Grambling Comes Back to Win Bayou Classic, 30-27

NEW ORLEANS —  Alex Perkins’ three-yard scoring run on a bootleg capped a 74-yard drive and helped Grambling State to a come-from-behind 30-27 victory over Southern University Saturday in the annual Bayou Classic.

Grambling (9-2) heads to the Heritage Bowl in Tallahassee, Fla., to take on Florida A&M.;

Southern (5-6) ended its season by committing a crucial interference penalty on an incomplete pass at its 24. The penalty gave Grambling a first down at the 12 and Perkins scored two plays later, after a nine-yard run by Dexter Butcher.

All of Grambling’s points came during the second half, including 16 in the third quarter when the Tigers rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit.

Grambling took its first lead at 23-21 with 13:04 to play on fullback Eric Gant’s second touchdown run. Gant’s one-yard run completed a 30-yard scoring drive set up by Eudean Toney’s interception of a deflected pass thrown by Southern’s Eric Randall.

After squandering a 14-point lead during the third quarter, Southern took a 27-21 lead on a 58-yard drive spurred by two Randall completions, but Jaguar kicker Heishma Northern’s point-after attempt sailed wide right.

Grambling opened the second half with a 16-point scoring surge.