On the second down inside the five, the Aggies’ offensive line got the push Raynard needed to stick the ball across the goal line for a 21-14 lead.
The Aggies left 38 seconds on the clock and the Tigers staring at an end zone 59 yards away. Kincade managed to move the ball 20 yards but the Aggies defense was more than up to the challenge. “I thought their D-line was more dominant against our O-line than our D-line was against their O-line,” explained Grambling head coach Lee Fobbs. The pass rush forced Kincade to get the ball out quicker and the secondary never allowed any receiver to get beyond them deep. On third and nine and 8 seconds remaining Kincade’s pass to Carter was well-defended sealing the win and the championship for the Aggies.
Let the Bands Play, In Other Words, Let us Be Us
Saturday’s game was every bit as exciting as the first two Celebration Bowls. The only thing lacking about the game was ESPN’s ridiculous decision to quiet two of the finest marching bands in the nation. During the season, HBCU marching bands play at every break throughout the game. Music from the bands in the stands is an important cultural thread of the HBCU football tapestry. The music keeps the crowd energized during timeouts and breaks in the game. More than anything fans look forward to the bands’ musical performances in and outside of halftime. Its absence was more than noticeable.
What was exceedingly troubling is the mandate on Grambling and North Carolina A&T that was not issued to Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, or Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff games that opened the stadium in September. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the two bands were allowed to play during breaks in the action.
Photo Gallery
All photos by Jason McDonald, CORE360 Sports