Final: Georgia State hands Georgia Southern second loss in Sun Belt Conference play
The Georgia Southern football team went into Saturday's matchup with host Georgia State looking to play a complete game.
The Eagles are still looking after falling to the host Panthers 41-33 on Saturday at Center Parc Stadium.
The Eagles (now 3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference) believed an incomplete outing cost them a coveted league road victory on Oct. 1 at Coastal Carolina. The host Chanticleers outscored the Eagles 20-13 in the fourth quarter and won 34-30.
"We really wanted that win," Georgia Southern redshirt-sophomore linebacker Marques Watson-Trent said Monday. "I felt like we played three quarters but we've got to finish, especially against a good team like that. Heading into Georgia State, we want to play a complete game, be physical, play fast and finish out all four quarters."
The Georgia State Panthers were 1-4, 0-1 in the Sun Belt entering the league home game against the Eagles at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Panthers' victory came a week earlier, 31-14 at Army.
Eagles vs. Panthers: Is it a rivalry? Plus more to know when Georgia Southern football plays Georgia State
Game day info: Georgia Southern football at Georgia State on Saturday: Kickoff, how to watch and more
Commentary: Georgia Southern football can't let regrets from Coastal Carolina loss impact season
Get Eagles news in your inbox: Sign-up for our free, weekly newsletter on all things Georgia Southern sports
Analysis: Needing big plays, Grayson McCall answers for Coastal Carolina against Georgia Southern
Keep watch for explosive plays
With veteran quarterbacks Kyle Vantrease of Georgia Southern and Darren Grainger of Georgia State operating the offenses, explosive plays are highly probable when the teams meet on Saturday.
Sixth-year player Vantrease entered the game eighth among the FBS leaders for passing yards (1,574) and yards per game (314.80). Senior Grainger was fourth in passing yards per completion (15.34).
Explosive plays were a determining factor in Georgia Southern's loss at Coastal Carolina on Oct. 1 in Conway, South Carolina. Eagles head coach Clay Helton said his defense allowed six explosive plays — one in the first half when the teams were tied 7-7. The defense yielded five in the fourth quarter when CCU — which had trailed 24-14 with 12 minutes to go -- scored 20 points on three touchdowns.
Georgia Southern had countered with one touchdown and two field goals.
"In that fourth quarter, we had three opportunities down there, we came away with one touchdown and two field goals," Helton said. "That's probably the difference in the game. Coastal scores three touchdowns in the last 12 minutes.
"You have to go back and evaluate exactly what you did. Sometimes it's winning a one-on-one battle. That was the case in the last drive."
Coastal Carolina's final scoring drive featured huge plays when quarterback Grayson McCall connected with Jared Brown for a 33-yard gain to the GS 24-yard line; and CJ Beasley's 24-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left in regulation for the 34-30 advantage. Another big play on the drive was a pass interference on the Eagles when the Chanticleers faced third-and-10 from their 28.
"So credit to their kids," Helton said of the plays involving Brown and Beasley. "They out-executed us on those two plays down the stretch. That's usually what happens down in the red zone. There are a lot of one-on-one battles. Somebody's going to win them. We did not win those two opportunities."
1:58 p.m. | Missing Eagles
The Eagles will be without cornerback Derrick Canteen and defensive end/LB Quin Williams as well as tight end Jjay Mcafee, according to the Georgia Southern Sports Network broadcast. Seventh-year ILB Todd Bradley-Glenn, who has been out with a dislocated elbow, is dressed.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Live score updates: Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Georgia State Panthers
