The Southern Jaguars stunned the Grambling State Tigers 28-27 Saturday in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Grambling State closed its season 7-5. Southern, which snapped a nine-game losing streak, finished 2-10. It was the first and only win for interim Head Coach Fred McNair.
After Southern took the 28-27 lead with 7:16 left in the game, Grambling State, which had come from behind five times in the fourth quarter this season, had two more chances.
McCormick missed a 54-yard field goal but a running into the kicker penalty gave the Tigers a first down. But on third-and-8 on the 30, McCormick missed from 43 yards with 2:18 left.
GSU forced a punt and the Tigers got the ball at its 37 with 1:58 to play.
The Tigers advanced to the 41. After a holding penalty negated a pass for a first down, Hayden Benoit completed a 25-yard pass to Barron Miles on third-and-20.
That gave GSU a first down at the Southern 35. But Andre Crews fumbled and after a hit by Demetrios Walker II behind the line and Ckelby Givens recovered it for the Jags at the 38 with 32 seconds left.
Southern then ran out the clock for the victory.
“What we did we tried to overcome all our adversity during the course of this year and we put together a good game plan to come in and focus on what we had to do on the course of the Bayou Classic,” McNair said. “My biggest thing to these young men was, don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. If you give up on this with something that you like very much you give up on life. And these guys hung in there and fought very hard with what they did.”
Grambling State led 24-14 going into the fourth quarter. Southern cut the lead to 24-21 with 13:38 left on a 9-yard run by Trey Holly.
The drive included a 51-yard pass from Cam’Ron McCoy to former Airline star Cam Jefferson.
The Tigers extended the lead to 27-21 on a 52-yard field goal by McCormick.
Southern then went 75 yards in four plays to take its first lead of the game. Barry Remo had runs of 35 and 12 yards. On second-and-16 from the 34, McCoy hit Khalil Harris over the middle. He caught it at the 11 and went untouched into the end zone.
Kenny Pham’s PAT gave the Jaguars the 28-27 lead.
GSU scored the only touchdown of the first quarter on a 9-yard pass from Benoit to Miles. That came one play after Benoit completed a 70-yard pass to Andrew Frazier.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-0 on a 28-yard pass from Benoit to Keith Jones Jr.
Holly got the Jaguars on the board on a 2-yard run, capping a 75-yard drive in nine plays.
McCormick kicked a 39-yard field goal and GSU led 17-7 at the half.
Southern got within three on a 51-yard run by Reno early in the third. Crews’ 3-yard touchdown run gave GSU the Tigers the 24-14 lead.
Benoit completed 16-of-32 passes for 221 yards and two TDs with one interception.
Crews led the Tigers on the ground with 47 yards on 18 carries.
Remo led Southern with 100 yards on seven carries. Holly had 61 on 18.’
McCoy attempted only 18 passes. He completed six 148 yards.
Jefferson had three catches for 66 yards.