STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football returns to Paulson Stadium this Saturday (Oct. 18), in a Southern Conference showdown against Appalachian State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised live on SportSouth.
Saturday's game will also mark the annual 'Blue Out' game as fans are encouraged to wear all blue. The Eagles are ranked 25th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches poll while App State is second in that and The Sports Network poll. Last year Georgia Southern ended the Mountaineers' 30-game home win streak following its 38-35 win.
All Eagle football games can be heard on the Georgia Southern Radio Network (flagship 102.9 FM in Statesboro) and affiliates statewide. Chris Blair (play-by-play), Terry Harvin (color analyst) and Ryan Chambers (sidelines) will call the action.
Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. 'Inside Georgia Southern Football with Chris Hatcher' is on the air at Locos Grill and Pub. Coach Hatcher and Chris Blair will recap the previous game and look ahead to the upcoming game against the Mountaineers. The broadcast will be carried live on Eagle 102.9 FM and on www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
This Friday at Bishop Field House will mark another installment of the coach's luncheon, featuring Coach Hatcher. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling Southern Boosters at (912) 478-5522.
Two weeks ago GS (3-3 overall, 1-2 SoCon) won at Chattanooga 52-28. In fact, last week marked the first regular season bye week the Eagles had in six years.
Senior linebacker Quentin Taylor (Apopka, FL/Apopka) leads the SoCon with 66 tackles, ranking him 11th nationally. He also ranks among the team-leaders with 4.5 tackles for a loss. Fellow senior Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) has 55 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and two sacks.
Junior Ronnie Wiggins (Summerville/Chattooga) recorded three interceptions in four games played. Terrione Benefield (Conyers/Heritage) has made 35 tackles to date and Chris Rogers (Athens/Athens Academy) is close behind with 32 stops and forced three fumbles. Carson Hill (Milledgeville/Baldwin County) registered 29 tackles and is tied for 10th nationally with nine pass break-ups.
Redshirt-freshman Charlie Edwards (Tifton/Tift County) leads the league and ranks 14th nationally averaging 42.4 yards per punt.
Quarterback Antonio Henton (Fort Valley/Peach County) is averaging 213.5 yards of total offense per game - 50th in the nation - averaging 58 yards on the ground and 155 through the air. This year he has completed 77-of-135 passes for 933 yards and seven touchdowns. Henton is close to ranking among the GS season leaders for: completions, touchdowns, yards and completion percentage.
Raja Andrews (Swainsboro/Swainsboro) went over 1,000 career receiving yards during the win at Chattanooga. He ranks second all-time in program history with 85 receptions totaling 1,022 yards.
Appalachian State brings a 4-2 record (2-0 SoCon) into Saturday's game. Quarterback Armanti Edwards, named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, ranks 67th nationally in rushing (64.7 ypg), 11th in passing efficiency (155.62) and 29th in total offense (247 ypg). App State is fifth nationally in rushing offense (257.3), fourth in total offense (205.2), sixth in scoring offense (38.5 ppg) and 10th in pass efficiency defense (103.27).
Robert Welton is tied for 20th nationally averaging eight points per game while kicker Jason Vitaris is 54th with 7.2 ppg. Jacque Roman, Cortez Gilbert, Mark LeGree and Travis Dowda are tied for the team lead with two interceptions each. D.J. Smith (56) and Roman (50) rank first and second, respectively, among the team tackles leaders.