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Clark Atlanta University Athletics

Chry'Shawn Sellers vs Grambling
Justin Mordecai/Clark Atlanta Athletics
7
Clark Atlanta CAU 0-1 , 0-0
49
Winner Grambling GSU 1-0 , 0-0
Clark Atlanta CAU
0-1 , 0-0
7
Final
49
Grambling GSU
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAU Clark Atlanta 0 0 7 0 7
GSU Grambling 7 21 0 21 49

Game Recap: Football |

Clark Atlanta Falls to Grambling State in 2026 Season Opener

Panthers drop season opener to the Tigers

GRAMBLING, La. – Clark Atlanta football opened the 2026 season with a 49-7 setback against Grambling State on Saturday evening at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
The Panthers (0-1) finished the night with 224 yards of total offense, including 130 through the air and 94 on the ground. Sophomore wide receiver Chry'shawn Sellers led the Clark Atlanta receiving corps with four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Grambling State (1-0) opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the contest as Tony Phillips Jr. returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers an early 7-0 advantage.
The Clark Atlanta defense settled in following the opening score, holding Grambling scoreless for the remainder of the first quarter. The Panthers forced punts on each of the Tigers' next three possessions to keep the deficit at seven entering the second quarter.

Grambling extended its lead early in the second quarter when Phillips found the end zone for the second time, scoring on a 20-yard run with 14:54 remaining in the half to cap a seven-play, 87-yard drive.

The Tigers pushed the lead to 21-0 at the 7:47 mark after Reginald Johnson connected with Tyson George for an 11-yard touchdown. Grambling added another score just before halftime as Jacobe Robinson found Byron Eaton Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, sending Clark Atlanta into the locker room trailing 28-0.

The Panthers responded quickly coming out of halftime.

On Clark Atlanta's opening possession of the third quarter, quarterback Xzavier Jackson connected with Sellers for a 64-yard touchdown to put the Panthers on the board. Dylan Dastejerdi converted the ensuing extra point to cut the deficit to 28-7 with 13:55 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown capped a three-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 1:05.

Clark Atlanta's defense kept Grambling off the scoreboard throughout the third quarter, but the Tigers regained momentum in the fourth.

Clyde McClendon Jr. scored on a 21-yard run with 13:53 remaining to extend Grambling's advantage to 35-7. Zerrick Jones added a 4-yard rushing touchdown at the 8:53 mark before D'Shaun Ford capped the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:42 remaining.

Jackson completed six passes for 98 yards and one touchdown, while freshman Dylan Reese went 2-for-5 for 32 yards. 

Trayvon Pinder led Clark Atlanta on the ground with 38 yards on nine carries. Joseph Wright added 19 yards on two attempts, while Dae'Jeaun Dennis rushed nine times for 23 yards.

Sellers accounted for the majority of Clark Atlanta's production through the air, averaging 21.3 yards per reception. Jeremiah Valdry added two catches for 25 yards, while Derrick White and Kevin Deceus recorded one reception apiece.

Defensively, Dwight Jacobs Jr. and Artellious Edmond led the Panthers with 11 total tackles each. Jacobs also contributed multiple tackles for loss. Mikell Roberts finished with eight tackles, while Eric Searcy added seven.

The Panthers finished with nine punts for 372 yards, with Joseph Wright averaging 41.3 yards per punt and placing three inside the Grambling 20-yard line.

Grambling finished the night with 487 yards of total offense, including 264 passing yards and 223 rushing yards. The Tigers recorded 28 first downs and converted seven of 13 third-down attempts. Clark Atlanta totaled 10 first downs and went 1-for-13 on third down.

UP NEXT

Clark Atlanta returns to action on Saturday, September 5 as they take the short trip over to Morehouse College to face the Maroon Tigers in the 2026 ATL Labor Day Classic at B.T. Harvey Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Follow Clark Atlanta Athletics

For complete coverage of Clark Atlanta athletics, follow the Panthers on social media: X (@cauathletics), Facebook (CAUAthletics) and Instagram (@cauathletics).
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