By Curtis Ford, Grambling State AD for Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING — Grambling State returns home to the friendly confines of Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium to face a longtime Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) rival, Jackson State, in a non-conference battle. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Saturday’s game will be the 70thmeeting between GSU and JSU. Grambling State currently leads the all-time series 47-23-1.
GSU enters the 2-1 overall and coming off a 35-28 overtime victory against Texas A&M-Commerce. JSU also comes into Saturday’s game 2-1 overall after defeating Southern 33-15 last weekend.
Fans can also listen to game live on KGRM 91.5 FM and KPCH 99.3 The Peach with Onaje Morris (Play-by-Play), Nathan McCarter (Analyst) and Ta’Mya Johnson (Sideline).
Game Preview
All-Time Series: GSU leads, 44-24-1
Last Meeting: L, 66-24 (Sept. 17, 2022 at Jackson, Miss.)
THE MATCH-UP
- Grambling State welcomes Jackson State to town for a non-conference tilt. Saturday’s game will be the 72nd meeting all-time between GSU and JSU with Grambling State owning a 43-27-1 lead. Both teams enter the game 2-1 on the season and are coming off victories last weekend.
OVERTIME TIGERS
- Grambling State defeated Texas A&M Commerce 35-28 in overtime on the road last Saturday. GSU’s defense forced six turnovers in the contest. GSU, who trailed 28-21 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, tied the game on a 27-yard TD reception by Nicholas Howard. a 1-yard TD by Tre Bradford followed by an interception by Patrick Marshall on TAMC’s first drive of OT, sealed the win for GSU.
OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSE
- Grambling State’s defense leads the nation in takeaways (10), interceptions (7) and is second in defensive touchdowns (2). GSU has forced an interception in each other the Tigers first three games of the season. A week after forcing Tuskegee into committing three turnovers, GSU garnered six against Texas A&M-Commerce. Brenden Barley led the Tigers with two INTs
THE OPPONENT
- Jackson State enters Saturday’s game fresh off a 33-15 win over Southern, the second of back-to-back wins at home. The Tigers used a balanced offensive attack while holding Southern to 29 yards rushing in the win. Through three games, Jackson State is averaging 35.0 points per game, while giving up just 17.3 per game and averaging 373.0 yards per game on offense. Meanwhile, defensively, the Tigers are allowing just 17.3 points per game and are allowing 286.0 yards per game of total offense.
LAST TIME vs. JSU
- The last time Grambling State and Jackson State met on the gridiron was on Sept. 17, 2022. JSU claimed a 66-24 victory.
LAST 5 Games vs. JSU
9/17/22 – JSU 66- 24
3/6/21 – JSU 33-28
10/5/19 – GSU 44-21
9/16/17 – GSU 36-21
9/17/16 – GSU 35-14
THE MYLES CRAWLEY EXPERIENCE
- Grambling State starting quarterback Myles Crawleywas selected as the preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also placed on the Walter Payton Watch List. Last season, the Redshirt-Senior from Lithonia, Ga. threw for 2,303 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 60.1 percent of his passes (197-of-328). He was the first Grambling State quarterback to throw for at least 2,000 yards in a season since Devante Kincaid in 2017 and the first GSU QB to throw at least 16 touchdowns since Geremy Hickbottom in 2018.
- So far in 2024, Crawley has thrown for 595 yards, 6 TDs and 3 INTs. He is completing 58.3% of his passes (49-of-84
SWAC WEEKLY AWARDS
- Andrew Jones was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. Jones, a redshirt junior from Marrero, La., had another double-digit tackle game, including the key fourth down stop that gave Grambling State the ball back for its game-tying drive in GSU’s 35-28 overtime win over Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Jones, who leads the SWAC in total tackles, made 13 tackles with seven solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss. With 3:41 left in the regulation against TAMUC, and the Lions facing a 4th and 2 at the GSU 26-yard line, Jones’ tackle short of the first down marker preserved the game for the Tigers, directly impacting GSU’s hopes for the come from behind win.
ROOKIE SENSATION
- Returning to the field for the G-Men in 2024 is sophomore wide receiver Javon Robinson. The Homestead, Fla. native was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year following a season that saw him make a name for himself on offense and special teams. Robinson made 30 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 44 rushing yards on 10 carries. On special teams, he had 10 kick returns for 190 yards and fielded seven punts for 53 yards.
- Robinson currently leads the GSU receiving corps with nine receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown. He also has four kick returns for 123 yards.
THE “BOOT” IS HOME
- Grambling State’s roster features 60 players from the state of Louisiana. This year’s team is also full of new faces with 68 new players wearing the black & gold this season.
LOOKING BACK AT 2023
- Grambling State finished the 2023 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in SWAC. The Tigers got off to a strong start in conference play, opening with a pair of victories over Texas Southern and eventual SWAC West Champion Prairie View A&M. The Tigers nearly clinched its first winning season since 2019, but a last second defensive stop by Southern in the Bayou Classic thwarted that opportunity.
- In 2023, GSU showed promise under signal caller Myles Crawley who had a stellar debut season for the Tigers.
SWAC PREDICTIONS
- Grambling State was picked to finish third in the SWAC Western Division in the preseason projections. Alcorn State was projected to come in first with Prairie View A&M tabbed for second. Behind GSU in was Southern in fourth place Arkansas-Pine-Bluff in fifth and Texas Southern in sixth.