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Grambling, Jax State wrap up season
Lut Williams
BCSP Editor
Grambling State and Jackson State get to have the last say Saturday in the 2008 black college football season in more ways than one.
The old rivals will meet for the 59th time in their storied histories in the 2008 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at 1 p.m. in Birmingham at Legion Field, but there's a little more at stake.
By virtue of previously undefeated Tuskegee's
controversial loss to Alabama State on Thanksgiving Day in Montgomery, Al.,
Rod Broadway's Grambling squad stands in
good stead to capture this year's black college
national championship. But to do so, they'll need a
dominating effort against the JSU Blue Tigers.
The only losses for the 10-2 G-Men are two early season setbacks against Div. I Nevada-Reno (49-13) and a close loss to fellow FCS member NW Louisiana State (31-19). With a win, Grambling is likely in the running for the national title with MEAC champ South Carolina State (9-3) who suffered losses to two Div. I opponents (Clemson and Central Florida) and a close first round FCS playoff loss to three-time defending FCS champion Appalachian State. Regardless of the national implications, the title game itself should be intriguing. The same two teams met last year under somewhat similar circumstances.
A year ago in its first year under Broadway's tutelage, Grambling came into the game at 8-3, having lost two straight after wining seven games in a row and was considered by many as a heavy favorite. JSU came in at 7-4 in head coach Rick Comegy's second year at the helm after surviving a East Division race that went down to the last week of the regular season.
And just like this year, Grambling had a win over JSU as they played a rematch of sorts in the championship game. Last year, the G-Men defeated JSU 30-20 in the regular season before losing 42-31 in the title game.
Earlier this season, Grambling eeked out a 14-5 home win over the Blue Tigers which was the beginning of a nine-game win streak it will carry into Saturday's contest.
Comegy is back this season with an identical 7-4 mark and perhaps is just as much of an underdog. The Tigers lost four of their first five games before righting the ship and winning their last six contests.
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TITLE GAME YARDSTICK
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So any idea that Grambling is a heavy favorite or shoo-in to win this year's title is nonsense. The meeting earlier this year was a defensive struggle with just one offensive touchdown scored between the two. JSU, with Trae Rutland at the helm, passed for 255 yards but was picked off twice. The Tigers' ground game was held to 12 yards in 32 carries but they had 10 minutes more in time of possession. They scored on a safety and a field goal. Grambling ran for 128 yards and passed for 103 but got the game's only offensive score on a 44-yard pass from QB Greg Dillon to wideout Nick Lewis. Grambling's other score came on an interception return in the final minute of the game.
Comegy is likely to play both Michael Mosely and Rutland at quarterback while Grambling will go with Dillon under center. The game will probably hinge on which team runs the ball best. Both teams are near the top of the SWAC statistical charts in rushing offense and defense while neither has a particularly potent passing attack. So, get ready for a hard-hitting defensive struggle as these two black college titans duke it out for SWAC supremacy and perhaps more.
© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.