THE KICKOFF: Georgia State at UTSA, Oct. 29, 1:30 p.m. ET
After earning a hard-fought, 27-20 double-overtime victory over South Alabama, Georgia State will try to make it two in a row as the Panthers travel to UTSA for a televised game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Both teams have identical 2-5 records, and the game features a matchup of veteran coaches as Georgia State's Bill Curry faces UTSA's Larry Coker, who won a national title at Miami. The Roadrunners, playing their first season, were idle last Saturday.
The two teams have played one common opponent this season in South Alabama. Both games went to double overtime, with GSU defeating the Jaguars, 27-20, in two overtimes and UTSA falling, 30-27.
GAME COVERAGE
Television coverage on the Longhorn Network. Announcers are Andrew Monaco and Ahmad Brooks. This is Georgia State's fifth televised game of the season.
GSU Radio Network, including Atlanta flagship WCFO-AM Newstalk 1160. Announcers are Dave Cohen (play-by-play), Harper LeBel (analyst), Sam Crenshaw (sideline).
PANTHERS USE RECORDS, DEFENSE TO KNOCK OFF SOUTH ALABAMA
Georgia State used record-setting performances by running back Donald Russell and wide receiver Albert Wilson and clutch play by its defense to outlast South Alabama, 27-20, in two overtimes Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
Russell set GSU records with 136 yards rushing on 20 carries, and his eighth touchdown of the season came on an eight-yard scamper in the second overtime for the game-winning score. In his first start at quarterback, Kelton Hill went 12-for-15 for 209 yards and threw touchdown passes of 78 and 64 yards to Wilson, who finished with a school-record 175 yards receiving. The GSU defense came up with five takeaways, including Mark Hogan's game-ending interception in overtime.
SECOND TRIP TO LONE STAR STATE
Georgia State is making its second trip to Texas in six weeks. The Panthers played at FBS Houston on Sept. 24, falling 63-0 to Case Keenum and the Cougars at Robertson Stadium.
The Panthers have one player from the Lone Star State in Kalan Jenkins. The senior noseguard hails from Midlothian where he attended Midlothian High. He played two seasons at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, before enrolling at Georgia State.
DEFENSE MAKES A STAND
Georgia State's defense turned in its best game of the season in the win over South Alabama. The GSU defense set the tone with a goal-line stand on the game's opening possession. After a 71-yard kickoff return, the Jaguars had a first-and-goal at the one-yard line, but the Panther defense stoned the run four straight plays, with Christo Bilukidi stopping Kendall Houston on fourth down for a one-yard loss.
In the first overtime, GSU forced a missed field goal. After GSU opened the second overtime with a touchdown, South Alabama moved to a first down at the three, but on second-and-goal, Jake Muasau pressured quarterback C.J. Bennett into an errant throw that was tipped in the end zone and corralled by Mark Hogan for the game-ending interception.
The defense set a GSU record with five takeaways during the game, including interceptions by Jamal Ransby, Brent McClendon and Evan Bostic and a fumble recovery by Brandon Jones, all inside the 25-yard line.
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN FOR HOGAN
Mark Hogan grabbed the interception and went running - he thought the game was over. Hogan had intercepted South Alabama quarterback C.J. Bennett at the goal line on what appeared to be the final play of regulation with Georgia State holding a 20-13 lead. But South Alabama was flagged for illegal motion - a dead ball foul because the Jaguars were never set and the clock had stopped on the previous play - so the down was replayed, and South Alabama scored the game-tying touchdown to force OT.
After GSU took a 27-20 lead in the second overtime, South Alabama faced second and goal at the two-yard line, needing a touchdown to force another session. Outside linebacker Jake Muasau pressured Bennett, who threw towards the end zone. The ball was batted in the air and came down in the hands of none other than . . . Mark Hogan.
RUNNING GAME GETS GOING
Georgia State's running game has blossomed the last two games as the Panthers have averaged 232 yards on 44 attempts.
In Saturday's win over South Alabama (Oct. 22), GSU rushed 43 times for 220 yards, including a school-record 136 yards by running back Donald Russell.
Against South Carolina State (Oct. 15), the Panthers rushed for 244 yards on 45 attempts, both highs in Georgia State's history. The previous rushing record was 232 yards last season vs. Savannah State. Most of the damage was done by the trio of quarterback Kelton Hill (94 yards), Russell (85) and running back Travis Evans (62), who combined for 241 of the 244 yards.
RUSSELL BOOSTS RUNNING GAME
Running back Donald Russell became the first 100-yard rusher in Georgia State history with 136 yards on 20 attempts (also a GSU record) in the Panthers' 27-20 overtime win over South Alabama. Most importantly, he scored the game-winning touchdown with an eight-yard run in the second extra session. In fact, in the two overtime periods, Russell carried the ball on every GSU play, gaining 43 yards on five carries.
The junior transfer from Kentucky is the team's leading rusher with 408 yards on 79 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per carry.
Russell has shown a penchant for finding the end zone. He has played in six games this season and has scored at least one touchdown in each of them. He leads the team with eight touchdowns, which is also the GSU career record.
In the season opener against Clark Atlanta, Russell scored touchdowns of 20 yards and then two yards the first two times he touched the ball in a GSU uniform.
He also scored twice against Murray State (10-8-11) on runs of four and nine yards, the latter play coming after he took a direct snap in a wildcat formation.
AMAZING ALBERT
Georgia State wide receiver Albert Wilson was named FCS Independent Player of the Week by College Sports Madness after his record-setting performance in the Panthers' 27-20 victory over South Alabama in two overtimes. He also earned honorable mention recognition as CFPA National Wide Receiver Performer of the Week.
The sophomore from Port St. Lucie, Fla., set a new Georgia State record for receiving yards in a game with 175 yards on just five catches.
In the first quarter, Wilson grabbed screen pass and raced 78 yards for the Panthers' first touchdown and the longest play from scrimmage in Georgia State history. In the second quarter, he got behind the defense and hauled in a 64-yard touchdown pass from Kelton Hill, good for the second-longest play in GSU annals.
On the season, Wilson has 20 catches for 501 yards, four touchdowns and an average of 25.0 yards per catch, despite missing the Houston and Murray State games due to injury. Also a return specialist, he averages 154.4 all-purpose yards per game.
Earlier this season, Wilson had 146 receiving yards on six catches Sept. 17 at No. 16/17 Jacksonville State. He had a 54-yard catch and then a 53-yard reception late in the game on which he appeared headed for the end zone but pulled up with a hamstring injury.
In the season-opening win over Clark Atlanta, he was the game's leading receiver with three catches for 85 yards, including TD catches of 30 and 48 yards. He also returned three punts for 34 yards and had a 10-yard run. Against Old Dominion, he totalled a school-record 229 all-purpose yards, including four catches for 53 yards and seven punt returns for 85 yards.
Wilson was named to the 2011 CFPA Kick Returner Preseason Watch List and the preseason All-Independent team by Phil Steele's College Football Preview.
