Texas Southern vs. Grambling State University

TSU had the overcome the loss of starting quarterback, Adam Lamb, who went down in the second quarter with a bruised tailbone. Lamb returned for one series in the second half, but was unable to finish the contest. Senior quarterback Julius Davis, who orchestrated the Tigers comeback victory last year in Grambling, had to fill in.

"I let them get a good shot at me," Lamb said, "They hit me in my lower back."

The first half of the game, Lamb controlled the offense and had the Tigers up by one point going into halftime. That score included a 73-yard touchdown pass from Lamb to wide receiver, Cortez Hankton, early in the second quarter. Lamb, who finished with 159 yards passing and 30 yards rushing, was hurt on a first down play shortly thereafter.

"Instead of falling down like I should have, I tried to go for a touchdown," Lamb said.

Lamb wasn't the only one hurting, as the G-Men watched as three of their players were helped off the field. One of them, wide receiver, Scotty Anderson, returned to action and was the top performer for the GSU Tigers, making nine catches for 156 yards and one touchdown.

Grambling capitalized on Davis' inexperience in the shotgun set offense and the Tigers one-point halftime lead faded. Davis' performance, however, did not decide the outcome of the game. The inability to stop Grambling's passing attack and a controversial penalty decision helped the G-men to their final score.

In the fourth quarter, Grambling was up 19-17. TSU got called for holding and accepted the penalty, which allowed the G-Men to replay the down (instead of a possible fourth down punt). Grambling State made the first down on the next play with a 22-yard rush by quarterback, Randy Hymes. Six plays later, they scored on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Hymes to Anderson with 8:22 left in the game.

"I would have bet everything that we could hold them on third and 17, and we just didn't play," said Thomas, "You've got to play on third down plays."

The Tigers, who had beaten Grambling State the last four seasons, could not get their offense going the last half of the game, and had several would be interceptions dropped by the secondary, ending to any chance of a comeback.

"It's disappointing because we worked so hard and we were undefeated until this point," Lamb said, "Grambling's got to see me next year, and they 'd better believe I'm going to have this feeling for a whole year."

With the defense on the field most of the time, Lernard Mack finished with 20 tackles, improving his previous career high. Seven were for a loss of 25 yards, including one sack. He was followed by freshman, Lance Goree, who posted 12 tackles- four for a loss of 11 yards and one seven yard sack.

Cortez Hankton was another bright spot for the Tigers posting career high numbers with 185 yards on five catches.

All is not lost for the Tigers, who still have a chance to represent the Western division in the SWAC championship, December 2, in Birmingham, Alabama. For TSU to win the title, Grambling (8-1, 5-0) would have to lose to Alabama State, who leads the Eastern division, and longstanding rival, Southern, in the Bayou Classic. TSU (7-1, 5-1) would have to beat Southern, their only remaining conference opponent, whom they will face November 11, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

"We have three more games to play and we still have an opportunity for a fine year," said Thomas.

Texas Southern travels to Atlanta, Georgia, 1 p.m. Saturday, November 4, to take on Morris Brown College.

GAME SUMMARY

TEAM STATISTICS