New Orleans, La. - With a chance to force a four-way tie atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division and squash their arch-rivals bid at a berth in next month's SWAC Championship Game, Southern squandered five Grambling turnovers in a 36-12 Tiger rout in the 38th State Farm Bayou Classic.
Saturday's lost was the Jaguars worst margin of defeat in the game's 38-year history. The Jaguars (4-7, 4-5) complete a frustrating 2011 campaign, while the Tigers (7-4, 6-3) march into the Dec. 10 SWAC Championship Game against Alabama A&M at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
"They won the battle between the trenches," said Jaguars second-year head coach Stump Mitchell. "Their defensive line took it to our offensive line and their receivers made plays on the ball." "We got the turnovers we needed but we couldn't capitalize or move the ball well enough to produce a better outcome."
The Tigers overcame four fumbles and an interception led by a 14-point, 3rd quarter outburst fueled by the passing combination of D.J. Williams and Mario Louis. Williams, son of Grambling head coach Doug Williams, found Louis on TD passing strikes of 34 and 12.
Utilizing an aggressive pass rush, Grambling's defensive front limited the Jaguars to one of the lowest rushing totals in school history, -31 yards. Grambling runningback Dawrence Roberts' 195 rushing yards was more than the Jaguars total yardage of 174, but it was the passing connection of Williams and Louis that kept SU from threatening an upset.
Trailing 10-0, the Jaguars showed signs of life by answering following another Grambling miscue, this time on a muffed punt, setting up 1st and 10 at the GSU 28. Three plays later, J. P. Douglas found Lee Doss streaking across the field for a 13-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 10-6 with 7:52 left in the first half. Manuel Canto had his extra point blocked and GSU would go take the 10-6 lead into halftime.
The Tigers would strike first in the second half when Williams found Louis for a 34-yard TD with 11:20 left in the third.
The Jaguars responded when SU quarterback Dray Joseph, filling in for Douglas who suffered a mild concussion attempting a tackle after tossing an interception, hit Michael Berry for a 5-yard touchdown pass cutting the Tiger. The two-point conversion failed and the Tigers were never threatened for the remainder of the contest.
Jamie Payton -- whom received the Jaguars' most valuable player honors for the game - led the Jaguars defensive effort with a game high 15 tackles. "My teammates deserved my all today," Payton humbly stated. "It's a great honor but I'd much rather have gotten the win today."
