Grambling State 35, Miss Valley State 14

November 1, 2008

ITTA BENA, Miss. – In game that featured several big plays, Grambling State found itself in an offensive shootout on Saturday afternoon as they managed to hold off Mississippi Valley State 35-14 before 3,476 fans at Rice-Totten Stadium.

Grambling opened the contest with a bit of trickery as punter Dezmond Spivey raced 46 yards on 4th-and-6 to move the Tigers into MVSU territory. One play later, sophomore tailback Cornelius Walker broke free for a 33-yard scamper that led to GSU's first score.

Mississippi Valley moved into scoring position two drives later as Stephen Robert caught Spivey in an awkward position on a punt and tackled the sophomore on the GSU 30. However, the Tiger defense held its ground and gave the ball back to the offense as MVSU's Zach Gilarski missed a 37-yard field goal. On the ensuring possession, Grambling inserted J.P. Tillman at quarterback and the sophomore didn't disappoint as he guided the Tigers on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with Tillman's 31-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Batiste on 4th-and-9.

Both teams traded interceptions as the second quarter began and MVSU took advantage of the gift as quarterback Paul Roberts moved his team to within one score after a successful 10-yard rush at the 9:37 mark. However, the momentum didn't last as Grambling's Greg Dillon increased the Tigers' lead to 20-7 after he connected with a wide-open Kiare Thompson for a 35-yard touchdown. Luis Leal's PAT was good as the Tigers led 21-7 with 7:39 left in the half.

Valley wouldn't go away as a 55-yard pass by Roberts to Abner Brown moved them to the GSU 9 on its next drive. On the very next play, Roberts closed the gap to two touchdowns with a 9-yard pass to Dennis Mitchell. Once again though, Grambling answered Mississippi Valley's score in only four plays as the Dillon found Thompson once again on an 11-yard touchdown reception. Leal nailed the PAT and moved GSU ahead 28-14 with 3:26 remaining in the half.

The Delta Devils continued to hang around as Roberts drove them all the way to the GSU 20 with 23 ticks left in the stanza. However, the drive stalled as Gilarski's field goal attempt hit the left upright which turned the ball over to Grambling at the close of the half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter but both had several promising drives fall short. With Grambling driving on its opening possession, Dillon was intercepted at the MVSU 5 by Kealon Kellybrew. Two drives later, Grambling had to battle several flags as the Tigers were hit with two key penalties that kept MVSU's drive alive. Mississippi Valley eventually made it to Grambling's 6 but fell victim to the missed field goal bug once again as Jamie Whitworth's 24-yard kick sailed left near the close of the third quarter.

Dillon rushed for 22 yards on three carries to drive Grambling to the Delta Devil 26 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, GSU caught a case of the kicking blues as Leal's 42-yard field goal attempt misfired to give new life to MVSU.

Mississippi Valley marched down to Grambling's 18 but turned the ball over after an interception in the end zone. Grambling promptly responded on its next drive and closed out the contest with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Dillon's 5-yard touchdown run up the middle.

For the game, Grambling rolled up a season-high 512 yards (285 R, 227 P) while Mississippi Valley finished with 411 (396 P, 15 R). Dillon had another solid game with 151 yards and two touchdown passes on 11-of-20 passing in addition to 133 rushing yards and one touchdown run on 15 attempts. Wideout Kiare Thompson had a solid game with two touchdown receptions and 61 yards receiving on four catches while Jeffery Jack led all defenders with seven tackles.

Grambling returns to action next Saturday with a trip to Little Rock, Ark. for the third annual Delta Classic 4 Literacy. Kickoff time versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff is set for 4 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.

GAME NOTES
• Grambling improves to 45-5 all-time against Mississippi Valley.
• Grambling averaged over 7 yards per carry as they rolled up a season-high of 285 yards rushing.
• Grambling threw for a season-high 227 passing yards and three touchdowns on a combined 18-of-20 passing from Dillon and Tillman.
• MVSU's 15 total rushing yards marks the sixth time this year that GSU has held an opponent to 80 or less total rushing yards.
• GSU's two interceptions up its season total to 17. It marks the most INTs since recording 17 in 2005.
• Dillon has passed for over 150 yards and rushed for over 130 yards in consecutive games.