The Grambling State Tigers rolled to a 49-7 victory over Clark Atlanta in their season opener Saturday night at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers raced to a 28-0 half lead. After going scoreless in the third quarter, GSU added three touchdowns in the fourth.
There was much speculation in the preseason regarding who would start at quarterback for GSU. Ultimately, it was Southern Miss transfer Jacobe Robinson.
But Ashton Frye entered the game on the third possession and Florida A&M RJ Johnson came in on the fourth.
Johnson completed 15-of-17 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Robinson was 7-of-11 for 71 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
Frye was 2-of-5 for 26 yards. Hayden Benoit also saw action. He completed both of his attempts for 34 yards.
Jordan Bride led the team with seven catches for 72 yards. Tyson George had seven for 45 and a touchdown.
The Tigers also had a big night rushing with 223 yards. Nine players carried the ball. Andre Cres had a team-high 50 yards on six carries. D’Shaun Ford had 41 on six.
Grambling State limited the NCAA Division II Panthers to 224 yards (94 rushing, 130 passing).
Defensive back Jalen Guillard led the team with five total tackles. Linebackers Jamal Jordan and Kyran McConnell had four each.
It didn’t take long for GSU to get on the scoreboard. Tony Phillips Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
It took awhile for the offense to get going, though. The Tigers punted on their first three possessions.
GSU finally put together an 87-yard touchdown drive that started late in the first quarter and ended early in the second. Phillips went 20 yards up the middle for the score. Johnson completed a 38-yard pass to Kingston Jones on the drive.
The Tigers’ other two touchdowns in the second quarter came on an 21-yard pass from Johnson to George and a 7-yard pass from Robinson to Byron Eaton Jr.
Clyde McClendon Jr. scored on a 21-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Derrick Jones and Ford scored the final two touchdowns on runs of 4 and 2 yards, respectively.
Theodore Caballero was perfect on seven extra-point kicks.
Grambling State is at home again Saturday against Central State at 6 p.m. Central State fell to Kentucky State 41-14 in its opener.