Southern clinches SWAC West title, 30-28 over Grambling
NEW ORLEANS -- Ladarius Skelton passed for two touchdowns and Southern blocked a field goal with 5 seconds left to clinch the Southwest Athletic Conference West Division title with a 30-28 win over Grambling in the Bayou Classic on Saturday.
The Jaguars (8-4, 6-1) travel to Alcorn State for the conference championship next Saturday. Alcorn State beat Southern 37-28 in last year's championship game.
Jarod Sims scored on a 36-yard TD run to give Southern a 30-28 lead with 14:11 left in the game. The PAT was blocked, which gave Grambling a chance to go ahead with a field goal in the final seconds. But Miguel Mendez's 40-yard attempt was blocked.
The Tigers (6-5, 4-3) led 21-3 in the second quarter. Southern closed the deficit to 21-17 before halftime and took the lead at 24-21 late in the third quarter.
Sims finished with 89 yards rushing and two TD runs for Southern.
Keilon Elder had 112 yards rushing and a TD run for Grambling.
---
More AP college football: http://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25
Game Information
2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Florida A&M | 8-0 | 12-1 |
Alabama State | 5-3 | 7-4 |
Jackson State | 5-3 | 7-4 |
Alabama A&M | 3-5 | 5-6 |
Bethune-Cookman | 2-6 | 3-8 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Prairie View A&M | 6-2 | 6-6 |
Alcorn State | 6-2 | 7-4 |
Southern | 5-3 | 6-5 |
Grambling | 4-4 | 5-6 |
Texas Southern | 2-6 | 3-8 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-7 | 2-9 |