There have been some memorable matchups in the 30-year history of the illustriousCircle City Classic football game. Unfortunately for Grambling State, this contest against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alcorn State would not be one of them.
John Gibbs Jr. passed for 245 yards and a score, and Arnold Walker rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns as the Braves rolled to easy 48-0 victory. Grambling State was behind the eight ball from their opening possession as Alcorn State’s defense smothered everything the Tigers tried to do, holding them to just 132 total yards of offense on the day.
The Braves produced a whopping 542 yards of total offense and the game that has entertained Indianapolis for three decades now was for all intents and purposes, over before the marching bands took the field at halftime.
The win allowed Alcorn State to improve to 5-2 and the drubbing added additional misery to an already tough season for Grambling State, which is still looking for its first win of the year at 0-7.
The announced attendance for the game was 22,357.
Classic Notes: Alcorn State showed superb balance on offense with 288 yards on the ground and 254 yards through the air. The Braves produced 27 first downs as a result. Tollete George hauled in seven receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown for Alcorn State.
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Grambling State was a dismal 1 for 13 on third down conversions and could only muster 30 yards of passing offense. Jestin Kelly was the lone bright spot for the Tigers as he rushed for 88 yards.
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Former Olympic sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos were presented the 2013 Major Taylor Award at halftime of the game. Both raised a hand in the air to emulate their famous symbolic gesture of power and unity, which originally occurred at the 1968 Olympic Games.
Danny Bridges can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
