LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Grambling Tigers erased a 17-point second-half deficit and stunned the previously undefeated Jackson State Tigers with a 26-24 victory on a last-second field goal Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.

Jackson State, which entered the game with a perfect 5-0 record and was projected by analytics to have an 89 percent chance of winning, saw its season upended by a resilient Grambling squad that refused to quit. The win, sealed by Josh McCormick’s 44-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining, improved Grambling’s record to an even 3-3.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Jackson State dominating early before Grambling mounted a methodical comeback. Jackson State quarterback JaCobian Morgan got the scoring started in the first quarter, capping an eight-play, 86-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. After a lengthy drive stalled deep in Grambling territory, Jackson State kicker Donovan Warren connected on a 30-yard field goal to give his team a 10-0 lead after the opening quarter.

Grambling’s offense, sluggish for much of the first half, finally found a spark late in the second quarter. Quarterback C’zavian Teasett, a Baton Rouge native, engineered a drive that culminated in a 59-yard touchdown strike to tight end Covadis Knighten. The Grambling defense then provided a critical momentum swing, blocking a Jackson State punt to set up a short field. With time expiring in the half, Theodore Caballero nailed a 24-yard field goal to cut Jackson State’s lead to 10-9 at the break.

Grambling carried that momentum into the second half, taking its first lead of the game on a 16-yard touchdown run by Teasett midway through the third quarter. The scoring drive was kept alive by a key pass interference penalty against Jackson State, and Teasett’s scramble into the end zone put Grambling ahead 16-10.

Jackson State’s offense, which had sputtered after the first quarter, suddenly roared back to life in the fourth. Facing a six-point deficit, Jackson State turned to quarterback Jared Lockhart. The Charlotte native delivered instantly, connecting with receiver Nate Rembert on a spectacular 62-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead, 17-16.

Grambling responded immediately. Teasett led his team down the field and found Andrew Frazier for a 26-yard touchdown pass, pushing Grambling back in front, 23-17.

Undaunted, Jackson State mounted what appeared to be a game-winning drive. Lockhart was the catalyst, using both his arm and his legs to methodically move the ball downfield. The drive was sustained by a crucial pass interference penalty against Grambling and was capped by Lockhart’s own 1-yard touchdown plunge with just over two minutes remaining, giving Jackson State a 24-23 lead.

That left just enough time for one final chapter. Grambling’s offense took over with 2:09 on the clock and no timeouts. After an incomplete pass and a short completion, the drive was handed over to backup quarterback Amyne Darensbourg. Darensbourg, a New Orleans native, provided a jolt of energy, scrambling for 12 yards on a critical fourth down to keep the drive alive. After a sack and an intentional spike to stop the clock, Darensbourg completed an 11-yard pass to Barron Miles to set up the game-winning attempt.

McCormick, from Austin, Texas, then calmly drilled the 44-yard field goal through the uprights, sending the Grambling sideline into a frenzy and silencing the Jackson State contingent.

Jackson State had one final, desperate chance, but Lockhart’s last-second heave fell incomplete, sealing the dramatic Grambling victory.

Statistically, the game was a showcase for several key players. For Grambling, C’zavian Teasett finished 16 of 26 for 232 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding a crucial rushing score. Covadis Knighten was his primary target, hauling in five receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Running back Tre Bradford contributed 58 yards on 11 carries.

For Jackson State, the quarterback trio of Lockhart, Morgan, and Parker Stofa combined for 250 passing yards. Lockhart’s late-game heroics included the 62-yard touchdown pass and the go-ahead rushing score. Nate Rembert was a standout receiver, catching four passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, while running back Donerio Davenport rushed for 98 yards on 11 attempts.

The loss is the first of the season for Jackson State, which falls to 5-1. They will look to rebound next Saturday on the road against Florida A&M. Grambling, now 3-3, will host Alabama A&M next Saturday, riding the wave of a victory that defied both the pregame spread, which had them as 20.5-point favorites, and the statistical projections.