GRAMBLING, LA. – A missed 52-yard field goal in the final minute of Saturday night's game was all that separated the East Texas A&M University football team and the Grambling State Tigers, who held on to a 31-28 win at Eddie G Robinson Memorial Stadium.
 
The Lions did not trail for the entirety of the game, until a 12-play, 77-yard drive over six minutes and one second put Grambling ahead 31-28 with 1:56 left in the game on a one-yard touchdown run by Clyde McClendon Jr.
 
On their final drive of the game, the Lions drove into Tiger territory, but had to settle for a 52-yard field goal try to tie the game, which was no good as it allowed the Tigers to win over the Lions twice in as many years.
 
East Texas A&M falls to 0-3 on the season, having played each game on the road, while Grambling is now 3-1 on the season. Saturday was the first game against an FCS opponent for both programs in 2025 and the second meeting between the two teams, both won by Grambling.
 
The Lions had a 14-0 lead with a minute left in the second quarter on a seven-yard touchdown rush by EJ Oakmon (Pflugerville) and a three-yard touchdown catch by Brycen Davis (Fort Worth – Grandview) from Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis), both coming in the second quarter.
 
After an interception, the Tigers found the end zone for the first time on a 11-yard catch from Covadis Knighten from C'zavian Teasett to make it 14-7 going into halftime.
 
After a mishandled punt that gave Grambling first and goal at the one-yard line, Teasett ran it in on fourth down to tie the game at 14 in the third quarter.
 
Jaden Proctor (Mexia) worked around a defender to come up with a 26-yard touchdown reception to put the Lions back ahead by seven, midway through the third quarter.
 
On the next drive, Byron Eaton Jr. broke away for a 54-yard touchdown run and tied the game once again.
 
A 10-play 86-yard drive followed for the Lions over five minutes and 17 seconds and JaiSean McMillian (Mobile, Ala.) punched in a six-yard touchdown to regain the lead for East Texas A&M.
 
The Tigers trimmed the deficit down to four on a 41-yard field goal by Theodore Caballero.
 
Ozlo Rigby (Panama City, Fla.) went 4 for 4 in point-after tries and his only field goal attempt was the 52-yard kick that he missed at the end of the game.
 
Rodriguez went 23 for 33 with 229 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while he also rushed for 22 yards on 10 attempts. KJ Shankle (Fort Bend Travis) netted 51 rushing yards on 13 carries.
 
Tyler Daniels (Hattiesburg, Miss.) had 51 receiving yards on three receptions, while Paul Odidi (Mansfield Timberview) had 50 yards on five catches.
 
Defensively, Kaleb Miles (Prosper) had team best seven tackles.
 

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UP NEXT
The Lions play their first home game of 2025 next Saturday at 6 p.m. against NC Central for the Family Day game presented by Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront.
 
Tickets can be purchased now at LionAthletics.com/tickets. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free victory bell.