Bitter rivals Southern University and Grambling State University, both tied for first place in the Western Division of the SWAC have a date with destiny at the 41st Bayou Classic on November 29 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.
Whichever team breaks the 20-20 tie will face the Eastern Division Champs, Alcorn State.
For Southern, defending their championship is all but a short reach, but a journey that will implement everything that they can exhaust.
Grambling State wants to acclaim their notability as SWAC Champions by winning against the pesky Braves in Houston, Texas on December 6, but first the face a hungry Southern team ready to repeat as champions.
Star-struck by their last win against Mississippi Valley State 44-13 on November 15 in A.W. Mumford Stadium, Southern reaches the pinnacle of the season facing a revived Grambling. Southern won six games in a row after their horrific loss against Alcorn 16-56 in Lorman, Mississippi.
In their boost of intensity of another SWAC victory, head coach Dawson Odums said, “We play playoff games every week.”
Yet they played as if everything is on the line and bringing back soul and reputation to the Bayou Classic. Grambling, excusing the insufferable season called 2013 mimicking Mississippi Valley State this season with one win now has struck gold with winning a lucky number seven in a row.
Their acclaimed luck ran out when they faced Alabama State losing 37-23 on the same night that Southern secure the tie for the first place spot.
Southern and Grambling had a five game stretch of wins.
Southern at their homecoming on October 4 took the win and trampled Arkansas-Pine Bluff 51-36 and on the same night Grambling shone light on Alabama A&M on their home field, 38-28. Southern the following week on October 11, turned a downfall into a 35-34 win in Huntsville and Grambling showed up Southern when they harshly battled Alcorn State at home and won 28-21. While Southern took a well needed break after a hard fought war, Grambling on October 18 trounced Arkansas-Pine Bluff 63-39 at home. Grambling took the next week off and Southern slid their time cards in at Veteran Memorial Stadium near the heart of Jackson, Mississippi and beat Boombox Classic rivals, Jackson State 42-28. With both teams tying their cleats on November 1, Southern surprised the SWAC when pulled the stingers off of Alabama State, 28-21. In the same night at primetime, Grambling caged Texas Southern and extinguished their scoring game 35-7. On a Thursday, November 6, Grambling tended to sneaky Mississippi Valley State with their last streak win, 38-23. That Saturday, November 8, Southern surprised the SWAC when they copped the win against Texas Southern 30-20.
On Southern’s end, true freshman, Austin Howard, tested his hands on the cockpit called Jaguar football and had a throwing average of 139-272 with only seven interceptions with 51.6 percent for completions, 1924 yards and 14 touchdowns.
On Grambling’s side seasoned, Jonathon Williams had a throwing average of 114-183 with only slipping with five interceptions with 62.6 percent completion, 1,719 yards and 13 touchdowns. Williams opened the defense with his dual threat option and quick feet having attaining 373 net yards and seven touchdowns under his belt.
Grambling’s defense only allowed two teams to score more than thirty points and only one game against Alcorn was the only close game that existed.
Those two will show their worth as they will lead their teams to glory and breaking the tie will be what the Bayou Classic is all about. Either the young team, Southern or the revived contenders will grasp the reigns.
Both team’s momentum will be tested on the field and fans will be awaiting the players at the Superdome with 20-20 vision to see who will be the finest.