Grambling dominates Southern to clinch West

NEW ORLEANS — The Southern Jaguars entered the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in hopes of winning its first Bayou Classic since 2007. They left in disbelief.

After upsetting Alabama State Nov. 12, the Jaguars lone task was to cap off the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since the hiring of second-year head coach Stump Mitchell. Instead, the offense struggled and Southern fell to Grambling 36-12 Saturday.

"They won the battle between the trenches," said Mitchell, who now is 6-16 at Southern.

The Jaguars (4-7, 4-5) offense rushed for a season-low minus-31 yards, led junior running back Slyvester Nzekwe, whose longest run was 12 yards. They converted only two of 11 third downs and averaged 3.1 yards per play. Southern did not score until the second quarter, when freshman quarterback J.P. Douglas threw his 10^th career touchdown to sophomore receiver Lee Doss. From there, Douglas was sidelined after suffering a concussion on a pass attempt that was intercepted in the red zone by Tigers' defensive back Bruna' Foster.

"For the most part they were playing good against the run," Mitchell said. "Their defensive linemen really took it to our offensive linemen. Our quarterbacks didn't have a whole lot of time to pass the ball."

Grambling's (7-4, 6-3) defensive line totaled seven sacks, led by junior defensive lineman Jomarcus Savage, who had two. Also, the unit accounted for five of the defense's nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage led by Savage.

Mitchell replaced Douglas for sophomore Dray Joseph. By then, Douglas completed 5 of 14 passes for 67 yards and was sacked three times. The Tigers d-line sacked Joseph four times, including a safety late in the third quarter for a 26-12 lead.

"We just worked hard and here we are going to the championship," said Grambling coach Doug Williams.

The Tigers clinched the Western Division with a one-game lead over Prairie View and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, winning its last six games by 13 points or less. Grambling will play Alabama A&M in the 2011 Farmers Insurance SWAC Championship Game presented by Toyota will take place Dec. 10 at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is set for noon.

"They're a good team," said safety Demetric Rogers, one of 18 seniors playing in their last game for Southern.

Grambling took control of the game in the third quarter. Wide receiver Mario Lewis capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a 34-yard touchdown reception. Southern answered the score when Joseph connected with wide receiver Michael Berry for a five-yard touchdown. On Grambling's next possession, quarterback D.J. Williams of Grambling threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Lewis, who finished with four catches for 73 yards and three touchdown catches.

On the other side of the ball, Southern senior linebacker Jamie Payton was awarded Most Valuable Player for Southern. Payton finished with 15 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

"It hurts real bad to lose any game to your rival," Payton said after the game. "I feel I gave my all today, but at the end of the day its all about wins and losses."

Payton  was selected to play in the 2011 HBCU Bowl Dec. 18 in Atlanta.