PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Grambling State clinched its first Western Division Championship since 2011 with a 49-31 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday afternoon. Wih a win over Southern in the Bayou Classic, GSU can be the first team with a perfect conference record since they accomplished that feat in 2008.
Johnathan Williams passed for 339 yards and four touchdowns, and Grambling State jumped out to a 35-3 lead that they would not relinquish. With the victory, GSU punched its ticket to the 2015 SWAC Football Championship in Houston, Texas at NRG Stadium on Dec. 5.
Leading 14-3 late in the first half, GSU (8-2, 8-0) forced a punt to get the ball back with just 1 second left. Rather than kneeling on it, Williams found Verlan Hunter for a 41-yard score as time expired.
Jateri Pouncey returned an interception for a 22-yard score on UAPB’s first possession of the second half, and Williams hit Hunter for nine yards 55 seconds later to build the Tigers’ lead en route to clinching the West Division title.
Hunter had 77 yards on five catches to go with his two touchdowns for Grambling State.
Brandon Duncan finished 34 of 52 for 459 yards with three TDs and three interceptions for UAPB (1-9, 0-8), adding 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Teammate Willie Duncan finished with a game high 14 tackles for the Golden Lions. Troy Roach led GSU with nine stops and one sack.
SWAC.org
