DALLAS, Texas - In a grueling test of endurance and skill, the Prairie View A&M University football team clinched a nail-biting victory over the Grambling State Tigers in a dramatic regular season conference game on Saturday. On a sunny day perfect for football, the teams battled through multiple overtimes before Prairie View emerged victorious with a final score of 36-34.
The Prairie View A&M team, facing a halftime deficit of 7-17, demonstrated resilience in their second-half performance, ultimately pushing the game into extra sessions. Key players Jaden Johnson and Shemar Savage connected for a crucial touchdown in the 5th overtime, tying the game and setting the stage for the subsequent winning drive in the second overtime.
Additional significant contributions came from Connor Wisham, and Lameaga McDowell, who each crossed into the end zone to strengthen Prairie View's position. On the defensive side, stalwarts Robert Edmonson and Kevin Davis played pivotal roles in curbing the Tigers' advances. Moreover, Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez on special teams made significant plays that contributed to the team's overall success.
With their record now at 3-3, Prairie View A&M looks to carry this momentum forward as they prepare to face Incarnate Word on October 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Fans and players alike hope this victory marks a turning point for a season that promises more adrenaline-pumping showdowns.In a Southwestern Athletic Conference battle for the ages, Prairie View A&M managed to outlast Grambling 36-34 in five overtimes on the road on Saturday night.
The Panthers improved to 2-3 on the year and 1-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, while the Tigers fell to 3-2 and 0-1.
Wisham totaled 85 yards to lead the Panthers' ground attack and added one touchdown in the game, picking up 6.1 yards per carry along the way. Jaden Johnson also tacked on 22 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
The most prolific target for Prairie View A&M quarterbacks was Trejon Spiller, who caught three passes for 43 yards.
Cameron Franklin led the Prairie View A&M defensive effort, collecting four tackles and one interception. Terrell Coleman Jr. added five tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble and Jeremiah Harris had 1.0 TFL and one sack in the win.
The Panthers won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing two turnovers while coughing the ball up one time, with Prairie View A&M turning those takeaways into 14 points.
Defensively, Prairie View A&M held up fairly well against the Grambling rushing attack, holding the Tigers to 100 yards on the ground. In part because of that stellar defense, Prairie View A&M runners out-gained their Grambling counterparts 118-100. The Panthers defense disrupted the Grambling passing attack on the way to recording two interceptions and breaking up six Tigers passes.
How It Happened
Prairie View A&M responded to a 7-0 lead from Grambling with a score to tie it up at 7-7 with 8:46 left in the second quarter.Grambling then scored to take a 17-7 lead before the Panthers put a field goal on the board to cut into the lead and make it a 17-10 game.
Prairie View A&M followed with another score with 13:50 left in the fourth quarter to tie things up at 17-17.The Panthers then kept the momentum going with a 39-yard touchdown run from to grab a 24-17 lead.
After Grambling grabbed a 31-24 lead, Prairie View A&M responded with a score of its own, a four-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to , to tie it up at 31-31 in the first overtime.The Panthers held the Tigers scoreless before rallied to take the lead at 34-31, scoring on a 35-yard field goal from .
Prairie View A&M didn't score again and Grambling added three more points to finish off the game.
Game Notes
» Grambling outgained Prairie View A&M 386-303 in the contest.
» Prairie View A&M won the turnover battle 2-1 after picking off two passes.
» Prairie View A&M had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 14 points.
» Prairie View A&M converted 5 of 14 third downs while Grambling was successful on 7 of 19.
» The Panthers had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Ayden Jones, who had 12.
» The Panthers collected 10 tackles for loss and added three sacks.
» The Panthers offense came out of halftime firing on all cylinders, scoring 17 unanswered until the Tigers got on the board again.
» Johnson completed 66.7% of his passes on the day, going 12-for-18.
