Jackson State has arguably emerged as the best team in HBCU football. Heading into Week 6, it seemed inevitable that they would top the SWAC and return to the SWAC Championship as the Eastern Division representative. They faced a Grambling State University team that had been number one over the past two seasons and came into the game this evening with two straight victories over the HBCU powerhouse.

Grambling extended its win streak over Jackson State, beating them 45-38 in an offensive showcase. That made it arguably the most exciting game of the weekend in HBCU football. Jackson State jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter before Grambling answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jacobe Robinson to Tyson George.

Li'Darius Pryor then ran for a 16-yard gain to put Jackson State up 21-7. Grambling dominated the rest of the second quarter, scoring two straight touchdowns to tie the game 21-21 heading into halftime. Grambling then took the lead in the third quarter when Robinson found Patrick Williams II for a 9-yard touchdown, going up 28-24 after the PAT. Early in the fourth quarter, Grambling padded their lead when Robinson found Landavis Murphy for a 54-yard touchdown reception, putting them up 35-24. But Jackson State wasn't finished fighting.

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Jackson State quickly answered with a touchdown from Karan Tyler to Jency Riley Jr., making it 31-35. A couple of minutes later, Pryor finished the two-play, 85-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to go up 38-35. Jackson State held its lead until late in the fourth quarter, when Grambling finished a two-play, 32-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by D'Shuan Ford. Theodore Caballero added a 24-yard field goal. Padded the lead even more, and Jackson State made one last comeback attempt, but Grambling won.

Now, with Prairie View A&M's loss to Southern University, Grambling finds itself in the driver's seat in the SWAC West. Next week, they face a red-hot Alabama A&M team that just beat Bethune-Cookman 55-17. Meanwhile, Jackson State looks to recalibrate by pulling off a win against Florida A&M. Next Saturday, in their homecoming matchup, Florida A&M recently pulled off a homecoming-crashing win over Alabama State on Friday.