The Georgia Southern Eagles proved why they are Ranked #1 in the nation, as they racked up 504 yards of total offense, including 353 yards on the ground, en route to a 48-14 win over the Presbyterian College football team this afternoon in front of 16,392 fans at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.
GSU moves to 7-0 overall, while the Blue Hose fall to 2-5 on the year.
The Blue Hose received the ball to open the game and on the second play of the drive Michael Ruff ran the ball 59 yards, a career-high, to put PC at the GSU 16 yard line. The Blue Hose moved the ball eight yards farther off a rush by Lance Byrd but the GSU defense held its line forcing a field goal attempt, which was blocked.
GSU took over at its own 20-yard line and in nine plays, scored the game's first score. The drive was highlighted by a 29-yard catch by Johnathan Bryant. After a successful PAT, the Eagles led 7-0 with 8:06 to go in the first quarter.
The next PC drive resulted in a punt that set the Eagles up at their own 31-yard line. After two quick rushes, Jaybo Shaw attempted a rush up the middle but fumbled the ball after CeeJay Harris knocked it out of his hands, for his second forced fumble of the season. The ball was recovered by Josh Polk, the first of his career, resulting in a PC first down at the GSU 40.
Four plays into the drive, Ryan Singer hit Jeremiah McKie in the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown but an offensive pass interference negated the play and four plays later, the Blue Hose were forced to punt away.
Georgia Southern took the ball 80 yards in 12 plays its next drive, which started in the first and ended in the second, for its second score to go up 14-0 with 12:08 in the second.
PC's next drive stalled and the Eagles took over the ball at their own 37 yard line after a Patrick Morgano 49-yard punt. GSU used a 35-yard rush by Jerick McKinnon to help them to another score, this one at the 7:17 mark to make it a 21-0 lead.
GSU scored its fourth touchdown of the game after Shaw completed a 57-yard pass to Bryant to set up a 10-yard rush by McKinnon for the score with 5:30 to go in the first half.
PC's next drive ended in an attempted punt but the snap was high and Morgano was unable to grab the ball and it rolled into the end zone, where the Eagles fell on it to make it a 35-0 game, at 3:59, after the extra point.
The Eagles opened the second half with a 12-play, 57-yard, 7:21 drive resulting in a 37-yard field goal, Eagles up 41-0 with 7:30 on the clock.
The Blue Hose answered with their first score of the game, this coming off a six-yard reception by Arthur Williams, as part of a 10-play, 75-yard drive to preserve PC's 56-straight games of not being shut out. With 3:00 on the clock, the Blue Hose were down 41-7. Highlighting the drive was a 24-yard catch by McKie in the fourth play.
GSU responded, going 71 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a Miguel Gilmore 12-yard rush, for its eighth score of the game to go up 48-7 with 13:24 remaining in the game.
PC took the next possession 74 yards for its second TD of the game. Byrd rushed up the middle two-yards for the score, capping a drive that saw the Blue Hose convert a fake field goal on a fourth and six to set up first and goal at the GSU 10-yard line. With 7:31 on the clock GUS led 48-14.
GSU drove the field late but a field goal attempt was no good and the game ended with the final, 48-14 score.
Singer threw for 175 yards and went 14-for-26 with one interception and one touchdown to lead the Blue Hose. McKie caught four passes for 70 yards, while Anderico Bailey caught five for 25 yards. Lance Byrd led the ground attack with 10 carries for 48 yards. Singer rushed 12 times for 26 yards.
Morgano punted four times for an average of 45.8 yards, his long a 57-yard one. Ruff totaled 139 all-purpose yards for the Blue Hose, including five kick returns for 63 yards.
CeeJay Harris led the team in tackles with 11, including seven unassisted, while L.J. Perry followed with 10 on the afternoon.
The Blue Hose posted 124 net yards rushing and 193 yards passing for 317 yards in total offense.
The Blue Hose travel to Liberty in the second game of their three-game road trip Saturday, Oct. 29. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on WLBG AM-860.
