TSU a victory away from earning berth in title game
By Ronnie Turner
Move over, Grambling State.
Texas Southern is the new frontrunner in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division.
TSU rallied from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit with 24 unanswered points, including the tie-breaking touchdown in overtime, en route to snagging a thrilling 41-34 victory before a crowd of 10,023 Thursday night at Delmar Stadium.
TSU (7-3, 7-1 SWAC) won its sixth consecutive game to knock Grambling (8-2, 7-1) off its perch and can win its first Western Division title and a berth in the Dec. 11 SWAC championship game with a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in their Nov. 20 regular-season finale. Another win would push TSU one step closer to competing for its first SWAC title since 1968.
But Thursday’s victory would not have been possible without the heroics of a cool-headed kicker, a resilient quarterback and a dominant defense.
Kicker Robert Hersh tied the game at 34 with a 20-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Arvell Nelson rebounded after throwing three interceptions in the first three quarterbacks to score the go-ahead touchdown on a 10-yard run on the first drive of overtime.
And the defense sealed the deal, stopping Grambling running back Frank Warren short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the TSU 2-yard line in overtime.
TSU fans rushed the field after that last stand, and the celebration was on.
“These kids believe in this program, and they believe in what we’re doing,” said TSU Johnnie Cole, who struggled to fight back tears. “We make them into men, and they showed that they were men tonight. They stayed in there and believed in what we were doing, and we were able to win the football game.”
The biggest man on the field at the end of the night might have been Nelson.
Nelson, who was temporarily benched earlier this season, led TSU on four scoring drives in the fourth quarter and overtime. He was only 5-of-11 for 38 yards and two interceptions (one was returned for a touchdown) at halftime but finished with 171 passing yards and 147 rushing yards to go with three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing).
“I just want to give all thanks to God,” Nelson said. “I prayed and prayed on it throughout the game, and he didn’t let me down.
“(This win) means a lot because I’ve been through a lot of adversity throughout my college career. Right now, we’re on the edge of winning the championship, doing something great for this city and this university. I’m going to celebrate this one tonight and get ready for Arkansas-Pine Bluff.”
TSU pulled within 34-24 when running back Martin Gilbert barreled into the end zone from 1 yard out on fourth-and-goal with 12:38 remaining.
And then TSU’s defense, ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense entering the game, came alive and provided big plays to start the rally.
It held Grambling scoreless in the final 19 minutes of regulation, coming up with a crucial third-down stop inside the TSU 20-yard line. Grambling botched a snap on a 40-yard field goal attempt, and TSU took over at its own 49.
Four plays later, Nelson hit a wide-open Richard Samuel on a 23-yard touchdown pass in the left corner of the end zone to pull TSU within 34-31 with 7:04 remaining.
TSU’s defense came up big again in the ensuing drive, forcing Grambling into a three-and-out. After a short punt, TSU took over at its own 37 with 4:23 left.
Nelson methodically led TSU on a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended with Hersh’s clutch field goal.
Nelson and the defense took care of the rest.
But more work remains to be done.
“We’ll enjoy this tonight and this weekend, and then we’ve got to go back to work on Sunday,” Cole said. “We’ve got to finish the deal (against Arkansas-Pine Bluff).”
Missed the game last night? Click here for photos!
Watch what happened when the clock ran out after the game!
