Prairie View Outlasts Grambling in State Fair Classic

Prairie View A&M University defeats Grambling State University 36-34 in fifth overtime. (© 2024 Miss Ari Photography)

Cotton Bowl – Before a crowd of more than 52,000 – the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University (2 - 3) and the Tigers of Grambling State University (3 - 2) went four full quarters and five overtime periods before Prairie View took the 36-34 victory.  

While the game was statistically close the entire way, Grambling had the momentum, scoring first and maintaining the lead as the two teams entered the halftime.

The show within the show at the State Fair Class – the halftime, certainly didn’t disappoint. Both university’s bands and dancers took to the field and sent waves throughout the crowd. Accompanied by various artists and celebrities, the halftime performers electrified the Cotton Bowl audience and could be heard throughout the State Fair of Texas.

A rather uneventful third quarter didn’t yield much offensive production for either team, but the game took an interesting twist to begin the final quarter of regulation. The Panthers forced Grambling’s first turnover of the game early in the fourth quarter. Cameron Franklin picked off Miles Crawley which led to a nine-yard scamper into the endzone by Jaden Johnson to tie the game at 17.

Prairie View’s Connor Wisham also scored on a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, after an interception by Terrell Coleman Jr. – giving Prairie View its first lead at 24-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Grambling, refusing to lose as the result of two sudden turnovers redeemed themselves on the final possession of regulation. Myles Crawley threw a 38-yard pass to Marquis Harris, which he grabbed on the sideline at the Panthers’ nine-yard line. Just two plays later, Crawley connected with Jalen Johnson for a 12-yard score to tie the game with just 38 seconds left.

Many fans had already disappeared into the excitement of the fairgrounds by the time the first overtime period was underway. Both teams scored in the first overtime, and both made field goals in the second overtime period. The third overtime requires that teams make mandatory two-point conversions.

Both teams failed on their first two-point attempts. Grambling also failed on the third attempt, which set up Prairie View for the win. After a defensive holding call against the Tigers, Prairie View was set up at the one-yard line, where they scored with ease and won the game.