DALLAS – Aided by a historic effort from senior Dawonya Tucker, Prairie View A&M fended off a late comeback attempt from Grambling State during a wild State Fair Classic, outlasting the Tigers 42-36 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference clash at the Cotton Bowl Saturday evening.

The Panthers were utterly dominant on the ground, chewing up 390 yards rushing. Tucker led the way with 263 yards on 26 carries, setting a new school single-game record for most rushing yards by a player.

Grambling State (0-4, 0-2 SWAC) struck first as Geremy Hickbottom capped a five-play, 55-yard drive with a 14-yard pitch and catch to Quintin Guice for the game's first touchdown. After the sides traded three-and-outs, Tucker put the Panthers (2-3, 2-1 SWAC) on the board with a 60-yard scamper to the house, helping to tie the game 7-7 with 8:44 left in the first.

Hickbottom carried the Tigers down the field on their ensuing possession, a 14-play, 70-yard march that resulted in a 24-yard field goal from Miguel Mendez to put Grambling back in front. After a Tucker fumble on the Panthers' next turn, Grambling's Katrelle Starks scored on a 10-yard rush to finish a 41-yard drive that took six plays and just under two minutes.

Down 17-7, Morton went to work with his arm, hooking up with junior receiver Tristen Wallace on a 31-yard pass to spark a six-play, 75-yard drive. Tucker atoned for his prior miscue, punctuating the drive with a 13-yard dash to paydirt.

The Tigers put together another long drive, but the Panthers defense managed to hold as Mendez missed a 41-yard try wide left. The Panthers responded on its next possession, with Morton flashing his dual-threat abilities as junior kicker Amaury Martinez connected from 27 yards out to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive and tie the game at 17 with 8:01 left in the half.

The Panthers forced another Grambling three-and-out, but the Tigers regained the lead on a 42-yard pick-six by Joseph McWilliams only for Mendez to misfire on the point-after try. Unfazed, the Panthers' run game came alive from then on, as Tucker and Morton slashed through the Tigers defense during a 75-yard, six-play drive – all runs – that ended with a 3-yard scoring run from Morton.

Following Martinez's successful PAT, the Panthers had their first lead of the game and never looked back, as junior linebacker Tre'Shaud Smith pounced on a fumble by Grambling's Kobe' Ross to halt the Tigers' next drive. Just 56 seconds later, Morton hit Chris Johnson for a 20-yard touchdown toss – as set up by a 40-yard rush from Tucker – to make the game 31-23 PVAMU, where it'd stay until half.

Defense ruled the third quarter, and neither team did much with its first chance during the fourth, but Prairie View A&M marched down the field with a nine-play, 84-yard drive that Morton finished with a 1-yard touchdown run. Morton found tight end Jordan Jones for the two-point try, pushing the Panthers' lead to 39-23. Martinez hit a 36-yard field goal on the Panthers' next possession to make the game 42-23 PVAMU, but Grambling refused to go quietly.

Tigers' backup quarterback Charles Wright orchestrated a seven-play, 78-yard march – as ended by a Wright 3-yard touchdown run – to inch within two scores, and on the Panthers' next possession, Grambling State's Quincy Mitchell blocked a Caleb Darbone punt, scooping the ball and racing 55 yards for a touchdown.

Down by one score, Grambling State appeared to recover the ensuing onside kick, but the Tigers were flagged for illegal touching as the ball had not traveled the required 10 yards before it was recovered. The Panthers then ran out the clock to seal the win.

On the night, PVAMU outgained Grambling in total offense 607-327. Morton completed 16-of-21 passes for 192 yards and rushed for 128 yards. Wallace recorded 71 yards on four grabs.

Defensively, junior defensive back Darius Campbell and sophomore defensive back Drake Cheatum led the Panthers with eight tackles each. Cheatum also picked off a pass in the game. The Panthers amassed four sacks in the game.

The Panthers will enjoy a bye week before returning to action at Southern on Oct. 12.