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Southern beats Grambling 38-28 to win SWAC West

6 years 2 weeks 1 day ago Saturday, November 24 2018 Nov 24, 2018 November 24, 2018 3:38 PM November 24, 2018 in Sports
Source: WBRZ

NEW ORLEANS - Ledarius Skelton threw three touchdown passes and Southern beat Grambling 38-28 on Saturday in the 45th Bayou Classic to advance to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.

  
The Jaguars (7-3, 6-1) won the SWAC West division title by ending a three-year losing streak against the Tigers (6-5, 4-3). Southern will play at East Division champion Alcorn State in the title game next Saturday.
  
Skelton needed just 14 passes and 8 completions to accumulate 217 yards and his three scoring passes. Devon Benn added 167 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
  
Southern was threatening to increase its 17-10 halftime lead on the first possession of the third quarter, but it botched a handoff and La'Allan Clark picked up the ball and ran 80 yards to the Jaguars 8.
  
A penalty pushed the Tigers back and they settled for Garrett Urban's 21-yard field goal that cut Southern's lead to 17-13.
  
On the next possession the Jaguars faced a third and 23 when Skelton connected with Kendall Catalon for an 80-yard touchdown and a 24-13 lead midway through the third quarter.
  
Skelton's 44-yard touchdown pass to Randall Menard increased Southern's lead to 31-13 after three quarters.
  
Geremy Hickbottom ran 4 yards for a touchdown and completed a pass for a two-point conversion that cut the Jaguars lead to 31-21 early in the fourth quarter.
  
The Tigers recovered a fumble at the Southern 19 on the next possession and Hickbottom's 1-yard touchdown run trimmed the lead to 31-28 with 11:07 remaining.
  
The Jaguars answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by Benn and a 38-28 lead with 7:51 left.
  
Southern took a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game when Kordell Caldwell blocked a punt by Martell Fontenot and fell on the football in the end zone.
  
Hickbottom threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Clark that pulled Grambling even at the end of the first quarter.
  
Ceasar Barajas' 47-yard field goal and Skelton's 23-yard touchdown pass to Trey Smith gave the Jaguars a 17-7 lead.
  
Urban kicked a 44-yard field goal with 33 seconds left in the second quarter to pull the Tigers to 17-10 at halftime.

Scoring Plays

FIRST QUARTER

Southern - M. Mendez punt blocked by K. Caldwell,blocked by Kordell Caldwell,K. Caldwell return for 0 yds for a TD

Grambling - G. Hickbottom pass to D. Clark for 30 yds for a TD, (G. Urban KICK)

SECOND QUARTER

Southern - C. Barajas 47 yd FG GOOD

Southern - L. Skelton pass,to T. Smith for 23 yds for a TD, (C. Barajas KICK)

Grambling - G. Urban 44 yd FG GOOD

THIRD QUARTER

Grambling - G. Urban 21 yd FG GOOD

Southern - L. Skelton pass,to K. Catalon for 80 yds for a TD, (C. Barajas KICK)

Southern - L. Skelton pass,to R. Menard for 44 yds for a TD, (C. Barajas KICK)

FOURTH QUARTER

Grambling - G. Hickbottom run for 4 yds for a TD, (G. Hickbottom pass for Two-Point Conversion)

Grambling - G. Hickbottom run for 1 yd for a TD, (G. Urban KICK)

Southern - D. Benn run for 2 yds for a TD, (C. Barajas KICK)

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