When Grambling State’s Tigers (9-2, 6-0) and Southern University’s Jaguars (6-4, 5-1) meet Saturday in the 35th Bayou Classic in the Louisiana SuperDome, there will be more than bragging rights on the line. The game with be telecast on WDSU-TV beginning at 1 p.m.

If Grambling wins the game, the Tigers will clinch the division title and a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship game on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Legion Field in Birmingham opposite eastern division champion Jackson State.

If Southern should win it would force a three-way tie between Grambling, Southern and Prairie View, which would be decided by a coin toss — with the winner advancing to the title game.

(Use arrows above to view more photos) Advertisement

Grambling, on an eight-game winning streak, is led by Bogalusa’s Greg Dillon (6-0, 200, soph.) at quarterback. After opening at 1-2, Tigers head coach Rod Broadway settled on Dillon as the starter and the Tigers have been on a roll. GSU started the streak with a 14-5 win over Jackson State.

Along the way, the Tigers have gotten tougher on defense, as well.

After giving up 80 points in losses to Nevada (49-13) and Northwestern State (31-19), the Tigers have allowed just 60 points in the other nine games — an average of 6.7 points per game.

Dillon, who’s completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,091 yards, should have a field-day against the Jaguars, who allow 225.7 yards per game through the air and another 168.6 on the ground. The Tigers, by contrast, average 181.6 yards through the air and 136.2 on the ground.

Dillon comes into the game with a passing efficiency rating of 133.2, with only seven interceptions against 14 touchdowns.  The former Lumberjack has also gained 540 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Dillon is not the only Washington Parish gridder in the game, though.

On the other sideline, former Varnado Wildcat Frank Harry, a 6-4, 300-pound lineman, will see action for the Jags on the defensive line.

Harry, a former all-everything for the Wildcats, made a name for himself at Pearl River Community College where he earned honorable mention All-America honors for that set of Wildcats before signing with South Florida. Harry used up another year of eligibility as a Bull before transferring to Southern.

Through 10 games this year Harry has nine solo tackles and 23 assists, including 10 tackles for losses of 29 yards. Harry has three sacks, accounting for 18 yards in losses, has been credited with hurrying the passer on seven occasions and has one forced fumble.

A sellout crowd of 70,000 is expected.