Connect Statesboro 09.17.2014 www.connectstatesboro.com
8
Two MINUTE
Drill
YOUR
FIRST
LOOK AT HIGHLIGHTS GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. Georgia Tech 9/13/14
Loss to Jackets may hurt odds against Jaguars This one stings. And yes, pun intended. Georgia Southern traveled to Georgia Tech for the first time ever and came so close to beating the Yellow Jackets, but had its heart broken with just seconds left on the clock. The Eagles found themAlex selves in a 35-10 hole at halftime, but they kept fighting. Southern rattled off 28 unanswered points in the second half to take a 38-35 lead late into the fourth quarter but could not hold on. Tech scored with 23 seconds on the clock and squeaked out a 42-38 win. For a while, things looked pretty bleak for the boys in blue. The Jackets were moving the ball and scoring almost at will in the first half, while the Eagles simply could not get anything going offensively or make a stop on defense. The second half was a completely different ballgame. Southern marched
down the field on its opening drive and cut into the lead. The defense forced a threeand-out to get the ball back, and a quick four-play scoring drive made it a game again at 35-24. The Eagles scored twice more while the defense continued to come up big. Brown By early in the fourth quarter, GSU led 38-35 and Southern had all the momentum. Bobby Dodd Stadium was absolutely rocking and the Georgia Tech fans weren’t making a sound. Eagle Nation showed up in force. It would have been an enormous win for the Georgia Southern program, but unfortunately, it was just not to be for the Eagles. Tattler Game Ball: I have to give this week’s game ball to the coaching staff. Down 35-10 at halftime, this team could have given up, but the coaches obviously made the right adjustments — offensive and defensive — at the half. And they never let this
BROUGHT TO YOU EXCLUSIVELY BY:
710 Georgia Ave, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 871-6501
Online On Demand at statesboroherald.com connectstatesboro.com & gsueaglenation.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas (5) moves against Georgia Southern running back Devin Scott (28) during the second half of Saturday's game.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Georgia Southern tight end Nardo Govan (42) is helped off the field after being injured against Georgia Tech during the second half of a football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, in Atlanta. group of Eagles quit. As a side note, Georgia Southern is about two minutes of game action away from being 3-0. The Eagles have turned the ball over just twice all season. And boy, have those two fumbles hurt. Southern just needs to learn to finish. As hard as that loss is to swallow after being so close to pulling off the upset, the Eagles must put Saturday behind them and look ahead to South Alabama. Georgia Southern will travel to Mobile, Alabama Saturday evening for its first-ever Sun Belt conference game. Although Southern is not eligible for a bowl invitation, the Eagles can still win a conference championship this season — and that quest begins this weekend. South Alabama is 1-1 on the season and the Jaguars are coming off a 35-3 home loss to Mississippi State. They opened their season with a 23-13 win at Kent State. Honestly, this one worries me a bit. It’s going to be tough for Georgia Southern to bounce back after such a draining game, both emotionally and physically. The Eagles had several key guys go down to injury Saturday. Hopefully they are not seriously hurt and can come back, but unfortunately, a few of them didn’t look so good. I like the fight in this team. They are hungry. Even after a heartbreaking loss, I feel like this coaching staff will have the team focused on South Alabama. The Jaguars will be tough, but I like the Eagles. Tattler Prediction: Get the blood pressure medicine back out, Eagle fans. Eagles 31, Jaguars 27w