Josh Bell
Grambling State Sports Information Staff
GRAMBLING — Geremy Hickbottom threw for a career-high 297 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as the Grambling State Tigers rolled past Oklahoma Panhandle State, 62-7, on Saturday night in a non-conference game at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
“It was good to execute to a certain extent,” Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. “There were a couple plays that didn’t look good here or there, but for the most part guys were in the right place. We made plays and caught the ball. There were times where we ran the ball extremely well as well. There’s still some work we need to do in order to be the type of team we want to be. We’re pleased to get this win and get us some confidence.”
Grambling State (2-3), which rebounded from last weekend’s loss to Prairie View A&M, scored on its opening possession as the Tigers marched 55 yards in four plays and used just 1:02 off the clock. Hickbottom scrambled 14 yards into the endzone to give Grambling State a 7-0 lead with 13:58 left in the opening quarter.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-0 as Johntavious Robinson scored on a 22-yard run with 4:23 remaining in the first quarter.
Devohn Lindsey caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hickbottom, which capped a four-play, 60-yard drive to push the margin to 21-0 with 14:53 left in the first half.
On Grambling State’s next offensive possession, Hickbottom scored on a 2-yard keeper to extend the margin to 27-0 with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter.
Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-4) cut the deficit to 27-7 as Cole Mercer caught a 9-yard pass from Martez Vrana, but the Tigers put the game away with two scores right before the half.
Hickbottom connected with Quintin Guice for a 46-yard touchdown and with Lyndemian Brooks for a 60-yard score as the Tigers built a 41-7 halftime lead.
Hickbottom completed the night with a 20-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter and Brooks scored on a 21-yard run with 13:46 remaining to extend the margin to 55-7.
Cecil Cherry capped the big night with a 37-yard interception return to close the scoring and give Grambling State a 62-7 victory.
