STWF Sports| GRAMBLING, La.| October 10, 2026  — Grambling State showed resilience, balance and late-game poise Saturday, overcoming an early two-touchdown deficit to knock off No. 22 Jackson State 45-38 at James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, delivering one of their biggest victories of the season in front of 15,434 fans.

Quarterback Jacobe Robinson powered the comeback with five total touchdowns. Robinson completed 17 of 21 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns while adding 52 rushing yards and another score.

Grambling finished with 438 yards of total offense, including 237 through the air and 201 on the ground, while converting seven of 13 third-down opportunities.

Jackson State Strikes First

Grambling State: A Team of Resilience

The afternoon could not have started much worse for Grambling.

Li’Darious Pryor opened the scoring with a 25-yard touchdown run before Jackson State’s Justin Foster returned a Grambling fumble 11 yards for another score, quickly putting the visitors ahead 14-0.

Instead of allowing the deficit to dictate the game, Grambling answered.

Robinson led a 75-yard drive and connected with Tyson George for a 5-yard touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Jackson State pushed the advantage back to 14 early in the second when Pryor scored again, this time from 16 yards out.

Grambling responded with Robinson’s 6-yard touchdown run, then tied the game just before halftime when Nae’Saan Dickerson hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining.

After trailing 21-7, Grambling entered halftime tied at 21.

Tigers Take Control After Halftime

Jackson State moved back in front with a 48-yard field goal during the third quarter, but Grambling answered with an 11-play, 62-yard possession.

Robinson capped the drive by finding Patrick Williams II for a 9-yard touchdown, giving Grambling its first lead at 28-24.

The Tigers created more separation early in the fourth.

Robinson connected with Lantavious Murphy for a 54-yard touchdown on a three-play, 67-yard drive, extending the advantage to 35-24.

Jackson State, however, had another response.

Quarterback Caron Tyler found Jency Riley Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown before Pryor scored his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon from 3 yards out. The two scores put Jackson State back ahead 38-35 with 9:19 remaining.

Grambling Delivers Late

With the game hanging in the balance, Grambling remained composed.

The Tigers mounted another scoring drive, and D’Shaun Ford finished it with a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:36 left, putting Grambling back in front 42-38.

Ford finished with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown, while George led the receiving corps with eight catches for 93 yards and a score.

Grambling’s defense then produced the game-changing turnover.

Marcellius Johnson intercepted Tyler and returned the ball 24 yards, giving the Tigers favorable field position. Theodore Caballero followed with a 24-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining, stretching the lead to seven.

The defense held on Jackson State’s final possession to secure the victory.

Johnson finished with seven tackles and the interception, while Louis Foster also recorded a pick. Donte Hookfin contributed three tackles for loss and a sack as Grambling finished with two sacks and two interceptions.

After rallying from 17 points down to beat Alcorn State the previous week, Grambling again proved capable of handling pressure.

This time, the reward was a victory over a nationally ranked SWAC opponent and another major step forward in the Tigers’ conference race.