ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Southern spotted rival Georgia State two early touchdowns off its own mistakes Saturday, then took control and pulled away for a 34-17 win in downtown Atlanta that makes the Eagles bowl eligible for the fifth season in a row.
The victory was the fourth straight for Georgia Southern in the series, and it gave the Eagles the Georgia Grown Bowl and the Commissioners Cup Trophy for the third year running.
The Panthers opened the scoring on a short 3-yard run by Qwantavius Wiggins after a muffed punt gave them the ball deep in Eagles territory. A Georgia Southern fumble later set up a 7-yard Lanear McCrary Jr. touchdown that needed only one snap.
The Eagles answered each time. Tyrese Woodgett punched in a 1-yard run, and quarterback Max Johnson found River Helms on a flea-flicker for a 52-yard score, the longest catch of his career. Tripp Bryant added a 42-yard field goal, and Johnson hit Josh Dallas from 13 yards out to send Georgia Southern into halftime ahead 24-14.
From there the defense took over. Georgia State managed only a 37-yard field goal by Samer Layous after the break, and the Eagles piled up four sacks. Georgia Southern outgained Georgia State 443-221.
The Eagles moved the ball in big chunks all day. Their four touchdown drives covered 75, 75, 82 and 75 yards, and the Helms strike took just three plays. Johnson threw both of the team’s touchdown passes.
Bryant tacked on a 41-yard field goal, and Weston Bryan put the game away with a 54-yard touchdown run.
Georgia Southern won despite losing the turnover battle by at least three, something the program had not managed since a 2000 game against Delaware. The Eagles travel to Troy on Saturday, Nov. 21, for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
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