PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Interstat) — The Prairie View A&M Panthers used a dominant ground game and a stifling defensive performance to secure a decisive 28-13 victory over the Grambling State Tigers on Saturday night at Panther Stadium.

In a game where the final score belied the one-sided nature of the contest, Prairie View methodically controlled the clock and capitalized on Grambling mistakes to even its season record at 2-2. The Tigers, who entered the game with a 3-0 record, fell to 3-1.

The Panthers’ offense was a model of consistency, scoring a touchdown in each quarter. Quarterback Tevin Carter of Memphis, Tennessee, got the scoring started late in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run, capping an efficient opening drive. The Panthers never relinquished the lead.

Grambling’s offense, led by quarterback C’zavian Teasett of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, struggled to find a rhythm against a relentless Prairie View defense. The Tigers were held to a pair of first-half field goals by kicker Theodore Caballero of San Antonio, Texas, from 27 and 25 yards, making the score 14-6 at halftime.

Any hope of a Grambling comeback was stifled in the third quarter when a special teams blunder proved costly. Grambling punter Johnny Schifano of Arlington, Texas, fumbled a snap deep in his own territory, and Prairie View’s Skylon Jean-Louis of New Orleans, Louisiana, recovered the ball at the Grambling 1-yard line. On the next play, running back Lamagea McDowell of Gastonia, North Carolina, powered into the end zone to extend the Panthers’ lead to 21-6.

McDowell was the workhorse for the Panthers, grinding out 98 yards on 10 carries. His 40-yard burst in the fourth quarter set up the final Prairie View score, a 15-yard touchdown run by Chase Bingmon of Terrell, Texas, that put the game out of reach at 28-6.

Grambling finally found the end zone with 8:25 remaining in the game when Teasett connected with Keith Jones Jr. of New Orleans, Louisiana, on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Teasett finished the game 21 of 43 for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His primary target was tight end Covadis Knighten of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who hauled in four passes for 72 yards.

The Tigers’ ground game showed flashes, with Tre Bradford rushing for 88 yards on 14 attempts, but it was not enough to overcome the offensive struggles. The Grambling defense was led by a strong performance from linebacker Jamal Jordan of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Prairie View’s defensive backfield was instrumental in the victory, intercepting Teasett twice. Linebacker Travor Randle of Greenwood, Mississippi, and defensive back Eric Zachery of Dallas, Texas, each came down with a pick. The Panthers’ defense consistently pressured Teasett and stifled the Grambling rushing attack outside of Bradford’s efforts.

The Panthers’ offense, while not prolific through the air, was efficient and mistake-free. Carter completed 9 of 21 passes for 98 yards and added 36 yards on the ground. The Panthers effectively used a committee of ball carriers, with McDowell, Bingmon, and receiver Cameron Bonner of Houston, Texas, who also scored on an 8-yard run, all finding paydirt.

The win moves Prairie View to 2-2 on the season as they look ahead to a road contest at Alcorn State on October 4. Grambling, now 3-1, will have a bye week before returning to action at home against Texas Southern on October 11. The Tigers will aim to rebound from an offensive performance that fell well short of Interstat’s game simulator, which had projected a much higher-scoring affair with a final of Prairie View 42, Grambling 37. The Panthers covered the pregame spread of -3, and the combined 41 points went under the over/under line of 52.5.