Hickbottom, Grambling St. beat Texas Southern 34-21

HOUSTON (AP) — Geremy Hickbottom passed for 345 yards and three touchdowns and added 19 carries for 79 yards to help Grambling State beat Texas Southern 34-21 on Saturday night.

Hickbottom was 29-of-44 passing with two interceptions. His first TD pass, a 28-yarder to Kobe Ross late in the first half, gave Grambling State (3-3, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) the lead for good at 14-7.

Grambling state took the opening kickoff of the second half and moved deep into Texas Southern territory before a holding penalty stalled the drive and set up a 34-yard field goal by Marc Orozco. On the next play from scrimmage, Jay Christophe hit Bobby Hartzog Jr. for a 75-yard catch-and-run that pulled Texas Southern within three.

Grambling state answered immediately as Hickbottom was 4-for-4 passing for 60 yards — and added a 12-yard run — during an seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 24-yard scoring catch by Devante Davis and, after a Texas Southern punt, Hickbottom hit Calief Samon for and 8-yard TD that made it 31-14 going into the fourth.

Hartzog, a graduate transfer from Kansas, tied his career high with nine receptions for a career-best 190 yards. He has five of his six career touchdowns this season.