Georgia State rallied from a first-half deficit to score two touchdowns, but a blocked field-goal attempt proved the difference in a 23-20 loss to Charlotte on Friday afternoon at the Georgia Dome.
Many of the issues that plagued the Panthers last year on the way to a 1-11 record resurfaced: The team had difficulty running the ball and gave up several big plays, but the defense was able to keep the game close.
Until the final two scoring drives of the fourth quarter, safety Bobby Baker kept hope alive by forcing all five of the 49ers (1-0) turnovers.
Baker recovered two fumbles in the first half, intercepted 49ers quarterback Matt Johnson in the second quarter, picked off another pass and recovered a third fumble in the third quarter. Following Baker’s second interception, the Panthers kicked a field goal padding the lead at 20-6.
Even with Baker’s five takeaways, he said he was disappointed he wasn’t able to capitalize off any of them.
“When I touch the ball, I have to score,” Baker said. “I feel like I left a little bit out on the field.”
The Panthers struggled in the first half while allowing three turnovers.
In the opening drive, Panthers wide receiver Glenn Smith fumbled on the Georgia State 39-yard line, and it was recovered and returned for a touchdown by cornerback Terrance Winchester.
Arbuckle said many of the problems on offense had to do with confusion and “missing assignments.”
“We had a good game plan, but we just didn’t execute or take care of the ball like we practiced,” Arbuckle said. “Their defensive coordinator wasn’t there last year, so we didn’t have a lot of film to study on him. We practiced what we thought they were going to do, but we weren’t ready when we were on the field.”
Arbuckle was 25-of-43 for 299 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception.
Miles said that the offense would have been helped if wide receiver Donovan Harden and tight end Joel Ruiz were able to play.
“(The offense) locked up on man-to-man,” Miles said. “We never got into a rhythm, and we never got going and we turned the ball over.”
With less than one minute remaining in the game, quarterback Nick Arbuckle completed a 53-yard pass to Penny Hart, squeezing the gap to 23-19.
The Panthers reached the end zone for the first time with 9:39 remaining in the game with a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Arbuckle to running back Taz Bateman.
“Taz Bateman is an explosive player,” coach Trent Miles said. “He’ll get better and better as he goes. This is his first game in (FBS) football.”
Bateman had eight rushes for 61 yards and one touchdown.
The Panthers struggled early by giving up long scoring drives, but rallied to allow only a field goal in the second half.
“I thought our defense in the second half was outstanding,” Miles said. “(The defense) gave up three points and created turnovers.”
Miles said the problems he saw were all controllable things that the team can fix next week in preparation for their game at New Mexico State on Saturday.
“We make no excuse for losing,” Miles said. “I learned that we have the ability to play good defense. I know we’re much better than we were on offense.”
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