By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
DALLAS — Grambling State is prepped and ready to take on Prairie View A&M in the 2023 State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
GSU leads the all-time series between the two teams 51-22-1. Since entering the State Fair Classic in 1985, the Tigers are 27-10 versus PVAMU.
Grambling State (2-2 overall, 1-0 SWAC) is searching for its first victory over Prairie View A&M (2-2, 2-0) since the 2017 season when the Tigers won 34-21. Last season, the Panthers came out victorious with a 34-14 win.
This season, Grambling State enters the game with confidence after beating Texas Southern 35-23 last Saturday in its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener. In the contest, GSU steamrolled the Texas Southern defense with a dominating rushing performance. GSU accumulated 282 yards on the ground, led primarily by Chance Williamswho rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
As an offense, Grambling State gained 477 yards, while holding TSU to 271.
GSU comes into Saturday’s game with one of the best offenses in the SWAC. The Tigers boast the SWAC’s best scoring offense (33.5 ppg) and the best total offense (397.5 ypg). Grambling State also has the second-best run offense in the conference, putting up 179.0 yards per game.
Defensively, Grambling State is starting to find its footing and hoping to prove that its championship caliber as it goes head-to-head with a strong PVAMU offense.
Prairie View A&M is coming off a thrilling 23-20 win at Alcorn State last weekend.
Prairie View A&M is fourth in the SWAC in total offense (372.3 ypg) but brings in the top rushing attack in the conference, average 181.5 yards per game.
GSU looks to test PVAMU’s defensive backfield as the Panthers are last in the SWAC in passing defense, giving up 323.5 yard per game. On the flip side, the Tiger defense hopes to slow down PVAMU running game, as GSU currently gives up 233.0 yards per game on the ground.
ABOUT THE GAME
- Grambling State meets Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic for the 37th time. While the game back to 1925, GSU entered the game in 1985, and has faced PVAMU in all but one State Fair Classic since.
- GSU looks to avenge last season’s 34-14 loss to PVAMU. Grambling State has lost five consecutive games to the Panthers.
- GSU leads the overall series with PVAMU 51-22-1 and is 27-10 versus the Panthers in the State Fair Classic.
- GSU was predicted to finish fourth in the SWAC preseason West Division poll.
- PVAMU was chosen to finish fifth in the SWAC West.
ABOUT GRAMBLING STATE
- Grambling State enters Saturday’s game after defeating Texas Southern 35-23
- The GSU offense dominated TSU on the ground, pounding the Tigers for 282 yards rushing. Chance Williams led the rushing effort, running for 174 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
- Myles Crawleyonce again had an efficient game at QB for GSU, completing 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Grambling State defense had its best performance of the season, holding the Texas Southern offense to 271 total yards.
- A victory on Saturday would give GSU its first 2-0 start in conference play since 2017. Grambling State went 7-0 and claimed the SWAC West Title during the season.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN
- Prairie View A&M enters with a 2-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the SWAC. PVAMU is fresh off a 23-20 win over Alcorn State.
- PVAMU used a game-winning FG as time expired to defeat the Braves. The Panthers rolled up 343 yards of offense.
- Trazon Connley went 12-of-19 passing for 192 yards for a touchdown and an interception.