Going from undefeated back to unable, the Panthers lost the big game, falling to Grambling State 40-16 during the annual Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic. The Panthers have a losing streak to the Tigers that dates back to 1986, a couple years before Prairie View’s infamous run started back in the early ’90s.
The purple and gold crowd full of family, fans, and friends weren’t concerned though, as they exploded when the Panthers ran out of the tunnel without a loss onto the Cotton Bowl field ready to take on the Tigers. The crowd would stay in the game throughout the first drive as Prairie View drove 41 yards on nine plays to set up a Pedro Ventura 32 yard FG to take a 3-0 lead. On the Tigers’ first drive of the game, the Panther defense stiffened up and caused a fourth and 10 where Dezmond Spivey’s punt was blocked and recovered at the GSU 27 yard line. The block set up a six-play drive culminated by QB Mark Spivey’s 4-yard TD run, but Kyle Mathews’ PAT was blocked and left the Panther lead at 9-0. The next Tiger and Panther drives ended abruptly, but a key moment came when the Tigers elected to switch QB J.P. Tillman for backup Greg Dillon. From then on, the Grambling State offense kicked into another gear and ran all over one of the SWAC’s best defenses.
During Dillon’s first drive under the helm GSU was flagged for two penalties, leaving them with a first down and 35 yards, but on the next play DB Riante Jones was flagged for holding which gave the Tigers a first down and dug them out of a tremendous hole. The Tigers used the penalty to their advantage, driving 85 yards to pay dirt on Dillon’s feet and arm. Dillon ended the drive when he hooked up with TE Larry Donnell for a nine-yard TD pass pulling the Tigers within three at 9-6 after Luis Leal’s PAT was blocked.
When the Panthers started the next drive from their own 19-yard line, no one expected Grambling defender T.J. McCord to step in front of Spivey’s pass and return it 30 yards for the score. The Tigers would try for two, but were unsuccessful on the conversion, leaving the score at 12-9 with 9:08 left in the second quarter. Prairie View realized it would be hard to move the ball in the second quarter as they racked up a negative two yards during the period.
“I think we just played uncharacteristically,” said center Tony Owens, “We really just beat ourselves.” Again, the Panthers found themselves punting as Dillon returned Ventura’s punt 14 yards into Prairie View territory. The short field position set up a 34-yard pass from Dillon to Terrance Dunn down to the Panther six yard line while Corneliu Walker cashed in on the big play with a six yard TD run on the next play from scrimmage.
The Panthers went into the half down 19-9, but still believed they could pull themselves out of the hole. The defense came out with a purpose on the first GSU drive of the third quarter, stopping the Tigers and forcing them to punt. The Panther offense would receive the ball at midfield driving 31 yards down the field to the Grambling 19 yard line before a big third and two. Donald Babers, Prairie View’s leading rusher, would take the handoff from Spivey and push for a one-yard gain. The Panther sideline and crowd were livid as they felt the sideline judge gave Babers a horrible spot.
After the fuming from the sideline was over, the Panthers faced their biggest play so far this year. They decided to keep the ball on the ground as Spivey gave the inside handoff to Babers once more, but he was stuffed by Grambling’s Kenneth Anio for no gain, causing the Panthers to turn the ball over on downs. The Tigers would take the turnover and convert as Grambling drove the ball 82 yards on 12 plays concluding in a three-yard TD pass from Dillon to WR Nick Lewis. The touchdown pushed the Tiger lead to 26-9 with 3:58 left in the third quarter.
Spivey and the offense would not let the game end that easy as the Panthers drove 81 yards to pull within 10, 26-16. The touchdown came with 13:35 left in the game as Spivey tossed a pass over the head of a GSU defender and into the arms of WR Joe Townsend. The Panthers felt that they had gotten back in the game until Ventura’s kickoff was received by Grambling’s Desmond Lenard and returned 46 yards to the PVAMU 46 yard line. The defense would eventually force the Tigers into a third down and 10 at the 18-yard line, but GSU WR Kiare Thompson got free on the outside and ran inside to the end zone for an 18-yard TD that sealed the deal. The Tigers would score again after a Spivey INT and the Tigers left Dallas with the 40-16 win and a one game lead in the SWAC’s Western Division.
Spivey ended the game 14-of-17 for 144 passing yards, one TD, and three big INTs. Babers led the rushing attack but was held under his season average of 97 yards with only 65, while Russell Ball chipped in 16 on two carries. Gabe Ediae had a great day, hauling in six catches for a total of 95 yards, while Babers and Townsend each grabbed two passes. DE Quinton Spears lead the team in tackles with nine, grabbing one sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss; LB Gary Hicks also added nine tackles to his impressive year, DB Anthony Beck pulled down five, and consensus All-American Zach East stayed pretty quiet with only three tackles.
Although the Panthers dropped their first SWAC contest of the year, they are still on track to win the most games in a season since their last SWAC and Black National Championship year in 1964. The team is also still in position to win their division and represent the west in the SWAC championship game. “We are going to keep preparing and stay focused,” said Owens, “We have to keep our mind off of this loss, because our goal wasn’t to beat Grambling, it was to win the SWAC Championship and we still have that chance. I still believe we are the best team in the SWAC and we just simply beat ourselves.”
Owens and the Panthers now plan to make up for their poor performance in Dallas by coming out strong and ending Homecoming on “The Hill” right against Alabama State. Game time for the Homecoming game is 2 p.m. at Blackshear Stadium.