STATESBORO, Ga. — One of the oldest rivalries in southern college football returns to Paulson Stadium on Halloween, and this year the stakes reach beyond bragging rights. Both schools sit at 2-1 in Sun Belt East play, sharing the No. 2 spot in the division, and Saturday’s winner could climb into first depending on how other league games go.
The series dates to Nov. 25, 1932, and the teams have met every year since 1993. App State holds a slim 21-19-1 edge over 41 games, making the Mountaineers the opponent Georgia Southern has played more than any other in program history. The Eagles swept both meetings last season, winning 25-23 in Boone and 29-10 in the Birmingham Bowl.
Georgia Southern has asked fans for a White Out, and the calendar may help. The Eagles are 4-0 all-time in games played on Halloween, including 3-0 at home.
The running game has been a weapon in this series. In each of the last three meetings, an Eagles ball carrier has topped 100 yards on the ground, including one back who did it in both games last season, with the bowl performance lifting him past 1,000 yards for the year.
The biggest question is under center. Starting quarterback Max Johnson hurt his throwing shoulder in the loss to Old Dominion and is listed as questionable. The Eagles have had 16 days off since that game, and coach Clay Helton said this week that Johnson’s recovery has moved quickly and that he looked confident throwing in practice.
Helton, who has coached in Auburn-Alabama and USC-Notre Dame games, said he puts this rivalry in that same company and called it an honor to be part of it. For a program chasing a trip to the league title game, a win over its oldest rival would be a big step.
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