eight play, 63 yard drive with a one yard run to tie the game at 7-7. Jabril Smith made the point after kick.
Grambling opened the second quarter with a seven play, 59 yard drive to regain the lead. Walker scored on a two yard run to make the score 14-7 at the 14:55 mark. Riazzo made the extra point kick. For the rest of the first half the both offenses were ineffective and Grambling took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Jackson State opened the third quarter with a renewed sense of urgency and the Tigers tied the game on a 12 yard Therriault to Renty Rollins TD pass at the 7:33 mark in the third quarter. The score capped a 12 play, 91 yard drive. Jabril Smith converted the point after kick.
Four minutes later Warren put Grambling on top 21-14 on a 52 yard run. The GSU Tigers continued to pad its lead by opening the fourth quarter with a two play, 72 yard drive that culminated with a seven yard Warren TD run.
However, the JSU Tigers continued to fight and scored its final TD of the game. Therriault connected with Mayes for a 62 yard strike at the 5:53 mark to put the Tigers in scoring position at the five-yard line. On the next play Therriault scored on a QB keeper to cut the lead to 28-21. Smith made the point after kick.
Therriault finished the game with 346 passing yard, a TD and an INT. He completed 29 of his 51 attempts. He also led the Team with 38 rushing yards and two TDs. GSU’s Anthony Carrothers finished with 96 passing yards, connecting on six of 17 pass attempts. He also recorded 63 rushing yards.
However Frank Warren was the player that did all of the heavy lifting for the G-Men. He recorded 256 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts.
JSU’s Anthony Mayes led all receivers with seven catches for 104 yards. Renty Rollins followed with five catches for 44 yards and a TD and B.J. Lee hauled in four receptions for 87 yards. Kiare Thompson led Grambling with three receptions for 54 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball Kerry Hoskins was a standout for the Tigers, as he finished with a team high nine tackles (five solo) and a big interception that was returned for 30 yards. Tim Dandridge followed with seven tackles (six solo). Cliff Exama led GSU with nine tackles (five solo) and Desmond Leonard followed with seven (five solo)
The JSU Tigers will return to action Saturday, Sept. 25 to face the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in SWAC action.
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