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HOUSTON - Cam’Ron McCoy scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in overtime Saturday night, giving Texas Southern a dramatic 23-20 victory over Grambling State at W.W. Thorne Stadium. It was a second week in a row that the TSU Tigers pulled off a thriller in front of their home crowd.
McCoy had the game-winner, but running back Athean Renfro delivered the offensive fireworks that kept Texas Southern in position to win.
Renfro rushed for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries against Grambling State. His fourth-quarter scoring runs of 75 and 86 yards came just 2 minutes, 43 seconds apart. Renfro also placed the Tigers in scoring position with a 20-yard burst on the opening play of Texas Southern’s overtime possession, setting up McCoy’s winning touchdown.
“It’s a hard-fought game,” Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman said to SWAC TV. “Grambling is a great team. We got a great win. Now we gotta just keep moving forward.”
Dishman, who joked that the dramatic finish left him with “stomach pains and heart pains,” believed Renfro deserved greater recognition for his performances.
The coach noted that his running back, who eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards in his career on Saturday, had been passed over for the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s weekly honor following the previous game.
“He should be Player of the Month,” Dishman said.
Texas Southern (3-5, 2-3 SWAC) recorded its second consecutive victory after defeating Southern 24-21 on a walk-off field goal in its previous game.
Grambling State (4-4, 2-3) lost despite forcing three turnovers, controlling the football for more than 32 minutes, and committing substantially fewer penalties.
The matchup was part of Texas Southern’s All Sports Night. It marked the fourth of five home dates at Thorne Stadium, an Aldine Independent School District facility in north Houston that has hosted the Tigers this season following changes to their Shell Energy Stadium arrangements.
Neither team scored in the opening quarter, although Texas Southern moved the football effectively, recording eight first downs and 71 rushing yards.
The Tigers failed to convert that early production into points.
Miguel Arana finally broke the scoreless tie with a 47-yard field goal at 12:11 in the second quarter. The kick capped a 13-play, 44-yard possession that consumed 6:46.
Grambling State responded with a nine-play, 50-yard drive, capped by Theodore Caballero’s 29-yard field goal with 8:36 remaining.
Both defenses controlled the remainder of the half, sending the teams into halftime tied at 3.
Grambling State opened the second half with its most productive possession of the night.
Quarterback Ashton Frye directed a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown run at the 9:52 mark. Caballero added the extra point to give Grambling State a 10-3 advantage.
Meanwhile, Texas Southern’s offense stalled.
The Tigers managed just 10 rushing yards, zero passing yards, and no first downs during the third quarter.
Entering the final 15 minutes, Grambling State appeared positioned to take advantage of Texas Southern’s offensive struggles and turnovers.
Then Athean Renfro changed the game.
Texas Southern needed only two offensive plays to score on its first possession of the fourth quarter.
Starting from its own 21-yard line, Renfro broke free down the right side for a 75-yard touchdown with 13:53 remaining. Arana’s extra point tied the game at 10.
Less than three minutes later, Renfro delivered an even bigger play.
On Texas Southern’s next snap from scrimmage, the 5-9 and 225-pound running back shot out of a cannon through the middle of Grambling State’s defense for an 86-yard touchdown with 11:10 remaining.
Suddenly, Texas Southern led 17-10.
Two carries, 161 yards, and two touchdowns had completely transformed the contest.
But Grambling State refused to surrender.
Frye orchestrated a five-play, 40-yard scoring drive, connecting with Lantavious Murphy on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 4:46 left.
Caballero’s extra point tied the game at 17, setting up overtime.
Grambling State received the first offensive possession of overtime at the Texas Southern 25-yard line.
A false-start penalty created an early setback, but Frye connected with Jordan Bride for a 17-yard gain to keep the possession alive.
The Texas Southern defense kept Grambling State out of the end zone, forcing Caballero to attempt a 31-yard field goal.
He converted, giving Grambling State a 20-17 lead.
Texas Southern needed a touchdown to win.
Renfro immediately delivered another critical run, breaking through the middle for 20 yards to the Grambling State 5.
Grambling State defenders Jon Horton and Kilas Francis stopped him for a 1-yard loss on the next play.
Facing second-and-goal from the 6, McCoy rolled right and scored the game-winning touchdown.
Texas Southern had overcome a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit, a three-point overtime deficit, and three turnovers to secure its second consecutive SWAC victory.
*Statistical analysis are derived from the TSU-GSU game statistics reported on Oct. 31, 2026.
A closer look shows how important Renfro’s two fourth-quarter touchdown runs were.
The statistical comparison illustrates an important point.
Typically, a team that wins the turnover battle by three, commits fewer penalties, and controls possession has created a strong foundation for victory.
Grambling State accomplished all three.
Grambling State held the football longer, ran 14 more offensive plays, and converted third downs more efficiently.
But Texas Southern generated 145 more total yards.
That disparity underscores how dramatically explosive plays can outweigh other statistical advantages.
Dishman acknowledged his team’s mistakes. “We hurt ourselves by the fumbles,” he said.
He added that if Texas Southern protects the football and capitalizes on red-zone opportunities, “we’d be great.”
Texas Southern’s inability to score despite collecting eight first downs in the opening quarter demonstrated why those improvements remain necessary.
Grambling State’s key offensive performers:
Phillips provided Grambling State’s most efficient rushing production, but the offense struggled to generate the consistent passing threat needed to capitalize on its favorable turnover margin.
McCoy’s passing statistics were modest.
The Texas Southern quarterback completed 6 of 15 attempts for 115 yards and threw one interception. He also absorbed three sacks.
However, his six completions averaged 19.2 yards, demonstrating that Texas Southern could generate significant yardage through the air despite its limited passing volume.
McCoy also rushed 11 times for 46 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Kordell Rodgers led Texas Southern’s receivers with two catches for 49 yards, including a 35-yard reception.
While Renfro dominated the headlines, McCoy ultimately delivered the play that secured the victory.
Grambling State’s defense generated important negative plays and helped establish its turnover advantage.
Grambling State defensive leaders:
Texas Southern defensive leaders:
Texas Southern’s defense also delivered an important overtime stand by holding Grambling State to a field goal.
That defensive effort allowed McCoy and Renfro to finish the game.
Both kickers converted their field-goal opportunities, although Texas Southern ultimately won without attempting a kick in overtime.
Arana’s 47-yard second-quarter field goal provided Texas Southern’s only first-half points.
Caballero’s overtime field goal briefly put Grambling State ahead before McCoy’s winning touchdown.
Texas Southern will attempt to extend its winning streak when it hosts Alabama State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at W.W. Thorne Stadium for Senior Night.
Grambling State returns to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium the same day to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
For Dishman, the challenge is building on two emotional victories while addressing the turnovers and missed scoring opportunities that nearly derailed Saturday’s game.
Asked what his Tigers must do to maintain their momentum, Dishman offered a straightforward response.
“Just keep practicing hard and believing in ourselves,” Dishman said.
Texas Southern has found ways to win close games in a row. The next challenge is proving that its late-game execution and explosive offensive production can translate into sustained success.
Mathematically, the TSU Tigers are still in the hunt for the SWAC West. They need help from Alabama A&M on Saturday to knock off Prairie View A&M and hope Florida A&M can upset Alcorn State in Week 10.
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