Courtesy of Reports
A fourth-quarter collapse and an ugly postgame altercation made for a disappointing Saturday afternoon for Grambling State at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff erased a four-point deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 76-yard punt return, to rally past the Tigers 35-32 in Southwestern Athletic Conference action.
The loss dropped Grambling State to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in SWAC play, while UAPB improved to 6-3 and 4-2.
The game was followed by an on-field brawl involving players from both teams. It marked the second such incident involving Grambling in two years after the Tigers were involved in an altercation coming out of halftime against Bethune-Cookman last season.
Before the postgame press conference began, it was announced that Tigers head coach Mickey Joseph would not answer any questions regarding the melee. The SWAC is expected to announce possible disciplinary actions against players from both teams in the coming days.
For Grambling, it was a frustrating loss after the Tigers overcame an 11-point first-half deficit, scoring 15 unanswered points to take a 25-21 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Golden Lions responded with two touchdowns in less than three minutes to regain control.
Trailing 25-21, UAPB marched 95 yards on eight plays, with Jaylen Jennings scoring on a 3-yard run with 8:16 remaining to give the Golden Lions a 28-25 lead.
After Grambling failed to move the football on its ensuing possession, UAPB’s DaeDae Allen returned an Alexander Davis punt 76 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 35-25 with 5:57 remaining.
Grambling answered immediately when quarterback Jacobe Robinson connected with Byron Eaton Jr. on a 78-yard touchdown pass, trimming the deficit to 35-32 with 5:41 remaining.
But the Tigers never got another meaningful opportunity.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff drained 5:38 off the clock on a 10-play possession, converting a crucial fourth down to maintain possession.
Grambling regained the football at its own 32-yard line with three seconds remaining, but its desperation final play ended in a fumble as time expired. The Tigers finished with a 408-406 advantage in total offense and controlled the football for more than 34 minutes.
However, Grambling struggled to finish drives, settling for four Theodore Caballero field goals, including three on possessions that reached the UAPB red zone. The Golden Lions scored touchdowns on all three of their red-zone opportunities.
Running back Jamarion Parker led Grambling with 116 yards rushing on 14 carries, including a 45-yard run in the opening quarter.
Robinson completed 15 of 23 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, while Ashton Frye added 30 yards on 6-of-12 passing. Eaton caught three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Nae’Saan Dickerson added five receptions for 63 yards. D’Shaun Ford rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown.
UAPB quarterback Jack Schierholz passed for 208 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 80 yards and another score. Demetric Whitlock Jr. caught five passes for 107 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown.
Grambling opened the scoring on Caballero’s 33-yard field goal before UAPB answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jalen Williams.
Ford capped a 10-play, 59-yard drive with a 12-yard scoring run early in the second quarter to give Grambling a 10-7 advantage.
The Golden Lions responded with two quick touchdowns. Schierholz scored on a 20-yard run just 35 seconds later before connecting with Whitlock on an 82-yard touchdown pass to extend UAPB’s lead to 21-10 midway through the second quarter.
Grambling answered immediately when Jordan Bride returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving the Tigers trailing 21-16.
A late UAPB fumble gave Grambling possession deep in Golden Lions territory, and Caballero connected on a 37-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to cut the halftime deficit to 21-19. The Tigers dominated possession in the third quarter, holding the football for 11:43 and producing two lengthy scoring drives.
Grambling opened the second half with a 14-play, 62-yard march that consumed 6:33, but stalled at the UAPB 3-yard line and settled for Caballero’s 20-yard field goal to take a 22-21 lead.
After forcing a punt, the Tigers marched 56 yards in 10 plays before Caballero connected from 41 yards to extend the advantage to 25-21 with 47 seconds remaining in the quarter. Caballero finished 4-for-5 on field goals, missing only from 43 yards in the opening quarter.
Defensively, Jon Horton led Grambling with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, while Marcellius Johnson added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. The Tigers recorded four sacks and forced one turnover but struggled to contain UAPB’s offense, which averaged 7.2 yards per play. Grambling converted just five of 16 third-down opportunities and was penalized seven times for 65 yards.
