CANTON, OHIO – Elijah Walker earned Offensive MVP honors and Kenan Fontenot was selected as the Defensive MVP as Grambling State University held off Tennessee State, 16-10, in the Black College Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday afternoon at Tom Benson Memorial Stadium.
Tennessee State took advantage of a short field after a Grambling State punt, capping a seven-play, 21-yard drive as Antonio Zita booted a 39-yard field goal with exactly five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
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Grambling State answered with a 15-play, 79-yard drive, which took over seven minutes off the clock as Jaye Patrick caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Walker, giving GSU a 7-3 advantage with 12:41 left in the second quarter.
TSU had an opportunity to cut the margin right before halftime, but Zita’s 57-yard field goal attempt was short as Grambling State entered the break with a 7-3 lead.
After a GSU punt to begin the second half, Tennessee State drove 35 yards in 13 plays as Devon Starling scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown, giving TSU a 10-7 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining in the third.
GSU’s defense and special teams provided a huge spark toward the end of the third. After a sack, Kaleb Mosely’s punt was partially blocked, and three plays later, Grambling State punched the ball into the endzone. Walker’s 4-yard touchdown run gave GSU a 13-10 advantage as the extra point attempt failed with 2:22 left in the third.
GSU added one more final score with 9:48 remaining as Garrett Urban booted a 24-yard field goal as Grambling State extended the lead to 16-10.
Tennessee State had a huge opportunity on a 3rd and 23 play with 2:22 left as Deveon Bryant’s pass was broken up in the endzone by Kenan Fontenot, keeping TSU with 10 points.
Courtesy: Grambling State Athletics
