STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football, in the midst of a four-game stretch at Paulson Stadium, opens Southern Conference play this Saturday (Sept. 20) playing host to Elon. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).
Several high school bands will be performing at halftime along side the Georgia Southern band. Saturday is also Cheerleader for a Day. For more information on how to sign up for Saturday's camp, call (912) 478-9467.
Every Georgia Southern Football game can be heard on the 19 station Georgia Southern Radio Network (Eagle 102.9 FM the flagship station). Chris Blair (play-by-play) and Terry Harvin (color analyst) will call Saturday's action.
Subscribers to Eagle Vision can also watch the game live at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com, and the contest will also be archived following the game.
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 Phoenix. The broadcast will be carried live on Eagle 102.9 FM and on the www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website.
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. That event is also part of the Eagle Vision package.
Georgia Southern (2-1 overall) is coming off a 34-27 overtime win over Northeastern last weekend, scoring the game-tying touchdown in the final minute of regulation and eventually winning on the opening possession in OT.
The 14th-ranked Eagles (FCS coaches poll/16th in Sports Network) are looking to not only extend their home-win streak, but also snap a three-year streak of losing their SoCon opener. The last time Georgia Southern won its league-opener was a 58-14 home win over third-ranked Wofford in 2004.
Sophomore quarterback Antonio Henton (Fort Valley/Peach County) accounted for all five touchdowns (career-highs of three rushing/two passing), helping the Eagles win in overtime for the first time since 2005. He was named SoCon 'Offensive Player of the Week' for his efforts. Henton leads the league and is tied for sixth nationally accounting for 18 points per game. He has completed 36-of-61 passes for 468 yards and four TDs, while rushing for 153 yards and another five touchdowns.
Raja Andrews (Swainsboro/Swainsboro) accounted for a career-high 123 receiving yards last week. He leads the team with 165 yards on nine catches. Andrews' 72 career receptions place him third on the Eagles' all-time list. Fellow senior Tim Camp (Harlem/Harlem) is right behind with seven receptions totaling 139 yards and two scores.
Redshirt-freshman Charlie Edwards (Tifton/Tift County) leads the SoCon averaging 41.3 yards per punt.
Defensively, Quentin Taylor (Apopka, FL/Apopka) leads the way with 25 tackles. He recorded a season-high 13 last weekend against Northeastern, one off his career-high. Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) has 21 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Chris Rogers (Athens/Athens Academy) and Brandon Echols (Decatur/St. Pius) are next with 18 tackles apiece. Rogers forced a fumble in each of the last two games, including one in a key fourth quarter situation against Northeastern that led to the game-tying touchdown late in the game. Carson Hill (Milledgeville/Baldwin County) is eighth nationally averaging 2.0 pass breakups per game.
Elon (2-1, 0-0) is coming off a 66-12 win over Presbyterian last weekend. The Phoenix defeated Stony Brook 30-20 after losing their season-opener to fourth-ranked Richmond 28-10. Overall the Eagles own a 7-1 edge in the series, the only loss coming last year at Elon in double-overtime.
Walter Payton Award watch list member Terrell Hudgins is tied for fourth nationally averaging nine receptions per game and 17th with 98.7 yards. Bo Williamson is tied for 37th in receptions (5.7 p/g) and 34th in yardage (85.7). Throwing them the ball is sophomore Scott Riddle. The Freshman All-America has completed 72-of-114 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns to just two interceptions. A.J. Harris leads the rushing attack with 149 yards and three scores, averaging more than six yards per rush. Walker White (17) and Joshua Jones (16) pace the defense in tackles.