Grambling State staged a dramatic late rally Saturday night, overcoming a two-touchdown deficit to edge East Texas A&M 31-28 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
Quarterback C’zavian Teasett accounted for two scores, and running back Clyde McClendon Jr. delivered the decisive 1-yard touchdown run with 1:56 remaining as the Tigers improved to 3-1. The Lions (0-3) had a chance to force overtime, but Ozlo Rigby’s 52-yard field goal try in the final seconds sailed wide.
Grambling fell behind early after EJ Oakmon’s 7-yard touchdown run and a 3-yard scoring pass from Eric Rodriguez to Brycen Davis put East Texas A&M ahead 14-0. Teasett answered late in the first half, connecting with Covadis Knighten for an 11-yard strike to cut the lead in half with 59 seconds left before the break.
The Tigers drew even immediately after halftime, as Teasett powered in from a yard out following a defensive stand at the goal line. But the Lions regained momentum on Rodriguez’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Proctor. Grambling responded just as quickly, this time with Byron Eaton Jr.’s electrifying 54-yard touchdown sprint, knotting the contest at 21-all.
TIGERS ON TOP!!
McClendon Jr. finishes the drive
#GramFam | #ThisIsTheG
pic.twitter.com/aKJZUn1hrV
— Grambling State Football
East Texas A&M struck again early in the fourth quarter on JaiSean McMillian’s 6-yard rushing score, only for Theodore Caballero’s 41-yard field goal to trim the Grambling deficit to 28-24 with just under 11 minutes to play.
That set the stage for Teasett’s poise under pressure. Engineering a methodical 12-play, 77-yard drive, the sophomore guided the Tigers downfield, where McClendon capped it off with the go-ahead plunge. The Grambling defense held firm on the final drive, preserving the comeback win and handing the Lions their third straight loss.
