Showing progress is something coaches are always striving for. Saturday the Georgia Southern football team has a chance to show progress from a year ago as it takes on Ohio University in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Kick off for the game, the first among nearly four dozen bowls, is 11 a.m. in Conway, S.C. The game will be televised on ESPN.

The Eagles entered last year’s bowl game after a huge victory over Appalachian State in their season finale, a win they needed to reach bowl eligibility. Southern finished the year 6-7 after a Camellia Bowl loss to Buffalo.

Like last year, the Eagles enter their bowl game at 6-6. This year, they started 6-2 but are on a four-game losing streak. Helton believes it will be a huge momentum swing into the off-season and for recruiting as well if the Eagles can finish above .500 for the first time since 2020 with a bowl victory Saturday over Ohio. 

While the Eagles are trying to finish above .500 and snap a four-game losing streak, the Bobcats (9-3) are looking to set a school record with their 10th win of the season. One of Ohio’s wins was a 10-7 victory over Iowa State of the Big 12.

It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks for the Bobcats, who have had several key players leave the team and enter the transfer portal.

“One thing I have really appreciated about our football team is they want to finish what they started,” Helton said. “We have our starting quarterback, running back, receivers all with us, including Khaleb Hood who is trying to be the first 100-catch receiver in the history of our program. We have a couple running backs, a linebacker in Marques Watson-Trent who could go anywhere, and he decided he wanted to be on our football team.” 

The Bobcats will be playing without their starting quarterback, running back, a starting receiver, a backup running back and second leading tackler. Since those announcements, oddsmakers have moved the line from Ohio being a 3.5-point favorite to Georgia Southern being a 3.5-point favorite

Kurtis Rourke started 11 games this year at quarterback and is now in the portal. His backup, C.J. Harris, is out for the season, so third-string quarterback Parker Navarro, who has thrown only 10 passes this season, is expected to start. Leading rushers Sieh Bangura (811 yards) and O’Shaan Allison (452 yards) have entered the transfer portal and will not play. That leaves Tyler Walton, with 34 yards on five carries on the season, as the Bobcats’ leading rusher going into the game.

Still, even with the defections, the Eagles are expecting a run-heavy Bobcats attack.

“They have a really good offensive line and a great center and left guard,” said Watson-Trent. “We know their identity is to run the ball to set up the pass. Stopping the run is our main priority.” 

“Their offense is well-coached and plays extremely clean football,” Helton said. “They are among the top 25 teams in turnover margin because they don’t give the ball up, and their defense is able to create turnovers.” 

Ohio’s defense will be almost intact for the bowl game. The only defender lost to the early stage of the portal is second leading tackler linebacker Keye Thompson. Ohio, allowing just over 15 points per game, has the fifth-ranked scoring defense in the nation.

“Their defense jumps off the page at you,” Helton said. “When you watch the tape, you see 11 guys with relentless effort who are extremely well coached and don’t break assignments.” 

The Eagle offense has struggled recently, scoring only 17 points in each of its last two games. The Bobcats defense is ranked eighth nationally against the run, allowing only 96 yards per game, and is ranked No. 11 in third down conversion percentage. Georgia Southern’s rushing offense averages only 124 yards per game, putting them 101st out of 130 teams. 

“We know they are one of the top defenses in the nation,” said Eagle senior offensive lineman Brian Miller. “We know it will be a challenge, but we are prepared for it and we continue to get ready.” 

Another thing that could play into the hands of the Eagles is the crowd that will be on hand. Conway S.C. is only four hours from Statesboro. Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio, is over eight hours away.  

“One of the great things about Eagle Nation is they travel,” Helton said. “I was amazed by the turnout we had last year in Montgomery at the Camellia Bowl. Our side of the field was completely filled and it created a great television experience when you watched that bowl game and I expect nothing less this week. Our fans love this team and our university and I can’t wait to see them here.”