GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive plays and a relentless ground attack, the Grambling Tigers outlasted the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 31 to 23 on Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

Grambling quarterback Hayden Benoit, a Loreauville, Louisiana native, was ruthlessly efficient, completing 12 of 20 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Tigers’ offense. His performance was complemented by a dominant rushing effort from Andre Crews of Chicago, who gashed the Wildcats’ defense for 130 yards on 14 carries.

The Tigers improved to 7-3 on the season, while Bethune-Cookman fell to an even 5-5.

Grambling set the tone early, capitalizing on a stalled Bethune-Cookman drive to open the scoring with a 23-yard field goal from Theodore Caballero of San Antonio, Texas. The Tigers then extended their lead late in the first quarter when Benoit connected with Andrerw Frazier on a 38-yard touchdown strike, making the score 10-0.

The second quarter, however, belonged to the Wildcats, who erupted for 20 points. Kicker Juan Dominguez of West Palm Beach, Florida, started the rally with a 30-yard field goal. Bethune-Cookman then found the end zone on an 11-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Timmy McClain of Sanford, Florida.

After Grambling answered with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Benoit to Nae’Saan Dickerson of Union City, Georgia, the Wildcats struck back instantly. McClain found a wide-open Maleek Huggins of Bradenton, Florida, for a 61-yard touchdown pass, one of Huggins’ six receptions for 122 yards on the day.

The two teams traded scores once more before the half. Benoit engineered another scoring drive, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Williams of Monroe, Louisiana. Bethune-Cookman responded by driving deep into Grambling territory, allowing Dominguez to boot a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the half, sending the Wildcats into the locker room with a narrow 24-23 lead.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither team able to put points on the board. The Wildcats’ defense came up with a key stop when safety Johnny Harris III of Sanford, Florida, intercepted a pass in the end zone to halt a promising Grambling drive.

Grambling reclaimed the lead for good early in the fourth quarter. Benoit delivered his fourth and final touchdown pass, an 8-yard connection with Keith Jones Jr. of New Orleans, Louisiana, to put the Tigers up 31-23.

Bethune-Cookman, utilizing a two-quarterback system with McClain and Cam’Ron Ransom of Lakeland, Florida, mounted a final drive. McClain completed 15 of 18 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 18 yards and a score, and Ransom added 73 yards through the air. The Wildcats moved the ball to the Grambling 24-yard line but could not convert a critical fourth down, turning the ball over on downs.

Dominguez would add a 42-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining to pull Bethune-Cookman within one score, but Grambling recovered the ensuing onside kick. Crews then sealed the victory with runs of 16 and 27 yards, allowing the Tigers to run out the clock.

The win keeps Grambling in the hunt in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings as they prepare to face Alcorn State next Saturday. Bethune-Cookman will look to rebound on the road against Jackson State.