2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football team
2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football | |
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New Orleans Bowl champion | |
New Orleans Bowl, W 38–3 vs. Louisiana Tech | |
Conference | Sun Belt Conference |
Division | East Division |
Record | 8–5 (4–4 Sun Belt) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Bob DeBesse (3rd season; first 10 games) Doug Ruse (interim; final 3 games) |
Offensive scheme | Pistol |
Defensive coordinator | Scot Sloan (3rd season) |
Base defense | 3–4 |
Home stadium | Paulson Stadium |
Seasons |
| Conf | Overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 14 Coastal Carolina xy+ | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appalachian State | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Southern | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia State | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Troy | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Louisiana xy+ | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Alabama | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas State | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas State | 2 | – | 6 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana–Monroe | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Louisiana at Coastal Carolina (Canceled) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, and competed in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Chad Lunsford.
Preseason
Sun Belt coaches' poll
The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on August 25, 2020. Georgia Southern was picked to finish 2nd in the East Division with 36 total votes.[1]
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Appalachian State | 49 (9) |
2 | Georgia Southern | 36 |
3 | Troy | 32 (1) |
4 | Georgia State | 20 |
5 | Coastal Carolina | 13 |
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Louisiana | 47 (7) |
2 | Arkansas State | 40 (2) |
3 | South Alabama | 22 (1) |
4 | Texas State | 21 |
5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 20 |
Preseason All-Sun Belt teams
The Eagles had five players selected to the preseason All−Sun Belt teams; three from the defense and two from special teams.[1]
Defense 1st team
| Special teams 1st team
2nd team
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Schedule
Georgia Southern had games against Boise State and Ole Miss, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] They added a November game with Army on August 11.[4] On October 7, the game against Appalachian State scheduled for October 14 was postponed to December 12 due to COVID-19 positive tests within the Mountaineers' football program.[5]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 12 | 3:30 p.m. | Campbell* | ESPNU | W 27–26 | 5,789 | |
September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 19 Louisiana | ESPN2 | L 18–20 | 5,585 | |
October 3 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | ESPN+ | W 35–30 | 6,338 | |
October 17 | 4:00 p.m. | UMass* |
| ESPN2 | W 41–0 | 4,856 |
October 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 25 Coastal Carolina | ESPNU | L 14–28 | 5,000 | |
October 29 | 7:30 p.m. | South Alabama |
| ESPN | W 24–17 | 3,457 |
November 7 | 1:00 p.m. | Troy![]() |
| ESPN3 | W 20–13 | 5,012 |
November 14 | 3:00 p.m. | Texas State |
| ESPN3 | W 40–38 | 4,478 |
November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Army* | CBSSN | L 27–28 | 5,078 | |
November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Georgia State | ESPN3 | L 24–30 | 4,523 | |
December 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Florida Atlantic* |
| ESPN+ | W 20–3 | 3,867 |
December 12 | 6:00 p.m. | Appalachian State |
| ESPN3 | L 26–34 | 6,228 |
December 23 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Louisiana Tech* | ESPN | W 38–3 | 3,000 | |
|
[6][7]
Game summaries
Campbell
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −34.5 | 58.5[8] |
Statistics | Campbell | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 20 |
Total yards | 380 | 346 |
Rushing yards | 143 | 284 |
Passing yards | 237 | 62 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 26:04 | 33:56 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Campbell | Passing | Hajj-Malik Williams | 17/27, 237 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Hajj-Malik Williams | 11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Jai Williams | 4 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 7/13, 53 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Shai Werts | 14 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | D. J. Butler | 3 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD |
At Louisiana
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|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
LA −13.5 | 52.5[9] |
Statistics | Georgia Southern | Louisiana |
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First downs | 21 | 18 |
Total yards | 447 | 438 |
Rushing yards | 192 | 148 |
Passing yards | 255 | 290 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 35:14 | 24:46 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 11/18, 255 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | J. D. King | 24 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Wesley Kennedy III | 2 receptions, 105 yards | |
Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 18/32, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Chris Smith | 4 carries, 54 yards | |
Receiving | Peter LeBlanc | 3 receptions, 64 yards |
At Louisiana–Monroe
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −19.5 | 49.5[10] |
Statistics | Georgia Southern | Louisiana–Monroe |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 24 |
Total yards | 369 | 426 |
Rushing yards | 340 | 92 |
Passing yards | 29 | 334 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 34:53 | 25:07 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 3/7, 29 yards |
Rushing | J. D. King | 21 carries, 196 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Beau Johnson | 1 reception, 17 yards | |
Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Colby Suits | 31/54, 334 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Colby Suits | 7 carries, 51 yards | |
Receiving | Tyler Lamm | 5 receptions, 66 yards |
UMass
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −31 | 62[11] |
Statistics | UMass | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 10 | 20 |
Total yards | 191 | 436 |
Rushing yards | 111 | 308 |
Passing yards | 80 | 128 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:09 | 30:51 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UMass | Passing | Mike Fallon | 7/12, 41 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Will Koch | 4 carries, 41 yards | |
Receiving | Samuel Emilus | 4 receptions, 28 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 11/16, 128 yards, 3 TDs |
Rushing | Wesley Kennedy III | 6 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Malik Murray | 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD |
At Coastal Carolina
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
CCU −1 | 49[12] |
Statistics | Georgia Southern | Coastal Carolina |
---|---|---|
First downs | 12 | 20 |
Total yards | 218 | 382 |
Rushing yards | 119 | 130 |
Passing yards | 99 | 252 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 27:43 | 32:17 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 7/20, 94 yards, 2 INTs |
Rushing | J. D. King | 15 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Malik Murray | 2 receptions, 46 yards | |
Coastal Carolina | Passing | Fred Payton | 15/28, 252 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Shermari Jones | 5 carries, 44 yards | |
Receiving | Jaivon Heiligh | 5 receptions, 107 yards |
South Alabama
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −3.5 | 52[13] |
Statistics | South Alabama | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 15 |
Total yards | 264 | 345 |
Rushing yards | 64 | 250 |
Passing yards | 200 | 95 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 28:19 | 31:41 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 20/27, 200 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Carlos Davis | 20 carries, 70 yards | |
Receiving | Kawaan Baker | 5 receptions, 65 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 5/9, 95 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Wesley Kennedy III | 13 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs | |
Receiving | Malik Murray | 1 reception, 38 yards |
Troy
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
TROY −3 | 52[14] |
Statistics | Troy | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 14 | 20 |
Total yards | 235 | 411 |
Rushing yards | 34 | 326 |
Passing yards | 201 | 85 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 17:13 | 42:47 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Troy | Passing | Jacob Free | 21/47, 201 yards, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Jamontez Woods | 3 carries, 23 yards | |
Receiving | Kaylon Geiger | 6 receptions, 49 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 12/13, 85 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Gerald Green | 10 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | NaJee Thompson | 1 reception, 35 yards |
Texas State
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −12 | 49.5[15] |
Statistics | Texas State | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 18 | 20 |
Total yards | 299 | 437 |
Rushing yards | 30 | 386 |
Passing yards | 269 | 51 |
Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
Time of possession | 18:41 | 41:19 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 7/13, 155 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Brock Sturges | 6 carries, 31 yards | |
Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 5 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 6/9, 51 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Shai Werts | 21 carries, 120 yards, 3 TDs | |
Receiving | Wesley Kennedy III | 1 reception, 23 yards |
At Army
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
ARMY –3 | 38.5[16] |
Statistics | Georgia Southern | Army |
---|---|---|
First downs | 12 | 20 |
Total yards | 311 | 268 |
Rushing yards | 175 | 243 |
Passing yards | 126 | 25 |
Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Time of possession | 21:36 | 38:24 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 6/7, 80 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Wesley Kennedy III | 8 carries, 71 yards | |
Receiving | Malik Murray | 3 receptions, 41 yards | |
Army | Passing | Tyhier Tyler | 1/1, 25 yards |
Rushing | Tyhier Taylor | 35 carries, 121 yards | |
Receiving | Chris Cameron | 1 reception, 25 yards |
At Georgia State
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\
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GSU –3 | 51[17] |
Statistics | Georgia Southern | Georgia State |
---|---|---|
First downs | 13 | 22 |
Total yards | 370 | 427 |
Rushing yards | 296 | 55 |
Passing yards | 74 | 372 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 4/7, 67 yards |
Rushing | Logan Wright | 8 carries, 143 yards, 2 TDs | |
Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 1 reception, 44 yards | |
Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 28/39, 372 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Destin Coates | 15 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 10 receptions, 126 yards |
Florida Atlantic
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|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU –2.5 | 40.5[18] |
Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 18 |
Total yards | 322 | 339 |
Rushing yards | 133 | 269 |
Passing yards | 189 | 70 |
Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
Time of possession | 23:15 | 36:45 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Javion Posey | 7/15, 107 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Javion Posey | 8 carries, 61 yards | |
Receiving | Jordan Merrell | 3 receptions, 67 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 3/12, 70 yards |
Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 20 carries, 78 yards | |
Receiving | Logan Wright | 2 receptions, 65 yards |
Appalachian State
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Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
APP –9 | 45[19] |
Statistics | Appalachian State | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 16 |
Total yards | 381 | 349 |
Rushing yards | 173 | 204 |
Passing yards | 208 | 145 |
Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
Time of possession | 34:52 | 25:08 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 18/29, 208 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | Nate Noel | 13 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 8 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Miller Mosley | 5/14, 122 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 6 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Dexter Carter Jr. | 1 reception, 78 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana Tech (New Orleans Bowl)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO –4.5 | 51[20] |
Statistics | Louisiana Tech | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 15 | 17 |
Total yards | 232 | 448 |
Rushing yards | 113 | 322 |
Passing yards | 119 | 126 |
Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
Time of possession | 25:33 | 34:27 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Louisiana Tech | Passing | JD Head | 9/14, 78 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Israel Tucker | 20 carries, 123 yards | |
Receiving | Isaiah Graham | 3 receptions, 26 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 7/12, 126 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Gerald Green | 16 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 1 reception, 65 yards, 1 TD |
References
- ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces Preseason Poll, Players of the Year and All-Conference Teams". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. August 25, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ McMurphy, Brett. "Sources: Mountain West Cancels Fall Football Season". WatchStadium.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Adds Road Football Game at Army West Point". Georgia Southern Athletic Department. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern/Appalachian State Game Postponed". Georgia Southern Athletics. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Georgia Southern Eagles Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Football Schedule". Georgia Southern University Athletics. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ "Campbell Fighting Camels vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Massachusetts Minutemen vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ "South Alabama Jaguars vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ "Troy Trojans vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ "Texas State Bobcats vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Army Black Knights". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Georgia State Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ "LA Tech Bulldogs vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 19, 2020.