GRAMBLING, Louisiana – In front of a lively crowd at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, the Grambling State Tigers showcased a powerful ground attack and solid defense to defeat Central State 48-26 on Saturday night. The win moves the Tigers to a 2-0 start for the 2026 season, while the Marauders fall to 0-2.
Early dominance sets the tone
The Tigers wasted no time establishing control. On the opening drive, running back Jamarion Parker burst through for a 40‑yard touchdown run just over two minutes into the game, capping a five‑play, 75‑yard drive. Kicker Diego Alfaro added a 19‑yard field goal, giving Grambling a 10‑0 lead.
Central State could not answer, and Alfaro’s second field goal – this one from 24 yards – pushed the advantage to 13‑0 after the first quarter.
Rushing takes over the second quarter
Grambling’s rushing attack exploded in the second period. D’Shaun Ford punched in a short touchdown run to make it 20‑0. After Central State managed a Kenyon Gardner field goal, senior running back Tony Phillips Jr. broke free for a 75‑yard touchdown sprint on the Tigers’ second play of the possession, extending the lead to 27‑3.
Central State finally found some rhythm late in the half when quarterback Jackson Wasik connected with Damon Griffin Jr. on a 12‑yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 27‑10 at halftime. Grambling’s defense also blocked a field‑goal attempt by Markeis Sykes, keeping points off the board.
Third quarter builds a commanding lead
After the break, Grambling continued to dominate. A nine‑play, 45‑yard drive ended with Clyde McClendon Jr. diving in from two yards out, pushing the score to 34‑10 with 7:34 left in the third quarter. The Tigers’ defense forced two interceptions, both by junior safety Jaylen Burrell, helping control the tempo.
Grambling entered the fourth quarter with a 24‑point cushion.
Central State rallies, but Tigers seal the win
In the final period, Wasik scored on a 15‑yard run and completed a two‑point conversion to make it 34‑18. Byron Eaton Jr. answered for Grambling with a 58‑yard touchdown burst. Wasik then found Avantae Burt for a 29‑yard touchdown reception, pulling the Marauders within 41‑26 with just over four minutes remaining.
Grambling answered with an eight‑play, 75‑yard drive capped by Hayden Benoit’s one‑yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left, sealing a 48‑26 victory.
Statistical highlights
- Ground game: 361 rushing yards on 40 carries (9.0 yards per carry) and six rushing touchdowns from five different players.
- Passing: Quarterback Reginald Johnson completed 18 of 23 attempts for 258 yards, spreading the ball to eight receivers. Top targets were Tyson George (5 catches, 93 yards) and Jordan Bride (3 catches, 70 yards).
- Defense: Two sacks, six tackles for loss, and two interceptions (both by Jaylen Burrell). The unit also blocked a field goal.
- Time of possession: Grambling 33:11, Central State 26:49.
- Third‑down efficiency: Tigers 9 of 12, Marauders 7 of 14.
Looking ahead
Grambling State will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, next Saturday to face FBS and Big 12 opponent TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the Tigers on social media @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /GramblingStateTigers1901 (Facebook), and @gramblingathletics (Instagram), or visit the official athletics site at gsutigers.com for updates.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
