JACKSON, Miss. – Grambling State defeated Jackson State 44-21 Saturday evening in the W.C. Gorden Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
 
The match-up was a non-conference game and will not count in the SWAC standings.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, JSU found pay dirt when senior Jordan Johnson capped a 12-play, 78-yard drive with a touchdown plunge from two yards out.
 
GSU responded with a field goal and ended the first half with a special team's touchdown and went into halftime with a 10-7 lead.
 
The Blue and White moved the ball in the second half.
 
At 3:09 in the third quarter Derrick Ponder found Ra'Meik Wallace on a 52-yard pitch-and-catch to cut the deficit to within 10.
 
JSU also scored the final touchdown of the contest, a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ponder to Warren Newman.
 
True freshman Jalon Jones earned the start at quarterback and rushed for a team-high 60 yards and finished 6-for-13 for 28 yards passing.
 
Newman added eight receptions for a game-high 55 yards receiving.
 
Keonte Hampton showed why he was a freshman All-American last season. The linebacker finished with 13 tackles and an impressive 10 solo stops.
 
The Tigers return to action next Saturday and host Alabama State for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.