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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sun Belt football: Georgia edges Georgia Southern

Sony Michel ran for a 25-yard touchdown on Georgia’s only overtime play, leading the Bulldogs to a 23-17 nonconference win over Georgia Southern Saturday night in Athens, Georgia.

Michel ran straight through the line and scored high-stepping into the end zone as Georgia (8-3) survived the upset bid by Georgia Southern (7-3). Michel had 23 carries for 132 yards.

Leonard Floyd was in on three tackles for losses on Georgia Southern’s overtime possession, including L.A. Ramsby’s loss of three yards on a fourth-and-1 direct snap.

Georgia Southern led 14-7 and 17-14 but was denied its first win in the in-state rivalry. Georgia is 6-0 against the Eagles, the former FCS team now playing in the Sun Belt Conference.

Caleb Williams’ 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown gave Georgia Southern a 14-7 lead early in the second half. Michel handed off to Isaiah McKenzie after taking a direct snap, and McKenzie fumbled when hit by linebacker Antwione Williams.

The Bulldogs took advantage of another turnover to tie the game. After calling for a fair catch on a Georgia punt, Derek Keaton lost the ball and Kenneth Towns recovered the fumble at the Georgia Southern 29. Terry Godwin’s diving 12-yard catch from Greyson Lambert tied the game. The ball appeared to bounce up as Godwin hit the ground.

Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz was on the field, apparently wanting officials to take another look at Godwin’s catch, as Marshall Morgan kicked the tying extra point.

The Eagles took a 17-14 lead on a 48-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo early in the fourth quarter. Morgan’s 43-yard field goal about 3 minutes later again tied the game at 17-all.

Georgia took the opening kickoff and looked like it was headed for an offensive revival. Reggie Davis returned the kickoff to the 39, and the Bulldogs covered 61 yards in seven plays. Lambert completed each of his three passes on the drive and Isaiah McKenzie scored on a 23-yard run.

The Bulldogs appeared capable of building a bigger lead when they threatened to score on their third possession. Instead, Malcolm Mitchell fumbled after running for 16 yards to the Georgia Southern 8, and Darrius White recovered for the Eagles.

The lost turnover seemed to drain all the momentum from the Bulldogs, who managed only two first downs in a scoreless second quarter.

Slowly, Georgia Southern’s spread-option attack began to have more success, especially on late option pitches from quarterbacks Kevin Ellison and Favian Upshaw.

The Eagles’ first possession of the second quarter ended with a missed 31-yard field goal by Koo. After Morgan returned the favor by missing a 48-yard field goal, Georgia Southern finally tied the game.

Matt Breida reversed field on a 23-yard run to the 1 and then scored by leaping over the line for a 7-all tie.

New Mexico State 37, Louisiana-Lafayette 34: Gregory Hogan hauled in a touchdown pass to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and Parker Davidson nailed a 21-yard field goal to lift the Aggies (3-7, 3-3) past the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-6, 3-3) in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The winning kick was set up by a quick 32-yard drive after New Mexico State held Lafayette to three-and-out following Hogan’s game-tying 23-yard touchdown catch, his second touchdown of the game. Parker also had 44- and 33-yard field goals in the first half.

Andrew Allen finished with 243 yards passing and four touchdowns, while Larry Rose III ran for 191 yards on 27 carries for New Mexico State. Also catching touchdown passes were Tyrain Taylor and Teldrick Morgan.

Lafayette was led by Elijah McGuire’s 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Jamal Robinson’s 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia State 24, South Alabama 10: Nick Arbuckle completed 27 of his 44 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Panthers (4-6, 3-3) past the Jaguars (5-5, 3-3) in Atlanta.

Donovan Harden, Penny Hart, and Robert Davis each had seven catches on the day for Georgia State, while finishing with 94, 77, and 67 receiving yards, respectively. Hart added an 11-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter which extended the Panthers lead to 24-10 and effectively put the game away.

Tyreis Thomas scored on the opening possession of the game, Aleem Sunanon kicked a 47-yard field goal, and South Alabama led 10-7 lead at halftime.

Wil Lutz kicked a 26-yard field goal for Georgia State to tie it midway through the third, and a Demarcus Kirk 2-yard TD run four seconds into the fourth gave the Panthers the lead.

Cody Clementsthrew for 125 yards for the Jaguars.